GaryHooser's Blog

The U.S. is the largest supplier of arms on the planet and has more military bases deployed in more countries than any other country in human history.

Testimony in Support of HCR 91 and HR 85  
 
“DECLARING OVER MILITARIZATION TO BE A THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF HAWAII AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND URGING PRIORITIZATION OF HUMANITARIAN AID IN THE UNITED STATES’ RESPONSE TO THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT AND INCREASED EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION.”

Aloha Committee Chair and Members,

While I only became aware of HCR 91 and HR85 this morning, I am compelled to offer this late testimony in support of the basic premise that the excessive militarism of Hawaii and the planet is not healthy for children and other living things (paraphrased from ‘Another Mother for Peace (AMP).

The U.S. is the largest supplier of arms on the planet and has more military bases deployed in more countries than any other country in human history.

To be clear, I am not a pacifist and I believe in a strong defense. I also believe that there are individuals in the world who are unstable and will bring harm to others if not stopped. I believe that sometimes force is required to protect the innocent, however force must be used only as a last resort and diplomacy must always be the primary path used to resolve differences.

Yes to a strong defense. No to the obscene amount of weapons the U.S. sells and deploys around the world and in Hawaii.

Hawaii’s military footprint must be reduced, not expanded. There is no question that the extensive presence of the military in Hawaii increases the likelihood of Hawaii being a military target.

O’ahu has seven major military facilities:

–Headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command at Camp Smith, Aiea,
–Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Headquarters of U.S. Pacific Fleet
–Hickam Air Force Base and Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force Pacific
–Fort Shafter, Headquarters of the U.S. Army Pacific
–Kaneohe Marine Base,
–Schofield Barracks 25th Infantry Division Army Installation
–Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
 
Kaua`i has the large Pacific Missile Test Facility (PMRF) and currently there are plans to further expand this facility.
 
Hawaiʻi Island has the massive Pōhakuloa Training Area/Bombing Range.
 
Maui – Department of Defense computer system

The U.S. is the largest arms dealer in the world.

“The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) came out with its annual analysis of the global arms trade this week and as usual, the United States was the number one weapons exporter by a large margin. For the five years from 2017 to 2021, the U.S. accounted for 39 percent of major arms deliveries worldwide, over twice what Russia transferred and nearly 10 times what China sent to its weapons clients. In addition, the U.S. had far more customers – 103 nations, or more than half of the member states of the United Nations.” Forbes Magazine March 18, 2022

The U.S. has more military bases in more countries around the world, than any other country in human history.

“…some 750 American military facilities remain open in 80 nations and territories around the world. No other country in human history has had such a dominant presence…America also has three times as many installations as all other countries combined. The United Kingdom has 145. Russia two to three dozen. China five.” Cato Institute

“…the United States garrisons the planet unlike any country in history, and the evidence is on view from Honduras to Oman, Japan to Germany, Singapore to Djibouti…While there are no freestanding foreign bases permanently located in the United States, there are now around 800 US bases in foreign countries.” The Nation

Thank you for the opportunity to support HCR 91 and HR 85. I am hopeful that the Committee will pass this important measure and allow the discussion to continue.

Sincerely,

Gary Hooser

*Note: HCR91 was heard in committee and deferred (killed) without a public vote. There were 18 testimonies in support and ZERO testimonies in opposition. File this in the “Can’t make this stuff up and/or why am I not surprised” category.

County property tax policy should support locally owned and operated businesses, the same way they support local homeowners who live in their homes or who rent at defined affordable rates.

Though the below is written primarily for a Kaua‘i audience, the proposed tax policy strategies apply to all Counties.

The County Council’s review of the fiscal year 2023 budget is the most important task now facing them. While representing the priorities of Mayor Kawakami’s administration the Council has the full legal authority to amend the budget as they see fit, and to “make it their own”.

Historically, for better or worse, the Council has simply nibbled around the edges during the budget review, without making substantial amendments.

But they could. They could be bold. They could be innovative.

The Maui Council for example, has reduced funding slated for tourism support and moved those funds to a program that provides micro-grants to small local farmers. The Council also, during that same budget period significantly increased property taxes on Maui hotels and resorts.

The visitor industry screamed bloody murder and the small farmers said thank you.

Since then, no hotels have left Maui because the taxes are too high. Their beaches and roadways likewise remain crowded with visitors even though the County has reduced its marketing support.

We should do the same here on Kauai: Increase the property tax on hotels and resorts and on other foreign corporate entities who do business here, benefit from our natural environment, and utilize County services while exporting their profits to the continent or other foreign lands.

The property tax structure is a powerful public policy tool. It’s also the primary revenue producer for the County.

Owner-occupied homes pay the lowest property tax rate. In essence, the County protects and subsidizes owner-occupied properties shifting the property tax burden onto other classifications and uses. This is a basic example of utilizing tax policy to support a social objective, that benefits local residents.

In recent years our Council and Mayor have utilized this same public policy tool to incentivize affordable residential rentals. In essence, the owners of residential rental properties who change rents at defined affordable rates (and complete the necessary paperwork), also receive the lowest property tax rates.

The policy supports local families who live here and rewards property owners for renting to local residents at “below market” rates. Conversely, the policy shifts much of the cost of running the County to absentee investor owners who do not live here and who choose to maximize their profits by charging higher rents.

This public policy direction should be both applauded and expanded.

Why not have a similar property tax policy for businesses? A local restaurant or retail store, whose owners live here and who keep their profits here, should pay a lower tax rate than a corporate fast-food chain or big box store that has zero local ownership and who export their profits elsewhere.

Likewise, property owners who lease their commercial properties at affordable rates to aspiring local entrepreneurs should also be charged lower rates as an incentive and reward for helping to support small local businesses.

Ditto to agricultural lands. Small locally owned farms should pay much less than multinational corporate agribusiness.

And to those worried that these large companies will flee the islands due to our high property taxes, somehow I don’t think that is likely. To my knowledge, no hotel, no fast food store, no big box store, and certainly no GMO conglomerate has ever complained about our property taxes being too high.

It’s called a progressive tax policy. Those who have more, pay more.

We support and subsidize local homeownership and affordable residential rentals, why not do the same for locally owned small businesses?

Please call AND email TODAY: Speaker Scott Saiki 586-6100 repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov
AND Labor Chair Richard Onishi 586-6120 reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov

SB2018 which gradually increases the minimum wage to $18 by 2026 and does not increase the tip penalty must get posted for a hearing today by the House Labor Committee, or by House rules it will die.

Please also if you have the time:

Contact your district Representative (all are listed here), especially if they are a member of the Labor Committee or part of the House Leadership Faction.

Tell them to please post a hearing for SB2018 which gradually increases the minimum wage to reach $18 in 2026 and does not increase the tip penalty for restaurant workers. This bill passed almost unanimously out of the Senate and Governor Ige testified in support.

Heads Up: The response you receive from your Representative will be “We have another ‘vehicle’ in HB2510 so the minimum wage issue is still alive. We just prefer the House Bill.”

To be clear: HB2510 is an inferior bill and the House is playing games with the Senate. HB2510 delays the $18 increase until 2028 AND it dramatically increases the tip penalty which hurts restaurant workers.

Please send the message loud and clear to the House. No games. Schedule and pass SB2018 without amendments now. Hawaiʻi workers deserve it.

Here’s something you can do today, that is truly important. And please, don’t doubt for a moment the importance of your voice, and/or our collective voices – because they matter.

HB2510 HD2 increasing the minimum wage via phased-in incremental steps and reaching $18 in 2028, has been scheduled for its first Senate hearing tomorrow, Monday 03/21 at 3:15 pm.

Unfortunately, HB2510 HD2 which has crossed over from the House still falls short of SB2018 (the Senate proposal the House has refused to schedule).

Not only does HB2510 HD2 fail to achieve $18 until 2028 but it also increases the tip penalty to $2.75 (a 367% increase) harming tipped workers. The bill does expand the state earned income tax credit (EITC), which is a good thing and definitely adds value to the package.

Your testimony in support of strengthening HB2510 HD2 is important – today Sunday before 3 pm if possible, but late testimony is also acceptable.

My plan is to testify in support with two amendments.

No expansion of the Tip Penalty
Incremental increases that reach $18 by 2026
Yes, I prefer that the Tip Penalty be eliminated entirely and the wage increased to an actual living wage sooner – but I also know that compromise is necessary.

Increasing the minimum wage in Hawaiʻi to $18 per hour by 2026, without increasing the Tip Penalty, will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of all working people.

**********************************************************************************
Thank you to Raise Up Hawaiʻi for this action alert!

Please sign-up to testify over zoom, or plan to testify in person at the capitol. Now is the time to use every chance we have to show support.

Hearing: Mon., March 21, 3:15 PM
Testimony Due: Sun., March 20, 3:15 PM (late testimony also accepted)
*******************************************************
Please take the time today to submit your testimony. If possible, please also “show up” at the hearing on Monday via Zoom or in person at the Capitol.

If this is your first time submitting testimony or you are unfamiliar with the process, please follow these simple steps:

Go to the Capitol Website https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov and Register
After you have Registered then SIGN IN
After you Sign In then go to Submit Testimony
Next – see on upper left “Enter Bill or Measure” – enter HB2510
Follow the instructions from here!
 
Mahalo for being involved and taking action.

Beware the Ides of March – Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March, or March 15, in the year 44 BCE. Caesar was stabbed to death at a meeting of the Roman Senate.

Today in the world of Hawaii Policy and Politics, when I think “Beware the Ides of March” I think about the legislative calendar and the time of cross-over, which leads to conference committee – a time when the legislative terrain turns into the killing fields.

Approximately 890 bills are alive at the moment. By the end of the legislative session Sine Die May 5, that number will drop to about 250.

Some bills will be kept alive simply as “bargaining chips” to leverage the passage of still yet other bills that may be totally unrelated.

Many will die because they are duplicative or “companion bills” when only one “vehicle” is actually needed. Others will die because “there is no money” to fund its provisions.

Of course, when they tell you there is no money, what they are really saying is that it’s not a priority.

Like the assassination of Julius Caesar, but in a much more genteel manner, many others will die in a conspiratorial environment with no one really knowing who actually pulled the trigger. Yes, I know I’m mixing metaphors.

The Chairs of the various committees will be responsible for putting to rest, as quietly and cleanly as possible those bills that do not have the support of their “leadership” (Senate President, House Speaker, WAM and Finance Chair). They will do the dirty work via three main strategies.

The Chair will either simply not schedule a bill for a hearing, schedule it and then “defer it indefinitely”, or pass the measure loaded with poison pill amendments guaranteeing it will go to conference committee where it can be killed in the dark.

To be clear and fair to the Chair, a majority of members can override the Chair’s decision but they won’t. And woe be it to the member who tries and fails.

Those bills that do have the support of leadership in the House or Senate, will then be passed out of their respective committees and head to conference committee where the ultimate bargaining and leveraging of various bills against each other will occur. While the conference committee meetings are technically public, the public is not allowed to testify and the actual decisions are made behind closed doors.

In conference, bills will often die just because a chair, usually the money committee chair, simply (but intentionally) fails to show up at the scheduled meeting time. Frequently the excuse given is a vague “We couldn’t get the other side to agree”. At the conclusion, no one really knows who is responsible for the demise of the measure.

Why so much subterfuge? Why make it so complicated? If a particular bill represents bad public policy or is an unpopular measure and lacks a majority of the members’ support, why not just say so and vote it down – and let the cards fall where they may?

The answer is fear.

Lawmaker politicians who must be elected to serve, and who love serving, lose votes almost every time they themselves cast a vote. So the fewer votes they cast, the fewer votes at the ballot box they risk losing. They lose at the ballot box and they lose everything – position, power, and prestige. Poof. Gone.

Think about it. Every time a bill is passed someone’s ox gets gored. Pass a bill restricting vaping or cigarettes, the vapors and smokers will not like you. Vote to support abortion rights, gun control or the rights of LGBTQ folks, and the religious right will scratch you off their voting list. Raise taxes on something, then boom…you lose more votes.

From a political perspective, killing bills without a vote and thus without accountability is the safest political way to operate. They have a phrase for this at the legislature and it’s called “protecting your members”.

Those in leadership positions, such as the Senate President and House Speaker, and those that hold the two most powerful Committee Chair positions (Ways and Means in the Senate and Finance in the House) hold these positions by virtue of their ability to gain the support of a majority of the members.

Rule #1 – majority rules. Senator Ronald Kouchi needs 13 votes to be Senate President. Representative Scott Saiki likewise needs 26 votes to retain his power as Speaker of the House. If either legislative leader loses their respective majority support, they lose their leadership position. Consequently, they are very motivated to “protect their members” and thus will do what they can to avoid “exposing their members” to tough public votes that put them at risk come election time.

This is why the vast majority of bills die in the dead of the night when no one is watching and without accountability. Those that are voted on and do pass are mostly supported unanimously or with very little opposition.

Do you wonder why there is a dearth of bold action, and strong forward-thinking leadership? The answer is a majority of those we elect and certainly those in leadership positions, live and operate primarily in a fear-based environment. They are afraid of making a mistake, and of losing their next election. Those in leadership positions are similarly afraid of losing that greater power and stature. So timidity is the norm and avoiding public votes the standard.

To be clear, we have good, talented, altruistic people now serving in both the House and the Senate, who are not fixated on the fear of losing the next election. We just need more of them. We need that majority required under Rule #1.

Stay tuned. Your help will be needed to get there, and August 13 is just around the corner.

Gary Hooser

It’s times like this when I wish I had finished law school, or perhaps married a lawyer, or had my children grow up to be lawyers, or had a bunch of money and could just hire a bunch of lawyers.

There are some days, as in today when I just want to take the legislature to court and force them to follow the law.

How is it that they can just violate the State Constitution with no repercussions?

I recently attended in a virtual manner, a Senate committee hearing and testified via Zoom along with a dozen or so other members of the public. When the testimony was concluded, the Chair of the committee, stated and I will paraphrase, “Unless any members want to go into a ‘break-out room’ and discuss this further, I will go now into decision-making.”

At that point, a member of the committee raised their hand and stated, “Yes, I would like us to go into a break-out room and discuss this further.”

The Chair then called a recess, and the committee proceeded to meet virtually in private in the “Zoom break-out room”. The rest of us members of the public remained outside in the regular Zoom room, unaware of what was being discussed in private by the committee members.

In the old days, when rooms were actually rooms, the same committee would just exit the main committee room and go into the back hallway to talk in private. But in the days of Zoom, no one has to walk anywhere and it’s all done virtually with the click of a button.

In any case, on this day for this “public hearing”, this committee went into their private Zoom room to have their private meeting to discuss in private the pending decision they were about to make.

Ten minutes or so later, the Chair reconvened the public Zoom meeting and announced the decision of the committee (that the committee had presumably just discussed and agreed to in private).

To restate and to be absolutely clear: A committee of the Hawaii State Senate went into a private room that the public was not allowed to enter, for the purpose of making a decision on matters that had been referred to that committee.

Yet the Hawaii State Constitution Article III – Section 12 states: “Every meeting of a committee in either house or of a committee comprised of a member or members of both houses held for the purpose of making a decision on matters referred to the committee shall be open to the public.”

While the above describes one particular public hearing that occurred a week or so ago, this is something that happens regularly in both the Senate and the House. Secret meetings in private rooms deciding the people’s business is standard operating procedure at the Capitol.

It’s part of the culture.

It doesn’t mean that the players are criminals in the conventional sense (though some clearly are). It mostly means they prefer to speak frankly to each other and that’s easier to do when the camera is off and the public is locked out of the room.

I get it. I totally understand the rationale actually. But it’s not in the public’s best interest, and it’s against the law.

Either legislative leadership is unaware of the provisions contained in Article III – Section 12 of the State Constitution or they have chosen to ignore it.

The path of choice would be for “leadership” in the House and Senate to just change their internal rules and practices, and follow the spirit, intent, and explicit language contained in the Constitution. The other way is to “take’em to court”. Any lawyers out there want to weigh in and help?

Gary Hooser
http://www.garyhooser.com

I’ll start with the very good news, move to more good news, stray into an area of trepidation, and end with an ask for help.

HB2464 “Stand Your Ground” was “recommitted” in the State House of Representatives on Tuesday 03/08, and therefore is officially “dead”.

Translation: During the private “majority caucus” meeting held prior to the actual floor vote a majority of the members present told Speaker Scott Saiki “I’m not going to risk my election on this stupid bill, it’s bad politics, bad policy, and bad leadership asking me to vote in support.”

Ok. A majority most likely didn’t really say that out loud. But spoken or unspoken that was no doubt the sentiment expressed and consequently HB2464 was killed. Only Rep. Val Okimoto (R-Mililani) and Rep. James Tokioka (D- Kauaʻi) chose to go down with the ship and voted against killing it.

HB2464 is dead because many of you took the time to send an email or two. Trust me on this. A flurry of emails and telephone calls from constituents to those Representatives who had previously voted Yes, made the difference.

In case you missed it, here is my original blog post pulling back the curtain on HB2464 Hawaiʻi Right-Wing Democrats At Work. Here is an excellent column published in the StarAdv A Hawaiʻi Stand Your Ground Law Would Encourage Violence.

Thank you so, so much to those of you who took the time to make the call and send the email. Your effort paid off.

Ditto on minimum wage. Your testimony, your email and your phone calls made a huge difference.

While the House vehicle HB2510HD2 still falls short of the preferred Senate SB2018, it was greatly improved. The $18 threshold is now set to be reached in 2028 instead of 2030, and the first increment now goes to $13 on January 1, 2023. Unfortunately, the House version continues to expand the tip penalty for restaurant workers.

HB2510HD2 will now “cross over” to the Senate where it will undergo further committee hearings. SB2018 has already crossed but has yet to be scheduled for hearings in the House.

If either bill is approved during the upcoming committee hearings “as is” without any further amendments, that measure will then be sent to the governor for approval or veto. If either or both bills are further amended, that will trigger the “conference committee” process.

The conference committee process essentially occurs in a “black box” with negotiations between the House and Senate occurring behind closed doors. At the conclusion of these backroom discussions, a decision is simply announced to the public. Either the measure is killed and both sides blame each other, or it’s passed with possible further amendments, with both sides taking credit.

To be clear, the conference committee hearings are publically posted and meetings are open to the public (but the public is not allowed to speak). There is a charade of transparency but the process is fraught with minefields, prone to mischief, and rife with obfuscation. Legislators attempting to work both political sides of the issue are able to kill a bill just by not agreeing to any proposal put forth by the other side.

Because the process is mostly conducted in a black box and out of the public view – no one ever knows the real reasons the bill died.

Over 500 bills are now in the process of “cross over”. In the coming days, I will attempt to highlight those measures considered to be priority bills by advocates in various subject matter areas.

Until then mahalo and a hui hou.

Gary Hooser ()
Executive Director
Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative ()

*Can you help? As Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative (PHI) prepares to enter the second quarter of 2022, I would be remiss if I did not reach out in advance to request fundraising support. If you are able to make an online contribution today, that would go a long way toward reducing our stress and giving us the confidence needed to move forward as aggressively as possible.

In addition to our basic and pretty minimal day-to-day admin costs, we need to “build the bank” in preparation for the coming primary election.

We know for certain that big business, big development, and big tourism will be targeting many of our friends now holding elective office. We must be prepared to support them AND several new candidates who are stepping up to run for election this year.

All funds raised will be used to promote our endorsed candidates and for other expenses permitted under our 501c4 status.

PHI is a 501c4 nonprofit organization however because we are involved in aggressive advocacy and we endorse candidates statewide – contributions are NOT tax-deductible.

No contribution is too small. We have some friends donating just $5 or $10 per month and others who contribute $100 – $1000.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer with an online contribution today and preferably prior to April 1st. If you prefer, checks may also be mailed to:

Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative
P.O. Box 871
Honolulu, HI 96808

I’m getting calls daily from panicked Kaua`i residents being forced out of their long-term rentals. An overheated housing market means an increasing number of landlords are selling out to wealthy investors from the continent.

For many there’s nowhere to go. Nowhere at all.

Except perhaps under that bridge, or in the bushes across from the beach, or behind the golf course.

If you don’t believe me, just drive around with your eyes open.

A quick check of various online platforms shows slim pickings with long term rental prices ranging from $1,100/mo for a studio in Hanamaulu, $2,300/mo for a 1bd in Koloa, $3,200/mo 3bd/2ba in Kekaha, and $5,700/mo 2bd/2ba in Princeville.

The message from affordable public housing: *CURRENTLY, WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR WAITLIST. NO IMMEDIATE VACANCIES*

So tell me. Where is a young family supposed to live? Or the elderly retiree living on social security? Or our friends working multiple jobs just to exist?

The State legislature is considering $1 billion to go toward affordable housing initiatives on all islands.

We have good people and good organizations – like Kaua`i Habitat for Humanity and Jim and Harvest Edmonds who founded PAL, a non-profit providing homes and sustainable living solutions for the people of Kaua`i. 

Over the past few years, the County has taken significant steps in the right direction. New housing projects have been completed and changes to density requirements have been implemented – but we need more.

County Government, the Mayor, and the Council – this is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to land use, zoning, density, infrastructure, construction permitting, and the implementation of community development plans.

To be ultimately clear, reducing building standards, cutting corners to “fast track” development, and rezoning agricultural land outside of existing urban areas – are not paths we should take.

Rather than reducing standards, the County needs to “staff up” departments charged with plan/permit review.

#1) Special County administrative planning and permitting teams should be assembled that focus first and foremost on facilitating the plan review and permitting for affordable projects, whether a single affordable rental unit, or large-scale development.

#2) The Council’s path of increasing allowable density on lands adjacent to existing infrastructure (road, sewer, water) is a good one. However, increased density is a public gift to landowners and should not be given without a requirement in writing that in return, the landowner/developer will actually build the much-needed affordable housing – in the near future.

3) The County also must aggressively pursue partnerships with those landowners controlling lands within or adjacent to existing urban areas. Lihue is the most obvious example. Lands across from the airport, Kukui Grove, and Walmart are all prime locations to develop affordable housing for local residents.

The County must use its zoning and taxing authority to incentivize appropriate development in these and other similar areas around the island. The County also has significant borrowing capacity and could use bond funding to support the additional infrastructure needed – IF and only IF – the project is truly affordable to a majority of Kaua`i residents. The bonds would be repaid via the increased tax revenue generated from the developed properties.

If the availability of water is an issue, additional storage and/or transmission capacity can be expanded.

The County has an array of carrots and sticks it can use to persuade landowners to do the right thing. If the landowner remains recalcitrant (greedy) the County should then force a sale at fair market value (based on existing agricultural zoning) via eminent domain, and find another suitable (less greedy) development partner.

We are in a housing emergency. People are hurting and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. It’s time for the County to get serious and play hardball.

Ask any military veteran: In combat, the most crucial briefing defines the rules of engagement. When can you shoot to kill? When must you use pragmatic restraint? These rules protect fellow service members and prevent the loss of innocent life.

The Hawaii Legislature just advanced a bill that will change our state’s rules of engagement, making it more permissible to fight, be violent, and cause serious injury or death. This bill is an aberration of all that we stand for in this state, and the legislators who supported it should be embarrassed.

This bill — House Bill 2464 — which passed the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee last week, is modeled after the dangerous Shoot First laws that exist on the continent.

The bill is similar to Florida’s Shoot First law — sometimes called “Stand Your Ground” — that facilitated the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer. In tragic irony, the bill passed committee here one day before the 10-year remembrance of Trayvon’s death. The self-defense laws currently in place in the state already afford us the right to protect ourselves, including use of deadly force, if necessary. This bill tells citizens that even if they could safely walk away from a dangerous situation, they can choose to escalate the violence, shoot to kill, and claim self-defense.

This bill encourages violence. Why would we want that? More aggression, more toxic behavior, more lives taken. This is not our way.

I know something about fighting and violence. I am a fourth-generation Army combat veteran, deployed to Afghanistan with the 25th Infantry Division, and was wounded in combat.

I led soldiers to war. I know how to keep people safe in dangerous situations. That involves well-crafted rules, discipline, and the requirement to use violence only as a last resort.

This bill would make violence a first option. And if a party happens to be armed, this bill becomes a Shoot First law.

They want Hawaii to join those states — states with much higher rates of violent crime and gun deaths. These groups advocate violence and death to support the NRA’s “guns everywhere, for anyone, no questions asked” agenda.

Nationally, laws like this are associated with more than 700 additional gun deaths each year.

Moreover, if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the state of New York in a pending decision on permitting laws for the public carrying of guns, Hawaii’s gun laws could change, too. That would lead to more armed citizens in public. Combined with this Shoot First law, we will have more shooting deaths in Hawaii.

My military training taught me that the application of violence and the decision to take a human life should not be taken lightly. I was taught that if you can accomplish your mission without harming others, you must.

If you need to defend yourself, defend yourself. If you can safely retreat, retreat. Violence should always be a last resort. That’s how our laws read now. There’s no need to amend them.

Say no to violence and no to the gun lobby. Tell your state representative to oppose HB 2464.

I was shocked this bill made it out of committee. I asked myself, how — in a state with such strong gun violence prevention laws — can we support a bill similar to those that have caused so many gun deaths in other states?

The tell-tale markers are there. This is a bill with the gun lobby behind it. The bill is supported by the U.S. Concealed Carry Association and the National Rifle Association of Hawaii. In testimony supporting the bill, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition lauded states with laws that encourage people to shoot first.

By Chris Marvin
Honolulu resident Chris Marvin is a retired Army officer and a member of the Everytown Veteran Advisory Council.
Copyright (c)2022 Honolulu Star-Advertiser,
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/03/07/editorial/island-voices/column-a-hawaii-stand-your-ground-law-would-encourage-violence/
Edition 3/7/2022 Powered by TECNAVIA
Monday, 03/07/2022 Page .A11 Copyright (c)2022 Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Edition 3/7/2022

The so-called Democratic Majority in the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives has seemingly drunk the Qlaid and gone off the deep end (on the far right side) of the pool.

Can you believe Hawaiʻi Democrats would actually pass a “Stand your ground bill?
Well, the short answer is yes, HB2464 is it.

“The shooting of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin drew national attention to these laws…Our study finds homicides go up by 7 to 9 % in states that pass the laws…As to whether the laws reduce crime…we find no evidence of any deterrence effect…” Must Read National Public Radio

“Stand your ground laws overturn centuries of jurisprudence, allowing people to avoid criminal prosecution for the use of deadly force even when the person could easily and safely retreat. Research consistently shows that stand your ground laws increase homicides…” The Educational Fund To Stop Gun Violence.

“In short, Stand Your Ground laws encourage the use of deadly force. These laws open the door to a more dangerous world where everyone feels pressure to carry a gun – and if they feel threatened, to shoot first and tell their stories later.” Scholars Org

“Stand Your Ground laws – which limit or remove the expectation that lethal force in self-defense is only justified in situations where it does not seem safe to step away instead – deepen disparities in the legal system and disproportionately justify the use of violence by people who are white and male against people who are not. Moreover, research shows these laws lead to significantly more killing – in any given month, 30 to 50 people across the country are killed as a result of these laws – and have no deterrent effect on other crimes.” Southern Poverty Law Center

So who in the State House of Representatives actually voted for this dangerous, testosterone-fueled right-wing, and very dangerous piece of legislation? Unfortunately, that list is long, and it includes Speaker Scott Saiki and every member of the House Leadership faction – all of whom are members of the Democratic Party, I am embarrassed to say.

To end this on a positive note, I will list the NO votes here. Please take a moment to thank them for standing up to this madness. Representative(s)

Representative Patrick Branco – repbranco@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sonny Ganaden – repganaden@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Jeanne Kapela – repkapela@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Dale Kobayashi – repdkobayashi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Nicole Lowen – replowen@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Lisa Marten – repmarten@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Angus McKelvey – repmckelvey@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Nadine Nakamura – repnakamura@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Amy Perruso – repperruso@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Jackson Sayama – repsayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Roy Takumi – reptakumi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Adrian Tam – reptam@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative David Tarnas – reptarnas@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Tina Wildberger – repwildberger@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Voting No (14)

Complete contact information for all Representatives can be found here .

For easy reference, below are all of those that voted YES. I encourage you to give them a piece of your mind – professionally and courteously of course.

House Leadership
Speaker Scott Saiki – repsaiki@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Speaker John Mizuno – repmizuno@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Majority Leader Della Au Belatti – repbelatti@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa – repmorikawa@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Minority Leader Val Okimoto – repokimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Minority Floor Leader Lauren Matsumoto – repmatsumoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Minority Policy Leader Gene Ward – repward@Capitol.hawaii.gov
House General Membership
Representative Henry Aquino – repaquino@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Linda Clark – repclark@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Stacelynn Eli – repeli@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Cedric Gates – repgates@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sharon Har – rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Mark Hashem – rephashem@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Troy Hashimoto – rephashimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Daniel Holt – repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Linda Ichiyama – repichiyama@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Greggor Ilagan – repilagan@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Aaron Ling Johanson – repjohanson@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Lisa Kitagawa – repkitagawa@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Bertrand Kobayashi – repkobayashi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sam Kong – repkong@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Matthew LoPresti – replopresti@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sylvia Luke – repluke@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Mark Nakashima – repnakashima@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Scott Nishimoto – repnishimoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Takashi Ohno – repohno@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Richard Onishi – reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Sean Quinlan – repquinlan@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Gregg Takayama – reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative James Tokioka – reptokioka@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Justin Woodson – repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Ryan Yamane – repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Kyle Yamashita – repyamashita@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Absent from vote:
Assistant Minority Floor Leader Bob McDermott – repmcdermott@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Chris Todd – reptodd@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Scot Matayoshi – repmatayoshi@Capitol.hawaii.gov (voted yes in committee but absent from floor vote)