Hawaii becomes first state to put gun owners in federal database

But Hawaii managed to pass a bill that adds law-abiding American citizens to a government list controlled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was praised by Democrats. Hawaii is the first state to sign such a system into a centralized information system into law.

Hawaii state Senator Will Espero, a Democrat who co-authored the law and owns a gun, called it “common sense legislation that does not hurt anyone”.

Act 108 authorizes the county police to enroll gun owners in the FBI’s “rap back” program, which monitors the criminal record of its subjects.

Senate Bill 2954 authorizes county police departments to enroll firearms applicants and individuals registering their firearms in a criminal record monitoring service.

The law could affect gun owners outside Hawaii, because the state requires visitors carrying guns to register, Hunter said.

State Sen. Will Espero, who introduced the bill, and the Honolulu Police Department said the measure could serve as a model for other states.

The NRA expressed its displeasure with the new state law tweeting: “Exercising constitutional rights in #Hawaii now gets you entered into a federal watchlist, er, database”.

The first bill, HB 625, disqualifies anyone charged with harassment by stalking and sexual assault from owning, possessing or controlling any firearm or ammunition.

Predictably, the bill drew fire from gun enthusiasts, including the Hawaii Rifle Association, which said it would subject law-abiding citizens to unnecessary monitoring.

“This bill has undergone a rigorous legal review process by our Attorney General’s office”, said Hawaii Gov. David Ige, who signed the bill Thursday, “and we have determined that it is our responsibility to approve this measure for the sake of our children and families”.

Maj. Richard Robinson from the Honolulu Police Department wrote that after the initial background check, there are no further checks on the gun owner.

Gov. David Ige signed three firearms-related bills into law Thursday.

The move by gun control proponents in the liberal state represents an effort to institute some limits on firearms in the face of a bitter national debate over guns that this week saw Democratic lawmakers stage a sit-in at the U.S. House of Representatives.

If the person does not voluntarily give up their arms, the police chief has permission to seize the weapons.