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Republican State Representative Barbara Marumoto and Democratic State Senator Matt Matsunaga join Roth in spring 1994 to review a legislative session both describe as dominated by guns, gays, and gambling. Matsunaga explains what the gun-control bill that passed actually does: it imposes strict liability on gun owners, requires individual registration of long guns, mandates firearm-safety training, and allows vehicle forfeiture in drive-by-shooting cases — the House's registration approach prevailed over the Senate's proposed outright ban. Both guests opposed gambling legalization; the Senate passed it but the governor's threatened veto killed it in the House. On same-sex marriage, Matsunaga argues that the legislature's attempt to assert a compelling state interest against the Baehr v. Lewin ruling is constitutionally incoherent; Marumoto is more cautious, worrying that Hawaii becoming the first state to permit same-sex marriage would harm its image as a family tourism destination. Both praise the omnibus education bill for decentralizing authority and proposing a constitutional amendment on the Board of Education. Workers' compensation reform failed once more despite businesses bracing for 20 percent premium increases. Marumoto grades the session C-minus; Matsunaga, a B.
Transcript
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