LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department reported Thursday that it had received dozens of inquiries regarding applications to carry a firearm following the Supreme Court decision expanding the rights of gun owners.
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department reported Thursday that it had received dozens of inquiries regarding applications to carry a firearm following the Supreme Court decision expanding the rights of gun owners.
The court ruled in the New York State Rifle &Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen that an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home was constitutionally protected and that New York’s requirement that an individual demonstrate a special need in order to do so violates those protections.
Hawai‘i has similar restrictions on carrying a gun in public, and had issued only four permits to carry a gun in public in the last 22 years.
Concealed-carry licenses are currently only granted by a chief of police in “exceptional cases,” when “an applicant shows reason to fear injury to…person or property,” according to Hawai‘i law. Open-carry licenses can also be issued by police chiefs, but face even more restrictions.
KPD said it is working with the state Department of the Attorney General and respective county attorneys in revising the firearms application to carry and permit process to comply with the Bruen ruling.
The KPD anticipates the revised firearms application to carry will be available to the public within the next 30 days.
Persons wishing to apply for a permit to carry will be required to submit an application on the revised firearms application for review and consideration.
No permits have been issued on island in response to the Bruen decision at this time, KPD said.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
