FBI NICS Release Prompts Hawai’i AG Update

Attorney General Douglas Chin. State of Hawai’i photo.

In conjunction with Friday’s release of statistics on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hawai’i Attorney General Doug Chin released information updating Hawai’i’s reporting.

“Hawai’i has the lowest gun death rate in the nation. We support federal efforts to make Hawai’i even safer and are working collaboratively with legislators on bills that would further protect our residents from gun violence,” Attorney General Chin said in a statement.

Firearms background checks are included in a query into the NICS Index, as well as the National Crime Information Center and criminal history information to determine if prospective applicants are disqualified from owning a firearm.

In Hawai’i, the criminal history information system, which is maintained by the Hawai’i Criminal Justice Data Center, reports all arrests and dispositions to the FBI.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, HCJDC ranks in the top 10 in the nation for its completeness of data, and ranks in the 90^th percentile in the country.

Mental health data in Hawai’i is also reported to NICS, including all cases resulting in an acquittal by reason of insanity and involuntary civil commitments.

In addition, qualifying temporary restraining orders and protection orders are also reported to NICS.

“My office continues to work with county, state, and federal law enforcement to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” Attorney General Chin. “This includes our efforts to work with the county police in reporting crimes of domestic violence for purposes of firearms background checks.”