Hawaiian Gun Culture

I don't get Hawaii.  It is is a tropical paradise, yet individual freedom is one of the great failures in this state.  For a people with a love of laughter, song, dance, nature, and food--oh yes, the food--they are a state where many rely on the public dole, and worse, allow unreasonable restrictions on their specific enumerated rights under the US constitution.

Many here would argue that there is no Hawaiian "gun culture," that Hawaiians aren't real big on guns and so it isn't a big deal that people in this state must register all of their guns (which, to date, has stopped zero crimes,) must get a permit simply to acquire a gun--including a mandatory 14-day waiting period (even though the federal background check is instant, and even if you already own a gun.)

Gun registration.
There is no proof, anywhere, that has shown that gun registration does anything to reduce crime.  It does, however cost the citizens.  When I went to register my guns, I had to drag ALL of them into downtown Honolulu, to the police station, and let the police inspect them.  Not really sure why they have to do that, as if I had any guns I wasn't legally allowed to own, the LAST thing I would do is bring them to the police station.  Likewise, if I owned a gun that had been used in the commission of a crime, I would never bring it in to the cops.  Criminals aren't entirely stupid.  For that matter, criminals aren't going to register their guns--because they are criminals.

Waiting or "cool down."
This regulation presumes that if you are buying a gun, you might want it for illicit purposes, and imposes a cool-down period.  On its face, I can understand why that might be a good idea, until you put it to the exercise of specific enumerated rights test--should people be required to wait for a specified period of time so that they can exercise their right to speak freely, or freely assemble, or petition their government for redress of grievances?  Of course not... so why should there be a waiting period to exercise their right to keep and bear arms?

Hawaiian "gun culture" of lack thereof.  In 1810, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands under the rule of a single monarch.  Anyone want to venture a guess one what technological wonder he used to do this?  That's right woodchuck chuckers, he used muskets.  Muskets given to him by the Ha'ole--the foreigner.
Kamehameha I is venerated as a legendary Hawaiian king for his rule over the island tribes--rule that would never have been gained without the use of guns and cannon.
Further, in 1887, a group of cabinet officials and advisers to King David Kalākaua and an armed militia forced the king to promulgate what is known as the Bayonet Constitution. The impetus given for the new constitution was the frustration of the Reform Party (also known as the Missionary Party) with growing debts, spending habits of the King, and general governance. It was specifically triggered by a failed attempt by Kalākaua to create a Polynesian Federation, and accusations of an opium bribery scandal.   The 1887 constitution stripped the monarchy of much of its authority, imposed significant income and property requirements for voting, and completely disenfranchised all Asians from voting.  When Kalākaua died in 1891 during a visit to San Francisco, his sister Liliʻuokalani assumed the throne.
And of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and subsequent fears of Japanese invasion (like they did in China, the and all across the Pacific) saw many Hawaiians armed and prepared to defend Hawaii.

But now you can't own a gun without permission.  Theoretically, you can get a license to carry a firearm but since the law says the chief of police MAY issue a CCW if a person is of legal standing to possess a firearm, not SHALL issue if there is no good reason to refuse, the number of permits to carry is so small as to be statistically irrelevant (I believe that the only ones issued, ever have been to the chief of police and his cronies--use proles don't get them.)  Apply that to any other property you own--take your car.  By itself, it's just a machine.  It does have the ability to kill; people die on Hawaiian roads often enough to prove that.  In the control of someone who wants to kill, cars can be driven into crowds of people, buildings, other cars, etc.  We are required to license ourselves and our cars, and to register them annually and have them inspected--none of which will stop them from being used in the commission of a crime.  However, we allow these dangerous devices to be used daily, by a vast majority of the adult population (even by near-adults aged 16 or older) and don't give it a second thought.  There is no special permit required to operate a car, other than a standard license--there is no restriction on its use, there is no requirement to show cause for use or ownership, you don't have to demonstrate a need to keep your car with you.
I don't think it's a lack of gun culture that makes Hawaiian gun laws so stupid.  I think it's a lack of the true understanding of freedom.  Hawaii was a monarchy until annexation in 1901.  It was another half-century until the territory became the 50th state.  And now the state is a haven for social welfare, the public dole, and people still have no issues with being "cared for" by the state.  This is evident in the simple fact that in Hawaii, you do not have the "right" to defend your property from criminals with deadly force--if an intruder breaks into your home, and you shoot and kill him, you WILL be charged with homicide.  You are under the burden of proof to show that the person you killed had the intent and means to personally injure you or your family.  So you have to demonstrate (somehow) what the intent of the criminal illegally in your home was.  The criminal may not have been armed--but that isn't to say he couldn't have found a weapon in your home--and besides, how are you to know why they are there?  The criminal may just be there to steal your shit--but how are you to know if he might also have it in mind to rape your wife as well?  I suppose you could ask him nicely, and if he says "Oh, I'm just here for the jewelry, DVD player, computer, and other valuables."  Since he is obviously an honorable criminal, you should believe him and go back to bed, secure in the knowledge that your personal safety is assured, because criminals would never lie.
It does make me wonder why bank guards have guns... after all, if I am only there to relieve them of property, and not to hurt anyone...
So, if you live here, and someone breaks into your house in the middle of the night, make sure you shoot them until they are dead--because otherwise, you'll have them saying "I was just there for the valuables, brah."  And before the cops arrive, find a nice sturdy weapon from the kitchen or garage and put it in their hands.  Make sure everyone in the house remembers you screaming over and over for them to surrender or leave, and remembers hearing them scream "No way, I'm here to rape everyone and then kill you all, even the dog."

--Chuck