Among the many high-profile cases it plans to review, the nation’s highest court has said it will consider a Hawaii law that bans firearms on private property unless the property owner allows them. The state law, known as the “default-no” rule, creates a default statewide ban that requires permission from a store or restaurant to enter the property with a licensed concealed firearm.
Known for its strict firearms law, Hawaii must allow concealed carry permits for its residents after a 2022 SCOTUS ruling struck down New York's proper-cause law. Despite that ruling, Hawaii's legislature has passed strict rules and requirements for obtaining a permit.
The case is Wolford v Lopez. The high court announced Oct. 3 it has granted cert in the case.
A federal judge blocked the Hawaii law after it was challenged in court by a gun-rights group and three Maui residents. After that ruling, on appeal, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely reversed that decision and allowed Hawaii to enforce the law.
Stephen Stamboulieh, an attorney with Gun Owners of America, tells AFN he predicts the U.S. Supreme Court will reverse the 9th Circuit. That's because similar restrictive laws in California and two other states have also been overturned by other federal federals.
“So with all of the circuits coalescing around that private-property-ban-open-to-the-public is unconstitutional, I don't know why they would say, ‘No, this is totally fine for Hawaii to ban it in their state but California, New York and New Jersey can't ban it in their states.’"
All of those blue, Democrat-dominated states are known for strict gun laws. Gun-hating groups, such as Every Town USA, rank Hawaii’s laws No. 7 in the U.S. with California No. 1 and New Jersey No. 6. A second anti-gun group, Giffords, gives Hawaii an “A-minute” score.
