Hawaii follows U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing more concealed carry but bans guns in most places

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed a bill that would allow more people to carry concealed guns while also banning guns in a wide range of places, including beaches, hospitals, stadiums, bars serving liquor and movie theaters. . Private companies that allow firearms must post signs to that effect.

The legal overhaul follows last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights by: American You have the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.

new york and new jersey adopted similar legislation last year, quickly addressing legal challenges in federal court.

Dr. Green, a trained physician and emergency room doctor in Hawaii for decades, said gun violence is a public health crisis and steps need to be taken to address it. said there is.

“Many times during my residency on the mainland, I was one of the doctors treating victims of gun violence. said before signing. “So whatever we can do, we should do.”

Rep. David Turnus, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said lawmakers deliberately crafted the measure to be consistent with the High Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and that the concealed-carry permit would not be permitted. He also said he had established what he called a “fair system” for regulating .

“We aim to build a balanced approach that respects the rights of gun owners and the need to maintain a safe and protected space in Hawaii,” Tarnas said.

Hawaii has had some of the strictest gun laws in the country for many years.

Before the Supreme Court’s ruling, Hawaii law gave county police chiefs discretionary powers to decide whether to issue carry permits to gun owners. Police chiefs seldom did that. Only six such permits have been issued in 21 years, making it virtually impossible for civilians to carry firearms in Hawaii. Otherwise, state law only allowed people to store their firearms at home and unload and lock them and transport them to limited locations such as shooting ranges, hunting grounds, and repair shops.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hawaii’s gun death rate in 2022 was the second lowest of the 50 states. Only Massachusetts had a lower figure.

Hawaii Firearms Federation director Andrew Namiki Roberts said Hawaii legislators hope the law will be a “workaround” for the High Court’s ruling in the New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bullen case. Stated. He said the new law, which effectively bans people from carrying firearms in public for self-defense purposes, is a “serious violation” of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“If a permit is obtained, it will restrict firearms on public sidewalks and private businesses. Carrying firearms will be illegal everywhere else in the state,” he said.

Kainoa Kaku, president of the Hawaii Rifle Association, said the incident shows that state leaders view “law-abiding, gun-owning Hawaiians as criminals.”

“They are so stupid they can’t tell the difference between someone who doesn’t follow the law and uses a gun to commit a crime, and someone who just wants to protect themselves and their family with a gun.”

Both gun rights groups plan to challenge the new law in court.

Attorney General Anne Lopez said the firm was prepared to fight these lawsuits.

Kaku also argued against the expected costs of the new law, saying that a gun owner would have to pay $1,000 to take all the classes and proficiency tests required to obtain a concealed carry permit valid only for four years. I estimated it would take.

The governor also signed another bill requiring state education departments to develop training programs to help public schools and charter schools respond to school shootings.