HB426 establishes standards of conduct for members of the firearm industry and authorizes individuals who have suffered harm due to a violation of these standards to bring civil actions against the offending parties. Additionally, it empowers the attorney general, county attorneys, and public prosecutors to initiate civil actions against firearm industry members who breach these standards.
The Hawaii State House of Representatives passed HB426 on March 2, 2023 by a vote of 42 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation poses significant restrictions on the free market by imposing stringent regulations on how businesses in the firearm industry operate. HB426 undermines the second amendment, which protects the individuals’ God-given right to keep and bear arms, which shall not be infringed. Additionally, the bill not only encroaches on constitutional freedoms but also sets a concerning precedent for governmental overreach into private industry practices involving one of our most sacred rights.