Tuesday's fatal shooting of Honolulu police Officer Glen Gaspar has state lawmakers talking about a three-strikes law to give repeat felons long prison terms. ‘3 strikes’ law sought for
next legislative session
Staff and news reports
But Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Kaena-Wahiawa-Pupukea) and House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise) said yesterday there likely will be no such legislation this year.
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On Wednesday, both U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo and HPD Chief Lee Donohue called for stricter penalties for career criminals.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa said yesterday that she will call for a study group to look into "three strikes and you're out" for the next legislative session.
Hanabusa said there is no time in the current session to investigate the issue and approve a bill now, but the issue should be discussed by a panel of citizens, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) said the state should go slowly on changing the law to permit putting criminals away for life if they are convicted of three felonies.
"The critical issue for me is what are the qualifying felonies, but it is an important enough an issue to discuss," she said.
California's three-strikes law was upheld this week by the U.S. Supreme Court. The man accused of shooting Gaspar, Shane Mark, 28, had four prior felony convictions and was released from prison in November after serving five years. He was being sought for investigation of attempted murder when the shooting took place.
The Associated Press and Star-Bulletin reporter Richard Borreca contributed to this report.
