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Government
Honolulu Police Order Medical Cardholders to Surrender Their Firearms
2017-11-30
The Honolulu Police Department is ordering medical marijuana cardholders to surrender their firearms within a 30-day window of time.

KITV reports that Honolulu police are doing this via letters to cardholders demanding they "surrender weapons, permits, and ammunition to HPD or to transfer ownership."

On November 28 The Honolulu Star reported that police have been sending letters throughout the year and the one dated November 13 was signed by HPD chief Susan Ballard. It says, "Your medical marijuana use disqualifies you from ownership of firearms and ammunition."

Ballard points to Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 134-7 (a), which says, "No person who is a fugitive from justice or is a person prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition therefor."

On August 31, 2016, Breitbart News reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a ban on gun ownership for medical marijuana users is constitutional. The decision was based on the fact that marijuana use remains illegal on the federal level, whether state-sanctioned or not. This means medical marijuana cardholders cannot pass background check form 4473 and, therefore, cannot legally purchase a firearm.

Form 4473 asks if the would-be firearm purchaser is "an unlawful user of...marijuana." No one who answers "yes" to that question can purchase a gun.
Posted by:Hupeting Sforza8196

#13  Went skeet surfin'...board sank.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2017-11-30 16:57  

#12  Look for a surge of private sales among registered owners.
Posted by: Skidmark   2017-11-30 12:39  

#11  Clever use of Alinsky #4:

"4. Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.“

Should have seen that coming.
Posted by: Iblis   2017-11-30 11:09  

#10  Unfortunately, federal law is on the side of these police.

In Colorado, where marijuana is legal, they will not issue you a concealed carry permit if you use or have been issued a medical card and can even seize weapons if they feel you are a threat to the public while on controlled drugs. All in accordance to federal and state laws.

What we really need is a movement on the federal level to redo drug and gun laws to fix this mess.
Posted by: DarthVader   2017-11-30 10:54  

#9  If you think Hawai'i is "being reasonable" about guns in this case, be aware that last year the almost entirely Donk legislature passed a law that required all Hawaii gun-owners to be placed on a federal "watch list".

I now live in Minnesota.
Posted by: Mercutio   2017-11-30 10:32  

#8  Odd how law and law enforcement works.

Yep, the states can legalize anything they want but the Feds don't have to agree and can keep the illegality on the books.

I think there is going to be a big comeuppance for the pot millionaires in Colorado and California when they start dabbling in interstate commerce.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2017-11-30 10:03  

#7  #3 Now if federal marijuana laws are repealed will the HPD return the firearms.

Owners of guns unlawfully confiscated locally in Hurricane Katrina in NO had a great deal of difficulty getting their firearms returned. They had to go through the courts to get relief. However, ATF Form 4473 now reads as of 2016:

ATF Form 4473: 11e. Are you an unlawful user of, addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.


I would anticipate a legal struggle, the outcome of which would be iffy.

Posted by: JohnQC   2017-11-30 09:53  

#6  Another reason NOT to register
Posted by: Frank G   2017-11-30 09:00  

#5  Apropos #4 - but anabolic steroid use is de riguer
Posted by: M. Murcek   2017-11-30 07:41  

#4  So previous marijuana use (of any duration) disqualifies in LEO employment where a firearm is required as part of the job. Amirite?
Posted by: Frank G   2017-11-30 07:21  

#3  This is probably easier than asking actual felons to surrender weapons. As to the federal statutes concerning marijuana who do we blame. W R Hearst? Institutional racism towards Hispanilcs? B'crat inertia? IMO marijuana probably causes no more harm to society than alcohol does. Harder drugs, cocaine, heroin, etc are a great concern to me. Ultimately we need two solutions to the drug problem. One will need to be technological. Be it some sort of implant or some other medical technology. The other has to be social solution. Unfortunately drugs can be seen as exotic, daring and as a symbol of youthful rebellion. We need drugs to be seen as something only losers do
Now if federal marijuana laws are repealed will the HPD return the firearms.
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2017-11-30 06:49  

#2  No.
Posted by: newc   2017-11-30 05:04  

#1  Actually makes sense.
Posted by: 3dc   2017-11-30 00:50  

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