The Aloha State is known for many things, notably their paradise-like beaches, surfing, and tiki life. The small island chain pulls up visions of sipping umbrella topped tasty beverages and the scent of coconut tanning oil. One thing  lawmakers in Hawaii just don’t seem to get is that onerous laws restricting the rights of citizens do very little to curb or stop violence in any manner. The anti-freedom stance is such that their laws are in the crosshairs being challenged over their firearm possession polices. Hence, the Young v Hawaii case making its way through the 9th circuit which challenges Hawaii’s stance on open carry.

As reported in the Star Advertiser their laws do very little to stop the criminal element:

A 39-year-old Kona man, wanted on warrants for a manslaughter and negligent homicide investigation, was arrested in Pahoa and charged with multiple firearm and drug offenses.

A police special enforcement unit found Bernard Antoque and arrested him Thursday in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of Pahoa.

He had two outstanding warrants and officers found a firearm and marijuana in plain sight inside the vehicle, Hawaii County police said.

Lawmakers in Hawaii ought to ask themselves how their anti-civil rights approach concerning the Second Amendment could possibly allow a person like Antoque to be able to commit any of the crimes he is being accused of.  The list of charges is long, including possession of meth.

Interesting to note and perhaps a non-sequitur, is this quote:

Detectives also recovered a loaded “ghost gun” pistol (firearm without a serial number)…

With the gun grabbing tides flowing towards restricting so called “ghost guns” on a national stage, more information about this report needs to be obtained.  Was it a firearm with a defaced serial number?  Was this a bonafide “homemade” or manufactured from an 80% lower firearm?  Not to seem skeptical, but given the atmosphere, one can guess no, it’s probably not a “ghost gun” in conventual terms.

With both rhetoric and laws that are aimed at vilifying firearms and firearm owners in any and every manner, it’s only a matter of time before things have to change in Hawaii and the state’s other anti-gun allies (CA, IL, MA, NJ, NY, MD, etc.).  This scenario and subsequent reporting on it is quite telling when it comes to the temperature of the water regarding firearms.

It’s impossible to comment on the “what ifs” concerning Antoque’s possible victim(s) in the alleged homicide, but one thing  is for certain, they were not able to legally defend themselves with a firearm if they were outside their home. Hawaii may allow for firearms to be carried in self-defense in theory, but in practice it’s virtually impossible for the average resident to obtain a license. 

Even with laws in place, criminals can still get their hands on illegal drugs like meth, and can illegally acquire a gun as well, but the state’s gun laws ensure that legal gun owners have no way to protect themselves with a firearm outside of their home. That’s not just a bad idea, it’s completely lolo.

John Petrolino is a US Merchant Marine Officer, writer, author of “Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on General Gun Safety & Use” and NRA certified pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor living under and working to change New Jersey’s draconian and unconstitutional gun laws. You can find him on the web at www.johnpetrolino.com on twitter at @johnpetrolino and on instagram @jpetrolinoiii