Supreme Court rules in favor of gun owners in challenge to Hawaii law

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision today in Wolford v. Lopez, a case challenging Hawaii’s restriction on carrying firearms on private property open to the public.

The question before the Court was whether Hawaii may presume that licensed concealed-carry permit holders are prohibited from carrying handguns on private property open to the public unless the property owner affirmatively grants permission.

In a majority opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito, the Court held that Hawaii’s law violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. The majority opinion was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. 

Justice Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, and Justice Jackson filed a separate dissenting opinion joined by Justice Sotomayor. 

The decision is an important win for Second Amendment advocates.