Hawaii Rejects Second Amendment Interpretation in Landmark Decision

The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled a man can be prosecuted for carrying a gun in public without a permit in the state, overturning a lower court ruling that concluded this would violate his rights under the Second Amendment.

Christopher Wilson was charged with keeping a firearm in an improper place and keeping ammunition in an improper place after being arrested on December 7, 2017, in the West Maui Mountains. He was found in possession of a handgun that had been loaded with a 10-round magazine, which he insisted was for self-defense, without a permit as required by state law.

Wilson's legal team moved to dismiss the charges, arguing they violated the Second Amendment in the context of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. This motion was granted by Hawaii's Circuit Court of the Second Circuit though this was appealed by the state, taking the case to the state's supreme court.