Global Courant
HONOLULU — Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed into law Friday that would allow more people to carry concealed firearms, but at the same time prohibit people from carrying guns to a variety of places, including beaches, hospitals, stadiums, bars that serve alcohol and movie theaters. Private companies that allow guns will have to post a sign to that effect.
The legal overhaul comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that expanded gun rights by saying Americans have the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.
New York and New Jersey passed similar laws last year that have quickly dealt with legal challenges making their way through federal courts.
Green, who is a physician by training and has been an emergency room physician in Hawaii for decades, said gun violence is a public health crisis and action needs to be taken to address it.
“During my training on the mainland, I was often one of the doctors who cared for people who were victims of gun violence. Not only that, I lost a loved one to gun suicide,” Green said before signing the measure. “And so anything we can do, we must do.”
Representative David Tarnas, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said lawmakers carefully crafted the measure to be consistent with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the second amendment’s right to bear arms and also to include what he called a establish “fair system” for regulating concealed carry permits.
“We are committed to 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 long had some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
Before the Supreme Court ruling, Hawaii law gave district police chiefs discretion to determine whether to give gun owners a license to carry. Police chiefs rarely did. They have only issued six such permits in 21 years, making it virtually impossible for civilians to carry guns in Hawaii. Otherwise, state law only allowed people to keep firearms in their homes and transport them – unloaded and locked up – to shooting ranges, hunting grounds and other restricted places such as repair shops.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hawaii had the second-lowest gun-related death rate of the 50 states in 2022. Only Massachusetts had a lower figure.
Andrew Namiki Roberts, the executive director of the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, said Hawaii lawmakers wanted the law to be a “solution” to the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. He said the new law effectively prevents people from carrying firearms in public for self-defense and is a “gross violation” of the Second Amendment.
“It restricts carrying a firearm to public sidewalks and private businesses — if you can get permission. In all other places in the state, it will become illegal to carry a firearm,” he said.
Kainoa Kaku, president of the Hawaii Rifle Association, said it showed state leaders viewed “law-abiding, gun owners of Hawaii as criminals.”
“They are so stupid that they can’t tell the difference between someone who breaks the law and commits crimes with guns and someone who wants to protect himself and his family with a gun,” he said.
Both gun rights groups plan to challenge the new law in court.
Attorney General Anne Lopez said her office was prepared to challenge these lawsuits.
Kaku also objected to the projected cost of the new law, estimating it will cost gun owners $1,000 to complete all the classes and aptitude tests required to obtain a concealed carry permit valid for only four years.
The governor also signed another bill requiring the state Department of Education to develop a training program to help public and charter schools respond to school shootings.
