STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1465-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2845

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit:

(1) A person from selling ammunition to a person under the age of twenty-one; and

(2) A person under the age of twenty-one from owning, possessing, or controlling ammunition, with exceptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Institute for Human Services, Inc.; Hawai'i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Mom's Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – Hawaii Chapter; Everytown for Gun Safety; Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Indivisible Hawaii; Everytown Veteran Advisory Council; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; National Rifle Association for Hawaii; Hawaii Firearms Coalition; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that despite the State having some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, including restrictions on the ownership of firearms by persons under the age of twenty-one, existing law does not restrict the purchase, ownership, or possession of ammunition by persons under the age of twenty-one. Setting a minimum age requirement to purchase, own, or possess ammunition is consistent with the existing minimum age requirement to purchase, own, or possess a firearm in the State and helps to ensure the safety of residents and reduce incidents of gun violence in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair