LIHU‘E — Over the past two months, the Kaua‘i Police Department has issued dozens of concealed carry permits to gun owners throughout the island.
At a Police Commission meeting in December 2022, KPD Chief Todd Raybuck announced that as of the end of November 2022, the department issued 47 licenses to carry.
Raybuck reported 54 applicants had submitted a total of 66 applications to concealed carry (with some submitting separate applications for multiple firearms). No concealed carry permit applications were denied, he said.
Though the police department did not provide figures on the number of permits issued in December 2022, conversations with firearm training instructors show this number has likely reached triple digits.
The influx of concealed carry permits comes as a response to the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle &Pistol Association v. Bruen, which overturned a New York law requiring applicants to demonstrate a specific need to carry a firearm in public.
Hawai‘i used to operate under a similar system, where police chiefs were allowed to deny permit requests unless applicants showed a special need to carry — like a threat to personal safety. Following the Bruen ruling, the KPD revised the permitting process, making it less restrictive for those seeking to concealed carry.
After the new permitting process was implemented, managing member at JGB Arms Jason Bryant said he noticed shifting trends in in the sorts of weapons that were being purchased.
“I wouldn’t say overall gun purchasing is up, but when it comes to handgun purchasing more people are focused on the compacts and micro-compact handguns,” said Bryant.
Bryant said, before the Bruen decision, a majority of the handguns he sold were full-size, and a minority were compact or micro-compact weapons better suited for concealed carry. With more gun owners seeking weapons for concealed carry, Bryant has seen this trend reversed, with smaller handguns becoming the more popular purchase.
By November 2022, a total of 3,137 firearms had been registered on Kaua‘i. Of this total, 1,217 are handguns, 1,627 are rifles and 293 are shotguns.
Likely reflecting the trend toward concealed carry, 41 percent of registered weapons in November 2022 were handguns, compared with 36 percent last year.
Bryant, who also conducts firearm trainings, commended law enforcement for its handling of the new process.
“The police department has a good process, and so far everyone has been pleased with the professionalism we’re seeing at KPD,” said Bryant.
Though easier, the permitting process on Kaua‘i remains extensive.
In order to either possess or carry a handgun, applicants cannot have been convicted of felonies or certain misdemeanors, be under treatment for addiction alcoholism, be diagnosed to have a significant mental disorder, or have had a Temporary Restraining Order against them.
Those seeking a concealed carry permit must take a firearm proficiency test with the firearm they intend to carry at a certified firearms instructor.
The gun safety advocacy group Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety network, expressed concerns this week about the consequences of the Bruen decision on public safety.
“Here in Hawai‘i, we had a strong law in place to ensure people weren’t carrying firearms in public unless they had a specific need to do so,” said Moms Demand Action Kaua‘i lead Faith Harding. “Because of this state law, we haven’t had a lot of guns in public places, which means we’ve had fewer risks of tense situations escalating into gunfire and fewer risks of guns being used for intimidation or accidentally being fired.”
Hawai‘i has traditionally had some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and one of the lowest rates of gun deaths. According to Everytown, Hawai‘i has the 49th highest rate of gun homicides and the 47th highest rate of gun suicides in the nation.
After the Bruen decision, Moms Demand Action has been pushing the state Legislature to designate sensitive areas where guns cannot be carried, limit those allowed to carry and provide comprehensive training for concealed permit applicants.
“The Supreme Court Bruen decision opened up the floodgates for the possibility that more people will be carrying more guns all around Hawai‘i,” said Harding. “With more people now eligible to get permits to carry guns in public, we need to set clear boundaries on where they can and can’t bring those guns.”
•••
Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
