Many Laws, Many Dead. Why Didn't Hawaii's Strict Laws Prevent This?
By Heather Maher - ABCNEWS.com

Nov. 2 - At first glance, the workplace massacre in Hawaii doesn't do a whole lot to advance the argument for gun control. Hawaii has the strictest gun laws in the country. It's the only state that requires firearms to be both licensed and registered, and is one of just seven states that has banned the "Saturday Night Special" handgun. There's a 14-day purchase waiting period. The state even regulates second-party sales. But the suspect in the shooting rampage at a Xerox building in Honolulu not only has a criminal record, he also reportedly owns 17 guns. Does this mean gun-control laws don't work?

Honolulu's Low Crime Rate

Absolutely not, says a representative of one of America's largest gun-control advocacy groups. Naomi Paiss of Handgun Control Inc. says Hawaii's tough gun laws have given Honolulu "by far the lowest violent crime of any city its size in the United States." And besides, "gun control has never been proposed as a solution to every horrendous crime," she insists.

"The citizens of Honolulu obviously derive from their gun laws a better level of general protection," she said, "but short of banning private ownership of firearms, which we do not support, you're not going to avoid every horrendous gun crime." Daniel Polsby, a professor at George Mason University Law School who teaches a course on the Second Amendment, said wondering why crimes like this happen in states with strict laws just "proves that relying too much on gun-control laws is bound to lead to disappointment."

Massacres are still uncommon in American life, he pointed out, despite the massive media attention that follows multiple shootings.

An Argument for More, and Less A spokesman for the National Rifle Association called the shooting "a horrible tragedy" and added, "the most appropriate comment is one of concern and respect and mourning for the community." Though he acknowledged Hawaii's aggressive gun-control stance, the NRA's Bill Powers said he doesn't think Hawaii's strict laws have necessarily failed. "The laws should have stopped him. All the laws couldn't stop him, but they should have," said Powers.

For Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, the laws are the problem. "We give Hawaii an 'F' on our gun freedom index. Hawaii is an impossible state. Every gun owner complains about the red tape in getting a gun." The latest shooting proves that all the laws in the world "[won't] stop someone from committing a crazy act," he said.

No, says Paiss. She says it proves that Hawaii could use another gun law, like one Connecticut just passed. On Oct. 1, that state became the first state to allow police and the courts to remove guns from people who present a danger to the community. If the suspect in the Xerox shootings was "clearly disturbed," said Paiss, those guns the suspect reportedly owns might have been taken away.

No guns, no dead.

ABCNEWS.com's Willow Lawson and Geraldine Sealey contributed to this report.

Hawaii State Firearms Laws

Hawaii is a "may issue" state. Carrying a concealed weapon is permitted but only with a permit issued by police. The applicant must show need and permits may be restricted to certain times and places.

The state performs a background check on all firearm purchasers. Hawaii has no purchase limitations. One must acquire a permit to purchase any firearm. To receive this permit, a person must complete a firearm safety course. 21 is the minimum age for possession of a handgun unless hunting or target shooting with an adult. 16 is the minimum age to possess a shotgun or rifle, unless hunting or target shooting with an FID (firearm identification) card-carrying adult.

Localities may enact gun violence prevention ordinances.

Enacted in 1992, this law is the broadest in the nation, making it a crime to store or leave a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, within the reach or easy access of a minor, defined as anyone under the age of 16. No incident must occur in order to incur criminal penalties. There is a waiting period of up to 15 days to acquire a permit to purchase any firearm.

No person shall acquire the ownership of a firearm in any manner, until that person has first procured from the chief of police of the county of his place of business, residence, or sojourn a permit to acquire. It is unlawful to transfer a firearm to anyone who does not have a permit.

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