Hawaii: Federal Court Ruling Overturns Certain Firearm Permit Laws

(Originally posted by NRA-ILA)

Last week, a federal judge overturned Hawaii’s current law which bars legal immigrants from applying for a firearm permit. This ruling came after an Australian citizen, who is a permanent resident living in Honolulu, filed for relief from state laws restricting him from obtaining a firearm permit.

The judge ruled that the discriminatory state law prohibiting legal immigrants from applying for a firearm permit violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Allowing lawful permanent residents, in addition to U.S. citizens, to apply for a firearms license will open the door for law-abiding individuals to exercise the guarantees of the Second Amendment in Hawaii.

This is the latest in a string of court rulings across the country overturning similar laws and is good news for individuals legally and permanently residing in the United States.

Rallying for gun rights in Hawaii

The Second Amendment is getting a lot of attention in the 2014 election. 

First-time Republican candidate Joe Kamaka said before the primary that he expects it to be an important part of his campaign against incumbent Democrat Gil Keith-Agaran for the state Senate seat representing Wailuku and Kahului.

(Photo Courtesy of Maui Feed)

Gun rights advocates have scheduled a rally on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. along Ka'ahumanu Avenue near the old Kahului Shopping Center. A flyer circulated by its sponsors says, "Attention Maui candidates, we are voters in 2014."

(Photo Courtesy of Maui Feed)

According to a July 2014 article in Honolulu magazine, "Despite Hawaii's strict firearm laws, gun culture is not only alive in the islands, but thriving. Firearm registrations have increased by nearly 450 percent over the past 14 years, according to the state attorney general's office. Nearly 23,000 firearm permits were processed by the state last year alone. 'Whenever there is talk about limiting availability, it drives the sale of guns,' said Harvey Gerwig, president and director of the Hawai'i Rifle Association."

(See more here)