In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling overturning New York’s restrictions on concealed carry permits, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) issued its first license to carry a concealed firearm.
The license was signed by HPD Chief Joe Logan on December 28th after hundreds of applications were submitted around the end of November. HPD told Hawaii News Now that there are currently 56 applications pending final review.
Today, Chief Joe Logan signed the first license to carry a concealed firearm in Honolulu County. The Honolulu Police Department will continue to review applications and process them accordingly. #HonoluluPD #CCHNL pic.twitter.com/eEc6AlX2tq
— Honolulu Police (@honolulupolice) December 29, 2022
Hawaii has previously been a “may issue” state, signifying that an applicant must show a “reason to fear injury to the applicant’s person or property…” and that a license may be issued by the county police “where the urgency or the need has been sufficiently indicated.”
As such, it was up to the police to determine if an applicant was justified in their request for a license and if, on the off chance, the license was granted, it was only valid in the county where it was issued.
The HPD announced in a media release on August 24th they had amended the law to allow Hawaii residents their right to carry in public. As such, Honolulu is the final county to begin issuing licenses to carry.
SEE ALSO: Honolulu Police Chief Encourages Citizens to Report Legal Guns Not Concealed
Andrew Namiki Roberts of the Hawaii Firearms Coalition told Hawaii News Now, “We know that we’re going to get concealed carry permits. We know that we’re going to get open carry permits. We know that the law is going to change. Law-abiding citizens in Hawaii will be able to carry a firearm.”
The Application Process
Applicants still face a list of requirements to complete before their applications can be finalized including classroom training, a background check, a mental health check, a proficiency test, and providing a copy of their firearm registration.
Since this process has been forthcoming for nearly six months, state and local government officials have been taking steps to implement laws restricting specific locations where license holders will not be allowed to carry. The list includes government buildings, schools, public parks, and city buses.
New York State Rifle and Pistol Assn. vs. Bruen
The Supreme Court decision on June 23, 2022, struck down New York’s “may issue” licensing scheme.
The landmark decision has since forced several other states including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to reevaluate their similarly restrictive and unconstitutional carry laws as well.
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This is ridiculis, but I guess it’s a start. They are not testing self defense carriers, but gun-fighters. I can draw and fire two rounds in two seconds from open carry holster, but not accurately from concealed. And I’m not going to fire without good target aquisition. I guess I could train for this, to get my license, but I won’t continue it. I will train for accuracy and defense. Guns are not my life, but they are good for continuing it.