Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Hawaii's Private Property Gun Restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to Hawaii's law that bans guns on private property open to the public without the owner's explicit permission, a rule critics call a "vampire law." This law, enacted after the court's 2022 Bruen decision that expanded gun rights, flips the default rule: permit holders are barred from carrying guns on private property unless expressly allowed, rather than allowed unless prohibited. The Trump administration supports striking down the law, arguing it violates the Second Amendment right to carry firearms in public, while Hawaii contends the law balances gun rights with public safety and aligns with historical precedents recognized by the 9th Circuit. The case focuses solely on the private property aspect, including businesses like stores and hotels, with the court set to decide whether restrictions requiring owner's express authorization are constitutional. Gun rights advocates seek a return to the historical standard permitting gun carry on private property unless owners explicitly prohibit it, whereas gun safety groups support the law as a reasonable regulation. The Supreme Court’s decision will clarify the extent to which private property owners can restrict firearms under the Second Amendment.