December 19th, 2010 | Author: Kau Dave
The following is my opinion only and is not based on any facts or information from any source:
Why is it important that all of us who are qualified apply for a Concealed Carry Permit? I believe that the Hawaii Rifle Association is asking us to do this to support their effort to get the State of Hawaii and the Counties to begin issuing permits. But why? I believe what is happening here is due to the recent rulings by the Supreme Court. With their rulings supporting our Second Amendment rights we need to force our Hawaii governments to do their jobs and start issuing permits. The laws to issue permits are already in place. We just need to force them to start issuing permits which is our right.
I believe the HRA has been in contact with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and has asked for their help. The NRA has the lawyers, resources and money to fight our state and local governments and force them to start enforcing the existing laws and start issuing permits to law abiding, responsible and appropriately trained citizens. I believe the NRA has told the HRA that they need to see a certain amount of permit applications and denials before they can help. Which is why the HRA is asking for all of us to apply for a permit. I believe in the next few years you will see the NRA come in and help support our Second Amendment Rights and take the State of Hawaii to court.
I believe in the Second Amendment. I believe that the Second Amendment protects all of our other constitutional rights. For those of us who have property in Ka’u and live in Ka’u, most of us own guns and we use guns in our daily lives. Even if it only means keeping a gun by our beds to protect our family, property and pets/animals. Some carry firearms on their property. But when we go into town to have a nice meal with our family or to go shopping we also have the right to carry a firearm for self defense. With all of the problems with ICE, public intoxication and all other criminals on this island we deserve to exercise our right to defend ourselves and our family. Especially considering the time it takes for the police to respond is 2 to 3 times longer than the actual time it takes for a perpetrator to commit their crime, we need to be able to defend ourselves when necessary.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to advocate that we allow a bunch of untrained citizens carry guns around town. What I feel is necessary is that we just enforce the laws we already have on the books. The State of Hawaii has already put forth the requirements that is takes to receive a Concealed Carry Permit. The laws already set forth require that every citizen who applies for a Concealed Carry Permit has a certain level of gun safety training and a thorough background check. If we don’t have the ability to defend our rights as U.S. citizens we could lose our freedoms. This includes our future generation’s freedom. If we don’t have the ability to defend ourselves we could lose our lives. And if we are not able to defend ourselves we cannot defend our families.
The FBI publishes crime statistics every year. And in every state where citizens are allowed to carry concealed weapons for self defense, gun related crime has gone down significantly. Therefore it has been proven that citizens carrying guns for self defense also is a deterrent to gun related crimes. It is also interesting to note that in Washington D.C and Chicago where gun laws are the strongest and guns are banned, gun related crime was at an all time high. It will be interesting to see the crime statistics in these places in the next few years as the citizens begin to carry guns for self defense and re-arm themselves.
Let’s all support the HRA and apply for a Concealed Carry Permit.
I welcome your comments and opinions.
Posted in Gun Rights / Second Amendment
Dave,
Well said – when somone knows there might be an immediate response to unwaneted violent aggression they are far more likely to think twice before committing such assaults. The fact is that criminals who commit such crimes prey upon what they perceive as “weak” targets. Rest assured they wouldn’t be so quick to act when that “weak” person might have a .45 or 9mm handy. Having a gun pulled on me when I was in high school, I can tell you that looking down the barrel of a gun isn’t in the least bit something that I ever want to experience again (all be it that I was at the wrong place at the wrong time and around the wrong people). With that being said, I do not take this issue lightly and neither did our Founding Fathers.
Our nation is built upon respect for those that are wise; this is another example of that wisdom. Denying this wisdom will lead us to a bad place, a place that I don’t want to be a part of.
Thank Jason, my hope is that I can help people understand that gun ownership is a part of our culture. And as our founding fathers felt that being good with your gun was mandatory! I also want to make it clear to everyone that now that the supreme court has upheld the second amendment as an individual right no state/county/city can pass laws to limit our rights. Besides, everyone knows outlawing guns only takes the guns out of the hands of the law abiding.
So my goal is to enlighten and to help those who have no experience with firearms that guns makes life better and safer generally speaking.
Dave, where can I view Hawaii’s gun laws? I’d like to know how I can legally transport a gun/ rifle. Is it legal to carry it in the open on my own property? On someone else’s property? Are gun permits required for a small caliber rifle? Gee, I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to this state’s gun laws.
….Su Ba
Kau Farmer, I am going to write an article out laying the basic gun laws. So keep an eye out for it. You can carry a gun on your property either concealed or in the open. Technically speaking you can even fire your gun on your property but cannot allow the bullet to cross your property line. You can carry on someone else’s property with permission but I wouldn’t attempt that unless you have written permission. The state requires a permit to buy a handgun and a rifle. There is no discertion between different calibers. There are even concealed carry permit laws (like I stated in my blog post) but the state and county don’t uphold the laws.
Just picked this up off google alerts; You are basically right in your assumptions Kau, for the reasoning. Partly a legislative effort, when we bring testimony to the hallways of our representatives but only show 2-4 applications, the first question they ask is, “Why should we do this, no one wants it.” Now that question is slightly misguided, as many people want it — they have just been beaten into submission to know they will not obtain it. Many would take the opinion, why try — if I know I will fail.
We want to change this, and have some stuff up our sleeves.
Sorry, I also wanted to add one thing. I just finished typing up a letter to the HPD for you guys. I am trying to obtain all their written policies and procedures for firearm applications.
If your interested once we send it out, I can give a copy of the letter, as government requests are public record anyways.
Chris, thank you for your reply! What might also help those of us who would like to help out would be a link to a website where we can find all the information we need. For instance I was not planning on buying a new handgun so I have not taken any handgun safety or hunting classes. But I read somewhere I need to take one of these classes in order to apply for a CCW. Now I don’t know where/when/cost of the next classes. I would like to work with you (or someone you may know) so I can put together a webpage with all the resources one would need to get started/going on this. Feel free to e-mail me directly if you would like to help kaudave @ kauweb.com.