Hawaii Gun Owners To Be Placed On Federal Database

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Hawaii has become the first US state to place all gun owners – both residents and visitors – in a federal database, CNN reports. The FBI’s “Rap Back” criminal monitoring system tracks gun owners and monitors them for criminal activity. This move allows Hawaii police to determine on a case-by-case basis whether gun owners should be allowed to further possess firearms following an arrest.

The law to authorise such action was signed end of June by Democratic Governor David Ige, and immediately went into effect. It permits Hawaiian law enforcement authorities to determine whether firearm owners ought to be allowed to keep possession of their arms following incidents and arrests.

Hawaii gun owners were already required to register their firearms on the state level, while the “Rap Back” criminal monitoring system will be used to evaluate people under investigation or those employed in positions of trust, such as schoolteachers.

FBI, who operates “Rap Black,” will notify state authorities whenever any person registered to possess a firearm in Hawaii is arrested anywhere in the United State. Visitor to Hawaii who wish to bring the firearms with them will also be required to register in the database; they will, however, be allowed to petition to be removed from the database upon leaving the state.

“This is about our community’s safety and responsible gun ownership,” Ige said in a statement. “This system will better enable our law enforcement agencies to ensure the security of all Hawaii residents and visitors to our islands.”

Ige signed additional gun safety measures into law. One bars those convicted of stalking or sexual assault from legally owning firearms, and another one which requires those diagnosed with “a significant behavioral, emotional, or mental disorder” to give up their guns.