Under 2A lawsuit pressure, Hawaii to legalize tasers

• Posted on 18 January 2019
• By Write Winger
• 0

Last year, attorney Alan Beck filed a lawsuit in Hawaii on behalf of his client Mr. Andrew Namiki Roberts challenging Hawaii’s total ban on tasers...

Lawmakers in Hawaii have drafted legislation to repeal a law that bans the possession, offering or holding for sale, selling, giving, lending, or delivering of electric guns.

Hawaii State Senate Bill SB245 states, “The legislature finds that its existing ban on electric guns may be unconstitutional as a result of the United States Supreme Court's decision in Caetano v. Massachusetts. The legislature further finds that the possession and use of electric guns should be permitted as incident to the right of self-defense and to discourage the use of more dangerous firearms. The legislature further finds that Hawaii is one of only five states with a complete ban on electric guns.”

Last year, attorney Alan Beck filed a lawsuit in Hawaii on behalf of his client Mr. Andrew Namiki Roberts challenging Hawaii’s total ban on tasers.

Roberts, while a legal resident, cannot apply for a handgun carry permit because Hawaii law only allows permits to be issued to US citizens (which it never does, even for the average law abiding citizen). Because he is a photographer and often carries expensive equipment, he desires to possess and carry a taser for self defense and other lawful purposes in his home, business, and while traveling between these locations and all other locations.

Mr. Beck has been successful at overturning bans on non lethal tasers throughout the country on Second Amendment grounds. To not suffer an assured loss, the State of Hawaii asked the court to stay the case so they could draft this legislation.

Mr. Beck is also litigating a case in New York to overturn its ban on tasers as well.