Supreme Court Hears Hawaii Gun Carry Case

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging a Hawaii law that restricts licensed gun owners from carrying firearms on private property open to the public without the property owner's explicit permission. During the two-hour session in Wolford v. Lopez, a majority of justices expressed skepticism toward the 2023 state law, suggesting it may infringe on Second Amendment rights established by the court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by three Maui residents holding concealed carry permits and a local gun rights group. Before Bruen, Hawaii authorities issued just six public carry permits over 21 years, effectively limiting concealed carry. The Bruen ruling held that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to carry handguns outside the home for self-defense, and that gun restrictions must align with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. In response, Hawaii enacted legislation allowing more concealed carry permits while prohibiting firearms at sensitive locations, including beaches, parks, bars, and private properties open to the...