Neighbor Island Inspection Permit: Fill & Download for Free

In most cases the answer is yes but many Massachusetts firearms dealers would have you believe otherwise.The problem is that most Massachusetts firearms dealers are IGNORANT of their own state’s statutes. Pictured below are some relevant points that EXEMPT potential purchasers from the requirement of having a state issued permit to hold a firearm.Two years ago, I was helping my daughter-in-law find and purchase a couple of firearms that she planned to gift to her husband for Christmas. They live in Massachusetts and both have unrestricted Massachusetts Permits to Carry and Possess a firearm. We explained this in advance to the clerks at the various gun shops we frequented and told them we wanted all transfers to be done legally and in accordance with both US and Massachusetts laws. We also assured them that I had no interest in acquiring any weapons that she examined, just to reassure them that no “straw man” ploy was being concocted.I was actually brought along to inspect the firearms for her (I am from neighboring Rhode Island). I am an NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor. I possess a valid RI License to Carry concealed (very difficult to get in RI and, in many ways, more difficult to obtain than the Massachusetts Permit I have since obtained) and worked in the largest gun store in RI with my dad in RI for nearly 40 years. I have shot competitively for many years and am more knowledgeable on state and Federal gun laws than many dealers in my area.At no less than 7 gun stores (including Dick’s Sporting Goods), clerks would routinely ask if I had a Massachusetts permit (I did not) and would state that I could not hold the weapon for that reason. My very inexperienced daughter-in-law with her newly obtained permit to carry, surprisingly was allowed to. I later found out this was bullshit as the store we finally dealt with told me that the real reason was that these stores simply did not want to let someone hold the gun that he/she couldn’t buy.One gun store in Stoughton, “Steve’s Tactical”, ordered the rifles for us and, when she was ready to pick them up, refused to allow me to examine them. As the M1 Carbine was very expensive, my daughter-in-law wanted me to to be sure it was historically correct and in the condition it was stated to be. When I simply asked why, he screamed at us, turned us away and told us we would either pay him to ship them to another dealer or they could sit there. In return, I posted a non-too complimentary YELP review and we did find another dealer about 30 miles away who took pity on her situation, picked them up at no charge and finished the sale. And yes, I was able to completely examine it at his store, including breaking it down to verify the internal parts codes were correct.My daughter-in-law ended up spending nearly $3,000.00 on a pristine WW2 Winchester US M1 Carbine, a Ruger 10/22 Walnut Stock Sporter, ammunition, etc. and 7 stores threw away the opportunity to make a sale.Needless to say she no longer frequents those other gun stores with their load of bullshit.

I can help shed some light on this being as I am from the State and currently reside in Honolulu as a registered gun owner. While it is true that gun violence in Hawaii is considerably low as a comparison to the rest of the country, it is because of several factors:Strict registration and background check procedures. (More on this later)Geographic location as an island thus harder to transport arms/ammoValue system indigenous to population. (More on this later)The sequence of events that need to happen in order to purchase/own a firearm (there is a difference) in Hawaii is extensive. First you have the option to take a State sponsored class or from a NRA certified instructor which is a minimum 8hrs. After completing this you will receive an affidavit which enables you to PURCHASE, but not own a firearm. So you can walk into a gun shop and buy, but CANNOT take it out the door. The shop will “hold” it for you until the next steps are done.Now you have to submit paperwork consisting of 4 parts to the Police Dept consisting of a medical background check from your Doctor, a mental background check by the same, your gun class affidavit, and a firearms questionnaire from HPD. This is a two week waiting process to get cleared. Once done, then you get issued your permit to own. Now you may go back to the gun shop to pick up your firearm, but your still not done…. in Hawaii you have two different permits, one for “handgun” (pistols revolvers etc…) and one for “long gun” (rifles, shotguns etc…) and here is where it gets questionable: For every “handgun” you buy you must repeat this process every single time. Yes that’s right, no matter if you already are a registered gun owner, anytime you want to purchase a “handgun” this is what you have to do…no exceptions. But if you have a “long gun” permit, you can buy multiple firearms (rifles, shotguns) at one time and register them at one time. Your “long gun permit is only good for 1 year and must be surrendered and renewed via the background check process described. In simpler terms - if I wanted to buy 10 handguns (not consecutively) the process could take months because I would have to submit a permit request (the 2 week process) for each one. If I wanted to buy 10 “long guns” and had my “long gun” permit I could buy them all at one time, take them out of the gun store and straight to HPD to register without the 2 week wait period provided I had a current “long gun” permit…..(huh?)But I digress……when you get issued you permit by HPD after the 2 week waiting period you now can pick up your firearm from the gun shop and they will go over the Federal ATF paperwork as well as the State which MUST be filled out properly or else your submission will be rejected. After this step is completed you then have 3 days to return BACK to HPD where they will check/log/register your purchased firearm and then issue a hard copy permit. Now you done….and exhausted from it. News flash: now that you're a registered gun owner in Hawaii, you’re automatically put into the FBI national database…..(what?!?!?!?!) yes you heard me…but that’s another argument for another day.BUT! Because of the extensive process, this significantly cuts down the applicant numbers which is a good thing. It also shows that those who are willing to due diligence are for the most part honest upstanding AND responsible citizens which is also a good thing. Does this cut down gun violence? Maybe…but maybe not.Recently there was a shooting in Waikiki and a fatality in the process. The suspect was a registered gun owner who went through the same processes as I just described. Drug deal gone bad in an ally-way and there you have it. Also there was a retired Postal Worker was made the news months back with terroristic threats towards his neighbors and HPD was called in investigate……dude was stopped by HPD in his car WITH a an open, fully loaded sidearm AND rifle which in Hawaii is illegal to have in the car unless it’s in the case, unloaded, and ammo separated from the case (i.e. firearms in a locked case in the trunk, and ammo in the front seat) Ya…dude was going to do damage or prevent damage being done depending who you ask.Hawaii geographically is quite isolated from the rest of the world…..you gotta get on some type of plane or ship to get here, hence there are no gun or ammo manufacturers, no way to transport firearms through train, trucking or personal means. It’s gotta be flown in or shipped which means strict customs inspections which limit the potential amount of illegal firearms available to the “less-desirables”. Still with that being said, if you want to find firearms illegally…like anywhere else there will always be a way.Lastly the “value” system in Hawaii is still intact although fading away at a rapid pace as State “waddles” it’s way through massive sociological and economical issues largely homeless population per capita, cost of living, and wealth gaps between social classes. I do realize these are worldwide problems which may ultimately lead to humanity’s demise, but here it is more compounded because we live on islands and there is no way to get around it….geographically speaking.But for now people in Hawaii do care for each other and are more tolerant of different ethnicities with the “live and let live” principle of sharing, and looking out for your neighbors, or their kids playing in the park or on the beach. We care for our elder population like no other State in the Union, and have a collective conscience of our environmental “footprint” left for the future generations. This also means that gun violence has a greater impact on the population sensitivity that it would say in….Oakland, or Chicago where it’s a daily way of life and most are desensitized to it.The main take away here is that it doesn’t matter about how stringent the gun laws may be, where you live or value system in your geographical area. It will always come down to the person, their values, their struggles, their mental state AND environment and where inside of said environment they could be at any given time. My personal motto is don’t “fuck” with anyone unless you are in imminent danger and you HAVE to make a decision to protect you or your loved ones. Let that asshole cut you off on the highway….what do you care? He’s late for work….you’re not. Let the drunk spill beer on you….next time just don’t go to that bar….stay home with your family and get your buzz onnn….and if that fat lady really wants that last “on-sale” sweater at Wall-mart….let her have it. You can always pick another color.Always live to fight another day…..walk away if you can…stand your ground if you must.

Hawaii does not have a state law in regard to building a tree house. However, if anyone wanted to do so, he/she would have to submit a building permit request to the appropriate Island county department ((Honolulu, Hawaii(big Island) Maui-Molokai, Kauai)) where they want to build the house. It will be viewed on a case-by-case basis along with the basic permit requirements ( zoning, land use, size, structure, design, neighbors/neigborhood board review, conditional use etc.My best recommendation is to obtain the services of a certified designer or architect, and surveyor to avoid any potential building violations, especially if its for commercial purposes.Many people have built a tree house just for personal enjoyment without a building permit. In this case should a building inspector need to inspect the tree house, it will likely have to be torn down or an “after the fact” permit request be submitted to the Island building department.