Hawaii Gun Culture Attracts Tourists

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If you’ve spent any time in Waikiki, you’ve probably seen those people with bull’s-eye poster board suits promoting shooting ranges. So maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Waikiki is considered the new “ground zero for gun tourism” in America, according an article in USA Today.

The USA Today story focuses on the Royal Hawaiian Shooting Club on Kalakaua Ave, which caters primarily to Japanese visitors. The Club draws up to 100 customers a day and is attractive to tourists seeking to experience American gun culture uninhibited by Japan’s strict gun control laws. Shooting packages range from $60 to $300.

From USA Today:

The current gun debate in the U.S. isn’t lost on the Japanese. Most say they enjoy the experience of shooting in American gun clubs, but they feel safer in their home country, where gun laws are stricter. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable traveling to the mainland U.S. because of the gun laws, Hawaii is OK,” says Yoko Sugahara of Ishikawa, Japan.

Check out our infographic and recent coverage to get a better idea of guns in Hawaii.

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Photo credit: Flickr user daryl_mitchell.

— Alice Terry

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