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Local efforts mirror the national GOP agenda on parental rights, abortion and gun control despite little chance of success in the Aloha State.

When I first joined the Republican Party in Hawaii, I believed we could be successful despite the national partys agenda by defining our own.

Hawaii needed a credible opposition party, but the national partys individual rights at all costs didnt resonate with Hawaiis, or my own, community-based values.

As House Minority Leader, I tried creating our own path while giving in just enough to keep the broader GOP happy.I left when I realized I was wrong.

This session, the states Republican legislators are proving that national Republican values are alive and well in their local party.

The eight GOP House and Senate members proposals and votes on parental rights, abortion and gun control import the Trump-DeSantis culture wars raging across the country and provide an important reminder that Hawaii Republicans cant dissociate from their national party. And they may not want to.

Parental rights, particularly in education, have become a rallying cry for the right. Across the country, conservatives are pushing these issues atschool board meetings, which are erupting in heated debates and threats of violence.

The most well-known examples are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis parental bill of rights, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill, and hisIndividual Freedombill. The former bans teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in the classroom, while the latter bans critical race theory.

While the composition of our Legislature means Republican-led efforts to mirror these bills wont succeed, it hasnt stopped them from trying. Rep. Elijah Piericksclaim thatHouse Bill 877, which would establish an institute for restoration at healing at Richardson School of Law, would promote critical race theory, which is basically racism against white people is the most outrageous. Sen. Brandon Awa and Rep. Diamond Garcias parental rights bills banning instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity are equally offensive.

ButHouse Bill 1393, signed by Reps. Lauren Matsumoto, Garcia and Pierick, may be the most insidious as it establishes a universally applicable, non-specified parent right. The bill defines that as the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, care, and welfare of their child unless the government proves a compelling interest in restricting that right.

This right would not be limited to a particular educational topic, rather it would allow a parent to exempt their child from most activities unless the government makes a clear case to prevent it.Nearly identical billshave been introduced in Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota and Alabama along with 32 other parental rights bills introduced across the country and in theU.S. Congress.

Gov. Josh Green signedSenate Bill 1, a measure that defends a womans right to choose, into law on March 22. The Democrat-led bill was Hawaiis effort to ensure women and medical professionals are protected following this summers United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.Civil Beat and others have provided excellent descriptions of the bill, so Ill focus on the attempted Republican amendments.

A floor amendment provides alternative language for a bill when its debated on the chamber floor. Republican-introduced amendments are essentially ideological showpieces in the Hawaii Legislature.

During the final debate, both Matsumoto and Garcia introduced amendments that were rejected by the House.Matsumotos amendmentsought to ban a minors ability to consent to abortion services.Garcias amendmentwould have restricted children younger than 16 from consenting to receive abortion services.

Matsumoto and Garcia and every other Republican in the House and Senate voted against Senate Bill 1. Democrat lawmakers Sen. Mike Gabbard and Rep. Sam Kong also voted no.

Parental rights and abortion are purity test issues for socially conservative Republicans. While their decision to highlight their positions through floor amendments are a little surprising, their unanimous no vote on the Democrats abortion bill isnt.

However, I am shocked this session by Republican lawmakers decision to mirror my former partys national positions, particularly as support for stricter gun laws reacheda new highin February amid a wave of mass shootings. While most Republicans dont believe new gun laws are needed, their numbers are dwindling too. Further, Hawaii Republicans depend on non-Republican votes to win, making their introduction of a Stand Your Ground law even more remarkable.

These laws came to the nations attention in 2005 when a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty for fatally shooting unarmed Black teen Trayvon Martin. Citing an increase in violent crimes, the House Minority Caucus legislative package included a bill that would bring Hawaiis self-defense law in line with FloridasStand Your Ground law.

Hawaii RepublicansHouse Bill 636would allow a person who believes they are in immediate danger of significant physical harm to use deadly force even if they know they have a chance to walk away. It operates on the exact same premise that led to Zimmermans acquittal. It didnt receive a hearing this session.

Also notable is Republican lawmakers unanimous decision on Friday to voteagainst a billthat would prohibit the carrying of firearms in certain areas, including schools, movie theaters and government buildings in Hawaii.

While Hawaii has some of thestrictest gun lawsin the nation, the U.S. Supreme Courts2022 rulingthat declared New Yorks concealed carry law unconstitutional could threaten them, andSenate Bill 1230was drafted in response.

To be clear, I do believe that logical people can view decisions about rights as a difficult balancing act.I signed a bill allowing parents to exempt their children from sexual education because I believed that most parents, like mine, would have the closest view of what their child was ready to process.

But Ive since understood that I should have taken a wider perspective. Not every parent is like mine. Laws are tools, and as lawmakers, we should always consider how someone might abuse the tools were putting into their hands. Hawaii Republicans should remember that.

As leading Republican presidential hopefuls, DeSantis and Trump are setting the tone on these culture war issues, and Hawaiis Republicans are following their lead. I know better than most how hard it is to defy the national Republican agenda, but I strongly encourage my former colleagues to do it anyway. Come what may.

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Originally posted here:
Beth Fukumoto: Hawaii Republicans Sound A Lot Like Their ... - Honolulu Civil Beat