The Supreme Court struck down a Hawaii law requiring people to get permission to carry guns into stores and hotels on Thursday, in its latest opinion backing Second Amendment rights.
Decision Impact
The high court’s 6-3 decision means people can carry guns onto privately owned property like shopping malls and gas stations, unless the owners specifically say guns are banned at their establishments.
This ruling is a win for pro-Second Amendment advocates, who argued the law violates the right to bear arms. The measure was sometimes referred to as a ‘vampire rule’ because it required people with guns to get permission to enter, similar to vampire lore where bloodsuckers need an invitation to enter a home.
Hawaii argued that the 2023 measure ensured private owners could decide whether they wanted firearms on their property. The state passed the law as thousands more people got legal permission to carry guns in the wake of a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that found the Second Amendment gives most people the right to have guns in public.
About four other states have enacted similar laws, though presumptive restrictions for guns on private property open to the public have also been blocked elsewhere.
The Second Amendment Foundation applauded the ruling, stating that the law was ‘nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to disarm peaceable citizens.’ The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General said they are disappointed but will continue to pursue common-sense regulation of firearms, consistent with the Second Amendment, for the safety of their people.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
