Hawaiian Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Sales of Toy Guns to Children

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If Hawaiian State Rep. Scott Saiki gets his way, guns will be outlawed in Hawaii. Toy guns for kids, that is. Adults can still buy toy guns. Presumably, it is still safe to give them to children.

The bill has had its first reading and has been referred to the judiciary committee where, hopefully, it dies.

SECTION 1. Chapter 709, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§709- Sale of toy guns to minors prohibited. (1) It shall be unlawful to sell, attempt to sell, or offer for sale a toy gun to a minor under eighteen years of age; provided that it shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution that the:

(a) Purchaser falsely represented the purchaser's age by producing a driver's license bearing a photograph of the licensee, a state identification card, or similar card purporting to be a valid identification card indicating that the purchaser was eighteen years of age or older;

(b) Appearance of the purchaser was such that an ordinary prudent person would believe the purchaser to be eighteen years of age or older; and

© Sale was made in good faith relying upon the indicators of age in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(2) Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment of not more than ninety days, or both."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Seriously, does any state need a law requiring toy store clerks to card customers when buying a toy gun?

On top of that, there is the threat of a fine and 90 days in jail for anyone violating this act.

It seems that it is safe to still give a gun as a gift to a minor, but what is the necessity for society to prevent a twelve-year-old from buying a squirt gun, a rubber band gun or any other facsimile of a gun, assuming that it is a toy?

It would make a lot more sense to require restrict sales of cheeseburgers. They are a lot more dangerous.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7717516/hawaiian_lawmaker_introduces_bill_to.html?cat=25

[Ban Hammer 13,481]

sorry kid, no more squirt guns for you!

[The_Dude 1,142]

There are several companies that really make toy guns a pain in the #######. They will take a normal, fully functioning rifle or handgun and make them look exactly like the toy ones (red tip on the trigger and barrell to segregate it from a real gun). Seriously, ####### is the point of that?

[Danno 1,228]

Waiting periods would be helpful before the adults buy toy guns as well.

A parent buying such a thing on an impulse could have long term effects they might not fully appreciate so it is reasonable that Govt step in and mandate a cooling off period.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Nice one Hawaii. I been there and can see it passing there.