Full story
Hawaii’s gun limits struck
The US Supreme Court struck down a Hawaii rule that barred gun owners with concealed-carry permits from carrying handguns onto publicly accessible private property unless they received permission from the owner, in a 6-3 decision on Thursday.
“Supreme Court rolls back limits on carrying guns on private property open to public Gun control advocates argue such measures are necessary for public safety”
In the majority opinion, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the law “hobbles what the Second Amendment protects: the right of Americans to carry arms for self-defense as they go about their daily lives.”
The ruling in Wolford v. Lopez means people can carry guns onto privately owned property like gas stations, restaurants, and shops unless owners specifically say guns are banned at their establishments, according to the AP’s account.
The decision also left in place Hawaii’s other restrictions on guns in places like bars, beaches or parks, and sensitive locations like schools or government buildings, as described by the BBC.
Dissents and competing frames
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, argued in dissent that the case was about property rights rather than gun rights, writing that there is “no constitutional right to enter private property without permission.”
The BBC reported that the Supreme Court’s three liberal justices dissented, and it also noted that the ruling did not impact Hawaii’s other gun limits in places like bars, beaches or parks.
NPR described the decision as barring “vampire rules” by holding that states cannot require gun owners to get permission from property owners before bringing guns onto their land.
NPR also framed the dispute as part of the Supreme Court’s post-2022 approach to evaluating gun regulations, saying the court’s landmark 2022 decision required governments to show regulations are “relevantly similar” to historical firearms rules.
What changes next
The Supreme Court’s decision will affect Hawaii and four other states—California, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey—that have passed similar laws requiring permission before carrying onto private property open to the public, according to SCOTUSblog.
“US Supreme Court strikes down Hawaii limits on guns in public The US Supreme Court has struck down a rule in Hawaii that barred gun owners from carrying handguns on publicly accessible private property”
SCOTUSblog reported that the challengers were three Maui residents with concealed-carry permits and the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, and it said the Supreme Court reversed after hearing oral argument in January.
In a statement, the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislation Action said the ruling meant “Law-abiding gun owners will no longer be forced to beg for special permission simply to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms in public places,” as quoted by the New York Post.
The BBC added that the Trump administration backed the gun owners, arguing the requirement put an armed permit-holder at risk of committing a crime by stopping to fill gas or shop at a grocery store.
