Parting Shot | Hawaii Has
Been Called Before the High Court

Once again, the state of Hawaii is attempting to nullify the Second Amendment within its borders. But, on Jan. 20, in Wolford v. Lopez, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of a law that makes it a crime to carry a handgun on private property without the property owner's explicit permission

I use the term "state" to describe Hawaii because, according to my history books, Hawaii joined the Union in 1959, and, in so doing, agreed to be bound by the U.S. Constitution. Sometimes, though, I'm left unsure as to whether Hawaii's current government knows that.

In 2023, Hawaii passed a law, "Act 52," that made it a crime for its residents to carry a gun on publicly accessible private property unless the owner explicitly permitted them to do so. Act 52 thus reversed the longstanding presumption that law-abiding gun owners are allowed to carry their firearms—with a few "sensitive-place" exceptions—pretty much everywhere, except in such cases as the owner of a private business that is open to the public has opted out. Overnight, concealed carriers in Hawaii were rendered unable to exercise their rights without risking committing a crime. Even carrying a gun while in the drive-thru lane became presumptively illegal. Carrying in the supermarket also became presumptively illegal. Carrying while pumping gas was suddenly presumptively illegal. Walking through a church parking lot even became presumptively illegal.

Hawaii's legislature insisted that it was merely protecting "the right of private individuals and entities to choose for themselves whether to allow or restrict the carrying of firearms on their property." But this is an absurd and dishonest claim. …