The proposed House Bill 534, more commonly known and referred to as the "Stand Your Ground" law, has sparked much debate in the Hawaii Legislature, a Hawaii News Now report said.
Hawaii state Rep. Bob McDermott (R-Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) supports the bill and said that it would allow for residents to have the right to defend themselves against criminals, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
The bill was proposed and heard before the House Committee on Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness the first week of February, the report said.
“We want to protect law-abiding citizens and allow them to defend themselves, whether they use a potato peeler or a rifle, it doesn’t matter to me,” McDermott said, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
McDermott went on by saying a recent "surge of armed robberies, violent attacks, shootings and murders" in the state is what makes him support passing a bill such as this one.
Andrew Maniki Roberts, Hawaii Firearms Coalition director, asked that the committee change the bill wording to match that of House Bill 711. House Bill 711 discusses when a resident may lawfully use "force, including deadly force" to protect themselves, their property or another person from harm.
Currently, 27 states have the "Stand Your Ground" law, the report said.
HB 534 has passed its first reading.