Hawaii bill bans government from taking guns

The government would not be allowed to seize legal firearms in emergencies under a measure that has passed both chambers of the Hawaii Legislature.

The House approved the measure Tuesday, sending it to a conference committee for final negotiations.

The proposal gained momentum after February’s tsunami warning, when lawmakers said their constituents asked if their weapons could be taken in an emergency situation.

Gun-rights activists have pursued this kind of law since Hurricane Katrina, when New Orleans police confiscated guns in an attempt to restore order.

The bill prohibits the seizure of firearms or ammunition when the government invokes emergency powers during a disaster. -[source]