95-18

Posted on Jul 28, 1995 in Formal Opinions

Opinion Letter No. 95-18
July 28, 1995
Gun Licensee Information is Not Disclosable

The OIP considered whether firearm registration data, which identifies gun owners, must be made public under section 92F-12(a)(13), Hawaii Revised Statutes, or confidential, under section 134-3 and section 92F-13(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes. Section 92F-12(a)(13), Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires agencies to disclose the rosters of persons holding permits or licenses unless a state or federal law protects these records from disclosure as set forth in section 92F-13(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes. This section specifically provides that all firearm registration data which identifies the gun owner must be kept confidential.

Section 134-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is a confidentiality statute which, in conjunction with section 92F-13(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes, supersedes the more general disclosure requirements of section 92F-12(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes. Therefore, the police department is not required to disclose any identifying information regarding persons authorized to carry concealed firearms.

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