US Supreme Court strikes down Hawaii limits on guns in public

June 25, 2026

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Hawaii's restriction that prevented licensed gun owners from carrying handguns on privately-owned public spaces like shopping centers and restaurants without explicit property owner consent. The conservative majority determined that Hawaii's requirement, which opponents labeled a "vampire rule," violated Second Amendment protections by excessively limiting the daily activities of residents who had already met strict permitting requirements. This decision affects several left-leaning states with similar regulations, including California, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Who is affected

Licensed concealed-carry permit holders in Hawaii
Three Hawaii residents who initiated the 2023 legal challenge
Hawaii Firearms Coalition
Residents of California, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland with similar laws
Private property owners (restaurants, malls, stores) in affected states
The state of Hawaii and its law enforcement system

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article beyond the Supreme Court's completed ruling striking down the law.

Why it matters

This ruling significantly expands where Americans with concealed-carry permits can legally bring firearms, affecting millions of gun owners across multiple states. It establishes that states cannot require permit holders to obtain property owner permission before entering privately-owned public spaces with firearms, fundamentally changing how gun regulations work in several jurisdictions. The decision reinforces an expansive interpretation of Second Amendment rights and limits states' ability to regulate firearms in everyday commercial spaces, potentially impacting public safety policies and the balance between gun rights and property owner preferences.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC