Supreme Court Will Review Hawaii Gun Carry Restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a significant Second Amendment case challenging Hawaii's 2023 law that prohibits carrying firearms on private property such as stores and hotels without explicit permission from the property owner. The Trump administration supports the case, arguing the law violates the court's 2022 ruling that broadly affirms the right to carry firearms outside the home. Hawaii defends the law as a reasonable balance between gun rights and public safety, highlighting that it allows property owners to decide whether to permit guns on their premises. Lower courts have issued mixed rulings, with a federal appeals court largely upholding the law, though a district judge initially blocked it. Gun rights advocates argue the law effectively prevents lawful self-defense in many public-access private locations, while gun safety organizations urge the court to maintain the restrictions. The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in early 2026 and issue a ruling by July, amid a broader wave of Second Amendment cases this term.