TICK TOCK: Across the Islands People Are Demanding Action on Gun Safety as Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Stall on Bipartisan Assault Weapons Ban 

Moms Demand Action Volunteers Will Gather at the Capitol Rotunda Today at 1:00 PM to Urge Lawmakers to Advance SB 401

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement urging House and Senate leadership to appoint lawmakers to a conference committee to advance SB 401. The legislation, which passed both chambers, would close a dangerous gap in Hawaiʻi law that currently prohibits assault pistols but not the most common assault weapons, such as AR-15s. This bill would prohibit high-powered semiautomatic rifles with military features that can fire dozens of rounds in seconds. 

“Waiting for the next tragedy to take action is a luxury our communities cannot afford,” said Terriann Mohideen, a volunteer with the Hawaiʻi chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Hawaiʻi has long been a national leader in the fight against gun violence. But we have one glaring loophole in our gun laws – we still haven’t prohibited the weapon of choice for mass shooters such as the AR-15 – the time for action is now, not after another tragedy. We urge lawmakers and Governor Josh Green to listen to the people, move quickly on this legislation and save lives.” 

How Hawaiʻi is Making its Voice Heard: 

• Last week, Capt. Chris Marvin and Air Force Veteran Chris Thomas, residents of Honolulu and gun safety advocates, briefed members of the press on the features of assault weapons, their differences from traditional hunting rifles and made the case for the legislature to ban assault weapons. See more here. 

• This week, healthcare professionals from across the United States, including two dozen local physicians, nurses and other public health experts from across the islands signed on to a letter urging lawmakers to pass a ban on assault weapons. In their letter, healthcare professionals wrote that: “Unlike other epidemics, these mass shooting tragedies are not inevitable acts of nature; they are preventable catastrophes made possible by the proliferation of these weapons (AR-15s).” Read the letter in full here. 

• This week, volunteers with the Hawaiʻi chapter of Moms Demand Action have been organizing statewide, calling their lawmakers to urge them to listen to the people and appoint members to the conference committee for SB 401. As of April 22, 2025, almost 3,000 messages and calls have been made to lawmakers. 

From 2009 to 2022, nine out of the 10 mass shooting incidents with the most casualties involved the use of at least one assault weapon. A 2021 study found that the federal prohibition on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines was associated with a significant decrease in public mass shootings and related casualties, and prevented at least 11 public mass shootings during the 10 years it was in effect. 

Recent polling of registered voters found the overwhelming majority of state residents support strengthening the state’s gun safety laws. Last year, Everytown for Gun Safety and Ward Research conducted a survey of 695 registered voters in Hawaiʻi (390 from Oʻahu and 305 across the neighbor islands) that found strong bipartisan support for banning the purchase and possession of semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines that exceed 10 rounds. Here are the toplines of the polling:

• 75% of registered voters believe people should not be allowed to purchase or own military-style semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s – a whopping 52-point advantage compared to those who oppose such a policy. 

• 80% of respondents think high-capacity magazines that exceed 10 rounds should be banned.

• Gun owners are largely aligned with the rest of the electorate and agree with these measures: 61% say semiautomatic assault rifles should not be available for purchase or ownership, while 65% think high-capacity magazines over 10 rounds should not be legal to buy.

• These proposals have bipartisan backing. A majority of self-identified Republicans in Hawaiʻi say semiautomatic rifles should be restricted (53%) as well as high-capacity magazines (55%). Two Republican House members voted in favor of SB 401 and made impassioned speeches on the House floor.
  • Rep Julie Reyes Oda shared that she couldn’t ignore the outpouring of support from teachers and children in her district concerned about school shootings.
  • Rep. Kanani Souza made a floor speech where she disclosed that 11-year old Manny Carvalho, who was shot and killed with an AK-47 in Hilo in 2022, was her cousin.

You can read the full polling memo here. 

Hawai’i is an example that strong gun laws work – having one of the lowest rates of gun deaths—and among the strongest gun laws in the country. In an average year, 64 people die by guns. Gun violence costs Hawaii $901.4 million each year, of which $19 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Hawai’i is available here.