American financial institutions must be able to compete on equal terms with their foreign rivals. But concentrating economic power in the hands of fewer people brings risks as well as advantages. How this plays out will be of vital concern to millions of Americans. Congress should be ready to enact changes in the law as indicated by experience. Although Hawaii gun control laws are among the strictest in the nation, this week's multiple murders of Xerox employees have generated interest in tightening the laws still further.
State legislators say they expect public pressure for action on the issue.
One proposed approach is to require periodic relicensing of gun owners, to deal with the situation in the Xerox case. The accused killer, Byran Uyesugi, had at least 18 firearms registered in his name. He reportedly was denied a gun permit in 1994 after his arrest in 1993 for investigation of criminal property damage related to an argument with co-workers. Senate Judiciary Co-Chairman Matt Matsunaga agreed that the gun laws should be strengthened and that enforcement of existing laws may need improvement. House Republican leader Barbara Marumoto said she would support legislation requiring police to check for past gun registrations by anyone who has a current registration rejected.