THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2456

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to firearms.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 134-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:

     "(j)  In all cases where a permit application under this section is denied because an applicant is prohibited from owning, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms under federal or state law, the chief of police of the applicable county shall, within ten business days from the date of denial, send written notice of the denial including the identity of the applicant and the reasons for the denial to the:

     (1)  Prosecuting attorney in the county where the permit was denied;

     (2)  Attorney general;

     (3)  United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii; and

     (4)  Director of public safety.

     If the permit to acquire was denied because the applicant is subject to an order described in section [134-7(f),] 134‑7(g), the chief of police shall, within three business days from the date of denial, send written notice of the denial to the court that issued the order.

     When the director of public safety receives notice that an applicant has been denied a permit because of a prior criminal conviction, the director of public safety shall determine whether the applicant is currently serving a term of probation or parole, and if the applicant is serving such a term, send written notice of the denial to the applicant's probation or parole officer."

     SECTION 2.  Section 134-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§134-7  Ownership or possession prohibited, when; penalty.  (a)  No person who is a fugitive from justice or is a person prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor.

     (b)  No person who is under indictment for, or has waived indictment for, or has been bound over to the circuit court for, or has been convicted in this State or elsewhere of having committed a felony, or any crime of violence, or an illegal sale of any drug shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor.

     (c)  No person who:

     (1)  Is or has been under treatment or counseling for addiction to, abuse of, or dependence upon any dangerous, harmful, or detrimental drug, intoxicating compound as defined in section 712-1240, or intoxicating liquor;

     (2)  Has been acquitted of a crime on the grounds of mental disease, disorder, or defect pursuant to section 704‑411; or

     (3)  Is or has been diagnosed as having a significant behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders as defined by the most current diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association or for treatment for organic brain syndromes;

shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor, unless the person has been medically documented to be no longer adversely affected by the addiction, abuse, dependence, mental disease, disorder, or defect.

     (d)  No person who has been twice convicted within ten years of committing the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant in violation of section 291E-61 shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor.

     [(d)] (e)  No person who is less than twenty-five years old and has been adjudicated by the family court to have committed a felony, two or more crimes of violence, or an illegal sale of any drug shall own, possess or control any firearm or ammunition therefor.

     [(e)] (f)  No minor who:

     (1)  Is or has been under treatment for addiction to any dangerous, harmful, or detrimental drug, intoxicating compound as defined in section 712-1240, or intoxicating liquor;

     (2)  Is a fugitive from justice; or

     (3)  Has been determined not to have been responsible for a criminal act or has been committed to any institution on account of a mental disease, disorder, or defect;

shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor, unless the minor has been medically documented to be no longer adversely affected by the addiction, mental disease, disorder, or defect.

     For the purposes of enforcing this section, and notwithstanding section 571-84 or any other law to the contrary, any agency within the State shall make its records relating to family court adjudications available to law enforcement officials.

     [(f)] (g)  No person who has been restrained pursuant to an order of any court, including a gun violence protective order issued pursuant to part IV, from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person, shall possess, control, or transfer ownership of any firearm or ammunition therefor, so long as the protective order, restraining order, or any extension is in effect, unless the order, for good cause shown, specifically permits the possession of a firearm and ammunition.  The protective order or restraining order shall specifically include a statement that possession, control, or transfer of ownership of a firearm or ammunition by the person named in the order is prohibited.  The person shall relinquish possession and control of any firearm and ammunition owned by that person to the police department of the appropriate county for safekeeping for the duration of the order or extension thereof.  At the time of service of a protective order or restraining order involving firearms and ammunition issued by any court, a police officer may take custody of any and all firearms and ammunition in plain sight, those discovered pursuant to a consensual search, and those firearms surrendered by the person restrained.  If the person restrained is the registered owner of a firearm and knows the location of the firearm, but refuses to surrender the firearm or refuses to disclose the location of the firearm, the person restrained shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  In any case, when a police officer is unable to locate the firearms and ammunition either registered under this chapter or known to the person granted protection by the court, the police officer shall apply to the court for a search warrant pursuant to chapter 803 for the limited purpose of seizing the firearm and ammunition.

     For the purposes of this subsection, good cause shall not be based solely upon the consideration that the person subject to restraint pursuant to an order of any court is required to possess or carry firearms or ammunition during the course of the person's employment.  Good cause consideration may include but not be limited to the protection and safety of the person to whom a restraining order is granted.

     [(g)] (h)  Any person disqualified from ownership, possession, control, or the right to transfer ownership of firearms and ammunition under this section shall surrender or dispose of all firearms and ammunition in compliance with section 134-7.3.

     [(h)] (i)  Any person violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be guilty of a class C felony; provided that any felon violating subsection (b) shall be guilty of a class B felony.  Any person violating subsection (c), (d), (e), (f), [or] (g), or (h) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

     SECTION 3.  Section 134-7.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

     "(d)  For the purposes of this section, "dispose" means selling the firearms to a gun dealer licensed under section 134‑31, transferring ownership of the firearms to any person who meets the requirements of section 134-2, or surrendering all firearms to the chief of police where the person resides for storage or disposal; provided that, for a person subject to section [134-7(f)] 134-7(g) or part IV, "dispose" shall not include transferring ownership of the firearms to any person who meets the requirements of section 134-2."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Firearms; Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant; Prohibited Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

 

Description:

Prohibits a person who has been twice convicted within ten years of committing the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.