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Magazine Capacity Restrictions
Constitutional (Permitless) Carry Allowed
Red Flag Laws
Carry in Alcohol Establishments Allowed
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Duty to Retreat
Duty to Inform Law Enforcement
"Universal" Background Checks Required
Table of Contents
State Law Summary
Constitution of the State of Hawaii - Article I, Section 17
“The right to bear arms shall not be infringed."
Hawaii's firearm laws have evolved significantly since statehood in 1959, reflecting a complex interplay of legal cases and legislative changes. In 1988, the state enacted a comprehensive set of gun control measures, including a mandatory registration system and strict licensing requirements for firearm owners. Notable legal challenges, such as Richardson v. Honolulu in 2008, questioned the constitutionality of local firearm regulations, ultimately leading to increased scrutiny of state laws. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago further solidified the Second Amendment's applicability to states, impacting Hawaii's approach to firearm rights. In recent years, ongoing debates about public safety and individual rights continue to shape the state's regulatory landscape, prompting discussions on potential reforms that balance these interests.
Permit Eligibility, Training and Application Process
Concealed carry in Hawaii has a complex history shaped by both cultural attitudes and legal developments. The state's restrictive gun laws date back to the 1920s, but significant changes began in 1994 when Hawaii enacted a law allowing counties to issue permits for concealed carry, albeit under stringent conditions. In 2011, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state must allow permit applications to be evaluated fairly, but the process remained challenging, with few permits granted. This trend continued until 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen prompted Hawaii to revise its permitting process, leading to an increase in issued permits amid ongoing debates over public safety and gun rights.
(1) Satisfies each of the criteria established by or pursuant to subsection (d);
(2) Is not prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm and ammunition;
(3) Is not found to be lacking the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm as set forth in subsection (h);
(4) Is a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States or a duly accredited official representative of a foreign nation;
(5) Is a resident of the State; and
(6) Is of the age of twenty-one years or more.
(b) The chief of police of a county may grant to an applicant a license to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition unconcealed on the licensee's person within the county where the license is granted, if the applicant:
(1) Sufficiently establishes the urgency or need to carry a firearm unconcealed;
(2) Is engaged in the protection of life and property;
(3) Satisfies each of the criteria established by or pursuant to subsection (d);
(4) Is not prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm and ammunition;
(5) Is not found to be lacking the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm as set forth in subsection (h);
(6) Is a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States; and
(7) Is of the age of twenty-one years or more.
(c) The chief of police of the appropriate county, or a designated representative of the chief of police, shall perform an inquiry on an applicant by using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, to include a check of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement databases if the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, before any determination to grant a concealed or unconcealed license is made.
(d) To be eligible to receive a license to carry a concealed or unconcealed pistol or revolver on the licensee's person, the applicant shall:
(1) Submit the appropriate carry license application, in person, to the chief of police of the appropriate county, with:
(A) All fields on the application form completed and all questions answered truthfully, under penalty of law;
(B) All required signatures present on the application;
(C) Any required documents attached to the application; and
(D) Payment of the nonrefundable license application fee required under this section;
(2) Be the registered owner of the firearm or firearms for which the license to carry will be issued; provided that this paragraph shall not apply to detectives, private detectives, investigators, and guards with an active license issued pursuant to chapter 463;
(3) Not be prohibited under section 134-7 from the ownership , possession, or control of a firearm;
(4) Have completed a course of training as described in subsection (e) and be certified as qualified to use the firearm or firearms for which the license to carry will be issued in a safe manner; and
(5) Sign an affidavit expressly acknowledging that:
(A) The applicant has read and is responsible for understanding and complying with the federal, state, and county laws governing the permissible use of firearms and associated requirements, including:
(i) The prohibition on carrying or possessing a firearm in certain locations and premises;
(ii) The prohibition on carrying more than one firearm on the licensee's person at one time;
(iii) The prohibition on carrying a firearm on private property of another person without the express authorization of the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the private property;
(iv) The requirement to maintain possession of the license on the licensee's person while carrying a firearm;
(v) The requirement to disclose information regarding the carrying of a firearm when stopped by law enforcement;
(vi) The provision for absolute liability for injury or property damage proximately caused by a legally unjustified discharge of a firearm under section 663-9.5; and
(vii) Laws regarding the use of deadly force for self-defense or the defense of another;
(B) A license to carry issued under this section shall be void if a licensee becomes disqualified from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm pursuant to section 134-7(a), (b), (d), or (f);
(C) The license shall be subject to revocation under section 134-13 if a licensee for any other reason becomes disqualified under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm; and
(D) A license that is revoked or that becomes void shall be returned to the chief of police of the appropriate county within forty-eight hours after the license is revoked or becomes void.
(e) The course of training for issuance of a license under this section may be any course acceptable to the licensing authority that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The course shall include in-person instruction on firearm safety; firearm handling; shooting technique; safe storage; legal methods to transport firearms and secure firearms in vehicles; laws governing places in which persons are prohibited from carrying a firearm; firearm usage in low-light situations; situational awareness and conflict management; and laws governing firearms, including information regarding the circumstances in which deadly force may be used for self-defense or the defense of another;
(2) The course shall include a component on mental health and mental health resources;
(3) Except for the component on mental health and mental health resources, the course shall be conducted by one or more firearms instructors certified or verified by the chief of police of the respective county or a designee of the chief of police or certified by a nongovernmental organization approved for those purposes by the chief of police of the respective county or a designee of the chief of police, or conducted by one or more certified military firearms instructors;
(4) The course shall require participants to demonstrate their understanding of the covered topics by achieving a score of at least seventy per cent on a written examination; and
(5) The course shall include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range and shall include a demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, each firearm that the applicant is applying to be licensed to carry.
(f) Upon passing the course of training identified in subsection (e), the applicant shall obtain from the instructor, and include as part of the applicant's application package, a certification as to the following:
(1) The applicant's name, as confirmed by reviewing the applicant's government-issued photo identification;
(2) The date and location of the firearm proficiency test;
(3) The firearm or firearms that the applicant used in the firearm proficiency test;
(4) The applicant's score; provided that an indication that the applicant passed or failed, without the score itself, shall be insufficient information for the purposes of the application; and
(5) The instructor's qualifications to administer the firearm proficiency test.
The certification of the above information, signed by the firearms instructor who conducted or taught the course, providing the name, address, and phone number of the instructor, shall constitute evidence of successful completion of the course; provided that the instructor shall not submit a certification signed by the instructor for the instructor's own license application. The course of training for issuance of a license under this section shall be undertaken at the licensee's expense.
(g) An applicant for a license under this section shall:
(1) Sign a waiver at the time of application, allowing the chief of police of the county issuing the license or a designee of the chief of police access to any records that have a bearing on the mental health of the applicant; and
(2) Identify any health care providers who possess or may possess the records described in paragraph (1).
(h) In determining whether a person lacks the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm, the licensing authority shall consider whether the person poses a danger of causing a self-inflicted bodily injury or unlawful injury to another person, as evidenced by:
(1) Information from a health care provider indicating that the person has had suicidal or homicidal thoughts or tendencies within the preceding five years;
(2) Statements or actions by the person indicating any dangerous propensity or violent animus toward one or more individuals or groups, including groups based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic, and the propensity or animus is of a nature or to an extent that would objectively indicate to a reasonable observer that it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare for the person to own, possess, or control a firearm or ammunition; or
(3) Other information that would lead a reasonable, objective observer to conclude that the person presents or would present a danger to the community as a result of carrying a firearm in public or intends or is likely to use a firearm for an unlawful purpose or in an unlawful manner.
(i) A nonrefundable fee of $150 shall be charged for each license application submitted under this section. The fee shall be chargeable by and payable to the appropriate county and shall be used for expenses related to police services. The issuing authority shall waive the fee required by this subsection upon a showing of financial hardship by the applicant.
(j) If the applicant satisfies each of the requirements for a concealed carry license, an application for a concealed carry license submitted to the chief of police of the appropriate county under this section shall be approved within a reasonable time after receipt of all required application materials. If the applicant does not satisfy one or more of the requirements for a concealed carry license, the license shall be denied within a reasonable time after receipt of the application materials. If an application is denied, the chief of police or a designee of the chief of police shall notify the applicant of the denial in writing, stating the ground or grounds for the denial and informing the applicant of the right to seek review of the denial through a hearing pursuant to subsection (k). If the chief of police does not grant or deny a submitted application for a concealed carry license within one hundred twenty days following the date of the application, the application shall be deemed denied as of that date for purposes of subsection (k).
(k) If an application under this section is denied, a person or entity aggrieved by the denial shall be entitled to a hearing before the chief of police of the appropriate county or a designee of the chief of police. A person or entity aggrieved by the denial shall submit a request for a hearing in writing to the chief of police of the appropriate county no later than thirty days following the date of the decision or determination notice. The hearing shall constitute a contested case hearing for purposes of chapter 91. Following the hearing and final decision, an aggrieved party shall be entitled to a judicial review proceeding in state circuit court in accordance with section 91-14.
(l) If an application pursuant to this section is approved, the chief of police shall issue the applicant a license that contains, at minimum:
(1) The licensee's name;
(2) The licensee's address;
(3) A photograph of the licensee taken within ninety days before issuance of the license;
(4) The county of issuance;
(5) A notation as to whether the license permits concealed or unconcealed carry;
(6) The serial number of each registered firearm that the licensee may carry pursuant to the license; and
(7) The license expiration date.
The license issued under this subsection shall not constitute a government-issued photo identification document under federal or state law.
(m)Unless renewed, a concealed or unconcealed license shall expire four years from the date of issue.
(n) A license to carry issued under this section shall be void if a licensee becomes disqualified from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm pursuant to section 134-7(a), (b), (d), or (f). If a licensee for any other reason becomes disqualified under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm, the license shall be subject to revocation under section 134-13. A license that is void or revoked shall be returned to the chief of police of the appropriate county within forty-eight hours after the license becomes void or is revoked.
(o) The chief of police of each county shall adopt procedures to implement this section.
(p) The chief of police of each county shall establish procedures and criteria for the renewal of licenses issued under this section. No license renewal shall be granted if an applicant for a renewed license does not satisfy, or no longer satisfies, the eligibility criteria for a new license set forth in subsections (a) through (d). As a precondition for the renewal of licenses issued under this section, the chief of police of each county may establish reasonable continuing education, training, and certification requirements, including requirements pertaining to the safe handling of firearms and shooting proficiency. A nonrefundable fee of $50 shall be charged for each license renewal application submitted under this section. The fee shall be chargeable by and payable to the appropriate county and shall be used for expenses related to police services. The issuing authority shall waive the fee required by this subsection upon a showing of financial hardship by the applicant.
(q) No person carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under this section shall intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry more than one firearm on the licensee's person at one time.
(r) A license issued by the chief of police of a county within the State under subsection (a) to carry a pistol or revolver and ammunition concealed on the licensee's person shall be valid for use in each county within the State.
Where plaintiff asserted that §§ 134-6 and 134-9 violated rights guaranteed by Article I and the Second, Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, defendants' motions to dismiss plaintiff's complaint granted; among other things, plaintiff did not have standing to challenge this chapter on the basis of an alleged deprivation of Second Amendment or Ninth Amendment rights, this chapter is not an impermissible bill of attainder with respect to plaintiff, and this chapter imposes no impairment of a contractual right possessed by plaintiff.Â
(b) As used in this section:
"Bump fire stock" means a butt stock designed to be attached to a semiautomatic firearm and designed, made, or altered to increase the rate of fire achievable with such firearm by using energy from the recoil of the firearm to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated activation of the trigger.
"Multiburst trigger activator" means:
(1) A device that simulates automatic gunfire by allowing standard function of a semiautomatic firearm with a static positioned trigger finger or a device that fires multiple shots with the pull and release of the trigger; or
(2) A manual or power-driven trigger activating device constructed and designed so that when attached to a semiautomatic firearm it simulates automatic gunfire.
"Trigger crank" means any device to be attached to a semiautomatic firearm that repeatedly activates the trigger of the firearm through the use of a lever or other part that is turned in a circular motion, but does not include any firearm initially designed and manufactured to fire through the use of a crank or lever.
(1) Any building or office owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, and adjacent grounds and parking areas, including any portion of a building or office used for court proceedings, legislative business, contested case hearings, agency rulemaking, or other activities of state or county government;
(2) Any public or private hospital, mental health facility, nursing home, clinic, medical office, urgent care facility, or other place at which medical or health services are customarily provided, including adjacent parking areas;
(3) Any adult or juvenile detention or correctional facility, prison, or jail, including adjacent parking areas;
(4) Any bar or restaurant serving alcohol or intoxicating liquor as defined in section 281-1 for consumption on the premises, including adjacent parking areas;
(5) Any stadium, movie theater, or concert hall, or any place at which a professional, collegiate, high school, amateur, or student sporting event is being held, including adjacent parking areas;
(6) All public library property, including buildings, facilities, meeting rooms, spaces used for community programming, adjacent grounds, and parking areas;
(7) The campus or premises of any public or private community college, college, or university, and adjacent parking areas, including buildings, classrooms, laboratories, research facilities, artistic venues, and athletic fields or venues;
(8) The campus or premises of any public school, charter school, private school, preschool, summer camp, or child care facility as defined in section 346-151, including adjacent parking areas, but not including:
(A) A private residence at which education is provided for children who are all related to one another by blood, marriage, or adoption; or
(B) A dwelling when not used as a child care facility;
(9) Any beach, playground, park, or adjacent parking area, including any state park, state monument, county park, tennis court, golf course, swimming pool, or other recreation area or facility under control, maintenance, and management of the State or a county, but not including an authorized target range or shooting complex;
(10) Any shelter, residential, or programmatic facility or adjacent parking area operated by a government entity or charitable organization serving unhoused persons, victims of domestic violence, or children, including children involved in the juvenile justice system;
(11) Any voter service center as defined in section 11-1 or other polling place, including adjacent parking areas;
(12) The premises of any bank or financial institution as defined in section 211D-1, including adjacent parking areas;
(13) Any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit, and adjacent parking areas, including buses, paratransit vans, bus shelters and terminals (but not including bus stops located on public sidewalks), trains, rail stations, and airports;
(14) Any amusement park, aquarium, carnival, circus, fair, museum, water park, or zoo, including adjacent parking areas; or
(15) Any public gathering, public assembly, or special event conducted on property open to the public, including any demonstration, march, rally, vigil, protest, picketing, or other public assembly, for which a permit is obtained from the federal government, the State, or a county, and the sidewalk or street immediately adjacent to the public gathering, public assembly, or special event; provided that there are signs clearly and conspicuously posted at visible places along the perimeter of the public gathering, public assembly, or special event.
(b) This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a). It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under this section that a person is:
(1) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm in a police station in accordance with section 134-23(a)(6), 134-24(a)(6), or 134-25(a)(6);
(2) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm at an organized, scheduled firearms show or exhibit;
(3) Lawfully carrying or possessing a firearm for hunting in compliance with section 134-5;
(4) A private security officer expressly authorized to carry or possess a weapon in a location or premises listed in subsection (a) by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the location or premises; provided that the private security officer is acting within the private security officer's scope of employment;
(5) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm in a courthouse for evidentiary purposes with the prior express authorization of the court;
(6) Lawfully present within the person's own home, other than a college or university dormitory or shelter or residential facility serving unhoused persons or victims of domestic violence;
(7) Carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9 or in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C in the immediate area surrounding the person's vehicle within a parking area for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving the firearm;
(8) Possessing a firearm in an airport or any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit; provided that the firearm is unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container for the purpose of transporting the firearm;
(9) Walking through a public gathering, public assembly, or special event if necessary to access the person's residence, place of business, or vehicle; provided that the person does not loiter or remain longer than necessary to complete their travel or business; or
(10) Carrying a concealed firearm in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C in a location or premises within the State that is not a State or county property, installation, building, base, or park, and not a location or premises where a private person or entity has prohibited or restricted the possession of concealed firearms on their property.
(c) The presence of a person in any location or premises listed in subsection (a) shall be prima facie evidence that the person knew it was a location or premises listed in subsection (a).
(d) Where only a portion of a building or office is owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, this section shall not apply to the portion of the building or office that is not owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, unless carrying or possessing a firearm within that portion is otherwise prohibited by this section.
(e) As used in this section, "private security officer" means any person employed and duly licensed to engage in the private detective or guard business pursuant to chapter 463.
(f) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(g) If any ordinance of any county of the State establishing locations where the carrying of firearms is prohibited is inconsistent with this section or with section 134-9.5, the ordinance shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency.
Permitless Carry Law
The terms “constitutional carry” and “permitless carry” refer to states that have laws allowing individuals to carry a loaded firearm in public without requiring a license or permit.
Hawaii is not a permitless-carry state.
Reciprocity Agreements
Reciprocity refers to an agreement between states to recognize, or honor, a concealed firearm permit issued by another state.
When you are in another state, you are subject to that state’s laws. Even if a state recognizes your carry permit or allows for permitless carry, the state may have additional restrictions on certain types of firearms, magazines, or ammunition. Take time to learn the law!
State Preemption Laws
State firearm preemption laws are statutes that prevent local governments from enacting or enforcing their own gun regulations that are more restrictive than state law. These laws ensure that firearm regulations remain consistent across the state, preventing a patchwork of different rules in various cities or counties.
Hawaii Preemption Law
134-E
46-1.5
Purchase/Transfer Laws
When buying or selling a firearm, both federal and state laws must be followed. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(5), a private party may sell a firearm to a resident of the same state if two conditions are met: (1) the seller and buyer must be residents of the same state, and (2) the seller must not know or have reasonable cause to believe that the buyer is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under federal law, as outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
Additionally, a private seller may loan or rent a firearm to a resident of any state for temporary lawful sporting use, provided they meet the same condition of not knowing or having reason to believe the borrower is prohibited under federal law.
In addition to federal law, state laws governing firearm sales must also be followed, as states may impose additional restrictions such as background checks, waiting periods, or bans on specific types of firearms.
(b) The permit application form shall:
(1) Include:
(A) The applicant's name, address, gender, height, weight, date of birth, place of birth, country of citizenship, social security number, alien or admission number;
(B) Information regarding the applicant's mental health history;
(C) Any aliases or other names previously used by the applicant;
(D) Information that is or may be relevant in determining whether the applicant is disqualified under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm; and
(E) Information that is or may be relevant in determining whether the applicant lacks the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm as set forth in subsection (e); and
(2) Require the fingerprinting and photographing of the applicant by the police department of the county of registration; provided that where fingerprints and a photograph are already on file with the department, these may be waived.
(c) An applicant for a permit shall:
(1) Sign a waiver at the time of application, allowing the chief of police of the county issuing the permit or a designee of the chief of police access to all records that have a bearing on the mental health of the applicant; and
(2) Identify any health care providers who possess or may possess the records described in paragraph (1).
(d) The chief of police of the respective counties shall issue permits to acquire firearms to:
(1) Citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States of the age of twenty-one years or more;
(2) Duly accredited official representatives of foreign nations;
(3) Duly commissioned law enforcement officers of the State who are aliens; provided that any law enforcement officer who is the owner of a firearm and who is an alien shall transfer ownership of the firearm within forty-eight hours after termination of employment from a law enforcement agency;
(4) Aliens of the age of eighteen years or more for use of rifles and shotguns for a period not exceeding sixty days, upon a showing that the alien has first procured a hunting license under chapter 183D, part II; and
(5) Aliens of the age of twenty-one years or more for use of firearms for a period not exceeding six months, upon a showing that the alien is in training for a specific organized sport-shooting contest to be held within the permit period.
The attorney general may adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, as to what constitutes sufficient evidence that an alien is in training for a sport-shooting contest.Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and upon joint application, the chief of police may, upon request, issue permits to acquire firearms jointly to spouses who otherwise qualify to obtain permits under this section.(e) The permit application form shall be signed by the applicant and issuing authority. One copy of the permit shall be retained by the issuing authority as a permanent official record. Except for sales to dealers licensed under section 134-31, dealers licensed by the United States Department of Justice, law enforcement officers, or where any firearm is registered pursuant to section 134-3(a), no permit shall be issued to an applicant earlier than fourteen calendar days after the date of the application; provided that a permit shall be issued or the application denied before the fortieth day from the date of application. Permits issued to acquire any pistol or revolver shall be void unless used within thirty days after the date of issue. Permits to acquire a pistol or revolver shall require a separate application and permit for each transaction. Permits issued to acquire any rifle or shotgun shall entitle the permittee to make subsequent purchases of rifles or shotguns for a period of one year from the date of issue without a separate application and permit for each acquisition, subject to the disqualifications under section 134-7 and revocation under section 134-13; provided that if a permittee is arrested for committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or for the illegal sale or distribution of any drug, the permit shall be impounded and surrendered to the issuing authority. The issuing authority shall perform an inquiry on an applicant by using the International Justice and Public Safety Network, including the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement query. National Crime Information Center, and National Instant Criminal Background Check System, pursuant to section 846-2.7 before any determination to issue a permit or to deny an application is made. The issuing authority shall not issue a permit to acquire the ownership of a firearm if an applicant is disqualified under section 134-7 from the ownership, possession, or control of a firearm, or if the issuing authority determines that issuance would not be in the interest of public health, safety, or welfare because the person lacks the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm. In determining whether a person lacks the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm, the issuing authority shall consider whether the person poses a danger of causing a self-inflicted bodily injury or unlawful injury to another person, as evidenced by:
(1) Information from a health care provider indicating that the person has had suicidal or homicidal thoughts or tendencies within the preceding five years;
(2) Statements or actions by the person indicating any dangerous propensity or violent animus toward one or more individuals or groups, including groups based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic, and the propensity or animus is of a nature or to an extent that would objectively indicate to a reasonable observer that it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare for the person to own, possess, or control a firearm or ammunition; or
(3) Other information that would lead a reasonable, objective observer to conclude that the person presents or would present a danger to the community as a result of acquiring or possessing a firearm or intends or is likely to use a firearm for an unlawful purpose or in an unlawful manner.
(f) In all cases where a pistol or revolver is acquired from another person within the State, the permit shall be signed in ink by the person to whom title to the pistol or revolver is transferred and shall be delivered to the person who is transferring title to the firearm, who shall verify that the person to whom the firearm is to be transferred is the person named in the permit and enter on the permit in the space provided the following information: name, address, and telephone number of the person who transferred the firearm; name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom the title to the firearm was transferred; names of the manufacturer and importer; model; type of action; caliber or gauge; and serial number, as applicable. The person who is transferring title to the firearm shall sign the permit in ink and cause the permit to be delivered or sent by registered mail to the issuing authority within forty-eight hours after transferring the firearm.
In all cases where receipt of a firearm is had by mail, express, freight, or otherwise from sources outside the State, the person to whom the permit has been issued shall make the prescribed entries on the permit, sign the permit in ink, and cause the permit to be delivered or sent by registered mail to the issuing authority within forty-eight hours after taking possession of the firearm.In all cases where a rifle or shotgun is acquired from another person within the State, the person who is transferring title to the rifle or shotgun shall submit, within forty-eight hours after transferring the firearm, to the authority that issued the permit to acquire, the following information, in writing: name, address, and telephone number of the person who transferred the firearm; name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom the title to the firearm was transferred; names of the manufacturer and importer; model; type of action; caliber or gauge; and serial number, as applicable.(g) No person shall be issued a permit under this section for the acquisition of a firearm unless the person, within the four years before the issuance of the permit, has completed:
(1) An approved hunter education course as authorized under section 183D-28, unless the applicant seeks to acquire a pistol or revolver, in which case the applicant shall complete a training satisfying the requirements of paragraph (2), (3), or (4);
(2) A firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency of the State or of any county;
(3) A firearms safety or training course offered to law enforcement officers, security guards, investigators, deputy sheriffs, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement by a state or county law enforcement agency; or
(4) A firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a firearms instructor certified or verified by the chief of police of the respective county or a designee of the chief of police or certified by a nongovernmental organization approved for such purposes by the chief of police of the respective county or a designee of the chief of police, or conducted by a certified military firearms instructor; provided that the firearms training or safety course or class provides, at a minimum, a total of at least two hours of firing training at a firing range and a total of at least four hours of classroom instruction, which may include a video, that focuses on:
(A) The safe use, handling, and storage of firearms and firearm safety in the home, as well as a component on mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence issues associated with firearms and firearm violence; and
(B) Education on the firearm laws of the State. An affidavit signed by the certified or verified firearms instructor who conducted or taught the course, providing the name, address, and phone number of the instructor and attesting to the successful completion of the course by the applicant shall constitute evidence of certified successful completion under this paragraph; provided that an instructor shall not submit an affidavit signed by the instructor for the instructor's own permit application.
(h) No person shall sell, give, lend, or deliver into the possession of another any firearm except in accordance with this chapter.
(i) No fee shall be charged for permits, or applications for permits, under this section, except for a single fee chargeable by and payable to the issuing county in an amount equal to the fee charged by the Hawaii criminal justice data center pursuant to section 846-2.7. In the case of a joint application, the fee provided for in this section may be charged to each person. If an application under this section is denied, the chief of police or a designee of the chief of police shall notify the applicant of the denial in writing, stating the ground or grounds for the denial and informing the applicant of the right to seek review of the denial through a hearing pursuant to subsection (k).
(j) In all cases where a permit application under this section is denied because an applicant is prohibited from owning, possessing, receiving, or controlling firearms under federal or state law, the chief of police of the applicable county shall, within ten business days from the date of denial, send written notice of the denial, including the identity of the applicant and the reasons for the denial, to the:
(1) Prosecuting attorney in the county where the permit was denied;
(2) Attorney general;
(3) United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii; and
(4) Director of corrections and rehabilitation.
If the permit to acquire was denied because the applicant is subject to an order described in section 134-7(f), the chief of police shall, within three business days from the date of denial, send written notice of the denial to the court that issued the order.When the director of corrections and rehabilitation receives notice that an applicant has been denied a permit because of a prior criminal conviction, the director of corrections and rehabilitation shall determine whether the applicant is currently serving a term of probation or parole, and if the applicant is serving such a term, send written notice of the denial to the applicant's probation or parole officer.(k) If an application under this section is denied, a person or entity aggrieved by the denial shall be entitled to a hearing before the chief of police of the appropriate county or a designee of the chief of police. A person or entity aggrieved by the denial shall submit a request for a hearing in writing to the chief of police of the appropriate county no later than thirty days following the date of the decision or determination notice. The hearing shall constitute a contested case hearing for purposes of chapter 91. Following the hearing and final decision, an aggrieved party shall be entitled to a judicial review proceeding in state circuit court in accordance with section 91-14.
(l) The permit application form and the waiver form required under this section shall be prescribed by the issuing authority.
(m) The requirements of subsection (g) shall not apply to an applicant for a permit to acquire a rifle or shotgun who;
(1) Has been issued a hunter education certificate under section 183D-28 that is valid for the life of the person; or
(2) Has received a written exemption under section 183D-28.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-2
(1) A valid Hawaii hunting license procured under chapter 183D, part II, or a commercial or private shooting preserve permit issued pursuant to section 183D-34;
(2) A written document indicating the person has been invited to the State to shoot on private land; or
(3) Written notification from a firing range or target shooting business indicating that the person will actually engage in target shooting.
The nonresident alien shall be limited to a nontransferable registration of no more than ten firearms for the purpose of the above activities.Every person registering a firearm under this subsection shall be fingerprinted and photographed by the police department of the county of registration; provided that this requirement shall be waived where fingerprints and photographs are already on file with the police department. The police department shall perform an inquiry on the person by using the International Justice and Public Safety Network, including the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement query, the National Crime Information Center, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, pursuant to section 846-2.7 before any determination to register a firearm is made. Any person attempting to register a firearm, a firearm receiver, or the parts used to assemble a firearm, and who is found to be disqualified from ownership, possession, or control of firearms or ammunition under section 134-7, shall surrender or dispose of all firearms and ammunition pursuant to section 134-7.3.(b) Every person who acquires a firearm pursuant to section 134-2 shall register the firearm in the manner prescribed by this section within five days of acquisition. If the firearm is acquired from a person who is not a dealer licensed under section 134-31 or a dealer licensed by the United States Department of Justice, the firearm shall be physically inspected by the chief of police of the appropriate county or designee at the time of registration. The registration of all firearms shall be on forms prescribed by the attorney general, which shall be uniform throughout the State, and shall include the following information: name of the manufacturer and importer; model; type of action; caliber or gauge; serial number; and source from which receipt was obtained, including the name and address of the prior registrant. If the firearm has been assembled from separate parts and an unfinished firearm receiver, the entity that registered the firearm receiver shall be recorded in the space provided for the name of the manufacturer and importer, and the phrase "assembled from parts" shall be recorded in the space provided for model. If the firearm has been assembled from parts created using a three-dimensional printer, the entity that registered the firearm receiver shall be recorded in the space provided for the name of the manufacturer and importer, and the phrase "3-D printer" shall be recorded in the space provided for model. If the firearm has no serial number, the registration number shall be entered in the space provided for the serial number, and the registration number shall be engraved upon the receiver portion of the firearm before registration. On firearms assembled from parts created using a three-dimensional printer, the registration number shall be engraved on stainless steel , permanently embedded to the firearm receiver during fabrication or construction, and visible when the firearm is assembled. Firearms and firearm receivers with engraved or embedded registration numbers, even if done by a dealer licensed under section 134-31 or a dealer licensed by the United States Department of Justice, shall be physically inspected by the chief of police of the appropriate county or designee at the time of registration. All registration data that would identify the individual registering the firearm by name or address shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone, except as may be required:
(1) For processing the registration;
(2) For database management by the Hawaii criminal justice data center;
(3) By a law enforcement agency for the lawful performance of its duties; or
(4) By order of a court.
(c) Dealers licensed under section 134-31 or dealers licensed by the United States Department of Justice shall register firearms pursuant to this section on registration forms prescribed by the attorney general and shall not be required to have the firearms physically inspected by the chief of police at the time of registration, except as provided in subsection (b). An authorized dealer, as provided in section 134-31, or a dealer licensed by the United States Department of Justice, who brings, assembles, or causes to be brought into the State by any other means, separate parts and an unfinished firearm receiver that when assembled create a firearm, or parts created by a three-dimensional printer that when assembled create a firearm, shall register the unfinished firearm receiver and receive a serial number before the assembly of the firearm or the sale or transfer of unassembled firearm parts or a receiver to a third party in accordance with subsection (b). Any sale or transfer of unfinished firearm receivers by an authorized dealer to a third party shall be conducted as if they were fully assembled firearms with a serial number engraved on the firearm receiver and in accordance with the firearms permitting process in section 134-2.
(d) Registration shall not be required for:
(1) Any device that is designed to fire loose black powder or that is a firearm manufactured before 1899;
(2) Any device not designed to fire or made incapable of being readily restored to a firing condition; or
(3) All unserviceable firearms and destructive devices registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the United States Department of Justice pursuant to Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations.
(e) Every person who permanently moves firearms out of the State shall contact and notify the county police department in the county where the firearms are registered about the removal of the firearms within five days of the removal from the State. Any person who fails to timely notify the appropriate police department shall be subject to a civil penalty of $100 per firearm.
(f) No fee shall be charged for the registration of a firearm under this section, except for a fee chargeable by and payable to the registering county for persons registering a firearm under subsection (a), in an amount equal to the fee charged by the Hawaii criminal justice data center pursuant to section 846-2.7. In the case of a joint registration, the fee provided for in this section may be charged to each person.
(g) No person less than twenty-one years of age shall bring or cause to be brought into the State any firearm.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-3
(b) No person shall possess any firearm that is owned by another, regardless of whether the owner has consented to possession of the firearm, without a permit from the chief of police of the appropriate county, except as provided in subsection (c) and section 134-5.
(c) Any lawfully acquired rifle or shotgun may be lent to an adult for use within the State for a period not to exceed fifteen days without a permit; provided that where the rifle or shotgun is to be used outside of the State, the loan may be for a period not to exceed seventy-five days.
(d) No person shall intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly lend a firearm to any person who is prohibited from ownership , possession, or control of a firearm under section 134-7.
(e) After July 1, 1992, no person shall bring or cause to be brought into the State an assault pistol. No assault pistol may be sold or transferred on or after July 1, 1992, to anyone within the State other than to a dealer licensed under section 134-32 or the chief of police of any county except that any person who obtains title by bequest or intestate succession to an assault pistol registered within the State shall, within ninety days, render the weapon permanently inoperable, sell or transfer the weapon to a licensed dealer or the chief of police of any county, or remove the weapon from the State.
(b) A permit shall not be required when any lawfully acquired firearm is lent to a person, including a minor, upon a target range or similar facility for purposes of target shooting; provided that the period of the loan does not exceed the time in which the person actually engages in target shooting upon the premises.
(c) A person may carry unconcealed and use a lawfully acquired pistol or revolver while actually engaged in hunting game mammals, if that pistol or revolver and its suitable ammunition are acceptable for hunting by rules adopted pursuant to section 183D-3 and if that person is licensed pursuant to part II of chapter 183D. The pistol or revolver may be transported in an enclosed container, as defined in section 134-25 in the course of going to and from the place of the hunt, notwithstanding section 134-26.
(b) No person who is being prosecuted for one or more charges for a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug in a court in this State or elsewhere, or who has been convicted in this State or elsewhere of having committed a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition .
(c) No person shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition if the person:
(1) Is or has been under treatment or counseling for addiction to, abuse of, or dependence upon any dangerous, harmful, or detrimental drug, intoxicating compound as defined in section 712-1240, or intoxicating liquor;
(2) Has been acquitted of a crime on the grounds of mental disease, disorder, or defect pursuant to section 704-411 or any similar provision under federal law, or the law of another state, a United States territory, or the District of Columbia;
(3) Is or has been diagnosed with or treated for a medical, behavioral, psychological, emotional, or mental condition or disorder that causes or is likely to cause impairment in judgment, perception, or impulse control to an extent that presents an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or welfare if the person were in possession or control of a firearm; or
(4) Has been adjudged to:
(A) Meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization under section 334-60.2; or
(B) Be an "incapacitated person", as defined in section 560:5-102,
unless the person establishes, with appropriate medical documentation, that the person is no longer adversely affected by the criteria or statuses identified in this subsection.(d) No person who is less than twenty-five years old and has been adjudicated by the family court to have committed a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition .
(e) No minor shall own, possess, or control any firearm or ammunition if the minor:
(1) Is or has been under treatment for addiction to any dangerous, harmful, or detrimental drug, intoxicating compound as defined in section 712-1240, or intoxicating liquor;
(2) Is a fugitive from justice; or
(3) Has been determined not to have been responsible for a criminal act or has been committed to any institution on account of a mental disease, disorder, or defect,
unless the minor establishes, with appropriate medical documentation, that the minor is no longer adversely affected by the addiction, mental disease, disorder, or defect.For the purposes of enforcing this section, and notwithstanding section 571-84 or any other law to the contrary, any agency within the State shall make its records relating to family court adjudications available to law enforcement officials.(f) No person who has been restrained pursuant to an order of any court, including a gun violence protective order issued pursuant to part IV, from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person, shall possess, control, or transfer ownership of any firearm or ammunition , so long as the protective order, restraining order, or any extension is in effect. The protective order or restraining order shall specifically include a statement that possession, control, or transfer of ownership of a firearm or ammunition by the person named in the order is prohibited. The person shall relinquish possession and control of any firearm and ammunition owned by that person to the police department of the appropriate county for safekeeping for the duration of the order or extension thereof. At the time of service of a protective order or restraining order involving firearms and ammunition issued by any court, a police officer may take custody of any and all firearms and ammunition in plain sight, those discovered pursuant to a consensual search, and those firearms surrendered by the person restrained. If the person restrained is the registered owner of a firearm and knows the location of the firearm, but refuses to surrender the firearm or disclose the location of the firearm, the person restrained shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In any case, when a police officer is unable to locate the firearms and ammunition either registered under this chapter or known to the person granted protection by the court, the police officer shall apply to the court for a search warrant pursuant to chapter 803 for the limited purpose of seizing the firearm and ammunition.
(g) Except as provided in section 134-5, no person who is under the age of twenty-one shall own, possess, or control any ammunition for any firearm; provided that this subsection shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a).
(h) Any person disqualified from ownership, possession, control, or the right to transfer ownership of firearms and ammunition under this section shall surrender or dispose of all firearms and ammunition in compliance with section 134-7.3.
(i) Any person who otherwise would be prohibited under subsection (b) from owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm and ammunition solely as a result of a conviction for a crime that is not a felony, and who is not prohibited from owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm or ammunition for any reason under any other provision of this chapter or under title 18 United States Code section 922 or another provision of federal law, shall not be prohibited under this section from owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm and ammunition if twenty years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.
(j) Any person violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be guilty of a class C felony; provided that any felon violating subsection (b) shall be guilty of a class B felony. Any person violating subsection (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-7
Firearm Classification and Accessory Restrictions
COMING SOON!
Magazine Capacity Restrictions
Magazine capacity laws are designed to limit the number of rounds a firearm's magazine can hold, typically restricting it to a certain number of cartridges (e.g., 10 rounds or fewer). Some state laws restrict the amount of rounds that may be placed in a magazine at any given time, while others prevent the mere possession of unloaded magazines capable of accepting more than a certain number of rounds.
Hawaii restricts the ammunition capacity of magazines to 10 rounds by state law.
(b) Any person who installs, removes, or alters a firearm part with the intent to convert the firearm to an automatic firearm shall be deemed to have manufactured an automatic firearm in violation of subsection (a).
(c) The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of detachable ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds which are designed for or capable of use with a pistol is prohibited. This subsection shall not apply to magazines originally designed to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition which have been modified to accept no more than ten rounds and which are not capable of being readily restored to a capacity of more than ten rounds.
(d) Any person violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be guilty of a class C felony and shall be imprisoned for a term of five years without probation. Any person violating subsection (c) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor except when a detachable magazine prohibited under this section is possessed while inserted into a pistol in which case the person shall be guilty of a class C felony.
Prohibited Areas - Where Firearms Are Prohibited Under State law
Carrying a firearm into a place where firearms are prohibited by state or federal law is a common way for gun owners to find themselves in legal trouble. These places are known as “prohibited areas,” and they can vary greatly from state to state.
Below you will find the list of the places where firearms are prohibited under this state’s laws. Keep in mind, in addition to these state prohibited areas, federal law adds additional places where firearms are prohibited. See the federal law section for a list of federal prohibited areas.
(a) A person with a license issued under section 134-9, or authorized to carry a firearm in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C, shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry or possess a loaded or unloaded firearm, whether the firearm is operable or not, and whether the firearm is concealed or unconcealed, while in any of the following locations and premises within the State:
(1) Any building or office owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, and adjacent grounds and parking areas, including any portion of a building or office used for court proceedings, legislative business, contested case hearings, agency rulemaking, or other activities of state or county government;
(2) Any public or private hospital, mental health facility, nursing home, clinic, medical office, urgent care facility, or other place at which medical or health services are customarily provided, including adjacent parking areas;
(3) Any adult or juvenile detention or correctional facility, prison, or jail, including adjacent parking areas;
(4) Any bar or restaurant serving alcohol or intoxicating liquor as defined in section 281-1 for consumption on the premises, including adjacent parking areas;
(5) Any stadium, movie theater, or concert hall, or any place at which a professional, collegiate, high school, amateur, or student sporting event is being held, including adjacent parking areas;
(6) All public library property, including buildings, facilities, meeting rooms, spaces used for community programming, adjacent grounds, and parking areas;
(7) The campus or premises of any public or private community college, college, or university, and adjacent parking areas, including buildings, classrooms, laboratories, research facilities, artistic venues, and athletic fields or venues;
(8) The campus or premises of any public school, charter school, private school, preschool, summer camp, or child care facility as defined in section 346-151, including adjacent parking areas, but not including:
(A) A private residence at which education is provided for children who are all related to one another by blood, marriage, or adoption; or
(B) A dwelling when not used as a child care facility;
(9) Any beach, playground, park, or adjacent parking area, including any state park, state monument, county park, tennis court, golf course, swimming pool, or other recreation area or facility under control, maintenance, and management of the State or a county, but not including an authorized target range or shooting complex;
(10) Any shelter, residential, or programmatic facility or adjacent parking area operated by a government entity or charitable organization serving unhoused persons, victims of domestic violence, or children, including children involved in the juvenile justice system;
(11) Any voter service center as defined in section 11-1 or other polling place, including adjacent parking areas;
(12) The premises of any bank or financial institution as defined in section 211D-1, including adjacent parking areas;
(13) Any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit, and adjacent parking areas, including buses, paratransit vans, bus shelters and terminals (but not including bus stops located on public sidewalks), trains, rail stations, and airports;
(14) Any amusement park, aquarium, carnival, circus, fair, museum, water park, or zoo, including adjacent parking areas; or
(15) Any public gathering, public assembly, or special event conducted on property open to the public, including any demonstration, march, rally, vigil, protest, picketing, or other public assembly, for which a permit is obtained from the federal government, the State, or a county, and the sidewalk or street immediately adjacent to the public gathering, public assembly, or special event; provided that there are signs clearly and conspicuously posted at visible places along the perimeter of the public gathering, public assembly, or special event.
(b) This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a). It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under this section that a person is:
(1) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm in a police station in accordance with section 134-23(a)(6), 134-24(a)(6), or 134-25(a)(6);
(2) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm at an organized, scheduled firearms show or exhibit;
(3) Lawfully carrying or possessing a firearm for hunting in compliance with section 134-5;
(4) A private security officer expressly authorized to carry or possess a weapon in a location or premises listed in subsection (a) by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the location or premises; provided that the private security officer is acting within the private security officer's scope of employment;
(5) Carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm in a courthouse for evidentiary purposes with the prior express authorization of the court;
(6) Lawfully present within the person's own home, other than a college or university dormitory or shelter or residential facility serving unhoused persons or victims of domestic violence;
(7) Carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9 or in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C in the immediate area surrounding the person's vehicle within a parking area for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving the firearm;
(8) Possessing a firearm in an airport or any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit; provided that the firearm is unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container for the purpose of transporting the firearm;
(9) Walking through a public gathering, public assembly, or special event if necessary to access the person's residence, place of business, or vehicle; provided that the person does not loiter or remain longer than necessary to complete their travel or business; or
(10) Carrying a concealed firearm in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C in a location or premises within the State that is not a State or county property, installation, building, base, or park, and not a location or premises where a private person or entity has prohibited or restricted the possession of concealed firearms on their property.
(c) The presence of a person in any location or premises listed in subsection (a) shall be prima facie evidence that the person knew it was a location or premises listed in subsection (a).
(d) Where only a portion of a building or office is owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, this section shall not apply to the portion of the building or office that is not owned, leased, or used by the State or a county, unless carrying or possessing a firearm within that portion is otherwise prohibited by this section.
(e) As used in this section, "private security officer" means any person employed and duly licensed to engage in the private detective or guard business pursuant to chapter 463.
(f) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(g) If any ordinance of any county of the State establishing locations where the carrying of firearms is prohibited is inconsistent with this section or with section 134-9.5, the ordinance shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency.
(b) For purposes of this section, express authorization to carry or possess a firearm on private property shall be signified by:
(1) Unambiguous written or verbal authorization; or
(2) The posting of clear and conspicuous signage at the entrance of the building or on the premises,
by the owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the property, or agent thereof, indicating that carrying or possessing a firearm is authorized.(c) For purposes of this section:
"Private entity" means any homeowners' association, community association, planned community association, condominium association, cooperative, or any other nongovernmental entity with covenants, bylaws, or administrative rules, regulations, or provisions governing the use of private property."Private property" does not include property that is owned or leased by any governmental entity."Private property of another person" means residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, or undeveloped property that is privately owned or leased, unless the person carrying a firearm is an owner, lessee, operator, or manager of the property, including an ownership interest in a common element or limited common element of the property; provided that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the enforceability of a provision in any private rental agreement restricting a tenant's possession or use of firearms, the enforceability of a restrictive covenant restricting the possession or use of firearms, or the authority of any private entity to restrict the possession or use of firearms on private property.(d) This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a).
(e) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-9.5
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Methods of Carry - Open Carry Laws
Open carry and concealed carry refer to two distinct methods of carrying firearms in public. Open carry involves visibly carrying a firearm, typically in a holster, where it is easily seen by others. Concealed carry, on the other hand, involves carrying a firearm in a hidden manner, such as under clothing, so that it is not visible to others.
(b) It shall be a defense to any prosecution under this section if the person:
(1) Was within the person's private residence; or
(2) Caused the firearm to be unconcealed for the purpose of self-defense in accordance with section 703-304 or defense of another person in accordance with section 703-305.
(c) Failure to conceal a firearm by a concealed carry licensee shall be a petty misdemeanor.
No Weapons Signs
No weapons" signs are notices posted by businesses or private property owners indicating that firearms or other weapons are not allowed on the premises. The legal impact of these signs varies by state. In some states, these signs have the force of law, meaning that if a person carries a weapon onto the property in violation of the sign, they can face criminal penalties such as fines or arrest. In these states, ignoring a "no weapons" sign can result in legal consequences similar to trespassing.
In other states, however, these signs are merely a business's policy, and while a person carrying a weapon might be asked to leave, there are no legal penalties for entering with a weapon unless they refuse to leave when asked, at which point trespassing laws may apply.
708-814
Controlled Substance/Alcohol Laws
Most, but not all, states have laws in place that regulate possessing firearms while intoxicated, and individual states will define "intoxicated" differently. In addition to state law, federal law also prohibits the possession of a firearm by any person who is “an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” as defined by the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). There are five different schedules of controlled substances regulated by the CSA, scheduled as I–V. The types of drugs that are regulated range from heroin as a Schedule I substance, to Robitussin AC as a Schedule V substance. Even a gun owner that is prescribed a scheduled drug by a physician can be in legal jeopardy if it is proven that the drug was taken in a frequency or manner other than was prescribed.
Although legal for medicinal or recreational use in many states, marijuana remains classified as a scheduled controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), codified as 21 U.S.C. § 812. On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice published a proposed rule change that would reclassify marijuana from schedule I to a schedule III drug. It is anticipated this rescheduling will formally occur in 2024 or 2025. Unlike schedule I drugs, schedule III drugs may be lawfully prescribed by a licensed physician, and thus the possession of these prescribed drugs does not make the possession of a firearm inherently unlawful the way possession of a schedule I substance would. This means that the rescheduling of marijuana to a schedule III drug would finally allow for the lawful use, possession and purchase of firearms by prescription marijuana users. However, if it is determined that the marijuana is possessed without a prescription, is used in a manner that is not prescribed, or that the individual with the prescription is addicted to marijuana, possession of a firearm would still be a federal offense. Federal law states that a person is addicted to a controlled substance when they have “lost the power of self-control with reference to the use of controlled substance; and any person who is a current user of a controlled substance in a manner other than as prescribed by a licensed physician.”
27 C.F.R. § 478.11, 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3)
(2) Consume a controlled substance;
(3) Be under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating liquor; or
(4) Be under the influence of a controlled substance.
"Alcohol" and "intoxicating liquor" shall have the same meaning as in section 281-1."Controlled substance" means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor in schedules I through III of part II of chapter 329.(c) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided that any person who violates this section by consuming or being under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating liquor shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-9.4
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Vehicle and Transport Laws
Permit reciprocity and other differences between state regulation of firearms can create a difficult landscape for firearm owners to navigate while transporting firearms interstate. In 1968, and again in 1986, Congress set out to help hunters, travelers, and other firearm owners who were getting arrested for merely transporting firearms through restrictive states. To help simplify the complex web of state firearm laws, Congress passed the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act (“FOPA”) as part of Senate Bill 2414. The specific “safe harbor” provision of the law, often referred to as the “McClure-Volkmer Rule,” provides some protection for gun owners transporting firearms through restrictive states, subject to strict requirements. This federal law is covered in more detail in the federal law section of this database.
Beyond federal law, the laws of each state will impose additional restrictions, or protections, related to transporting firearms in a vehicle.
(b) For purposes of this section, "safe storage depository" means a safe or other secure impact- and tamper-resistant container that, when locked, is incapable of being opened without a key, keypad, combination, or other unlocking mechanism and is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from obtaining access to or possession of the firearm contained therein. A vehicle's trunk or glove box alone, even if locked, is not a safe storage depository.
(c) This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a).
(d) Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
134-26
Storage Requirements
Some states have laws that require gun owners to take specific measures to secure their firearms, especially in households with children. Many of these state laws mandate that guns be stored in locked containers or safes when not in use. These laws often impose penalties for failing to secure firearms, particularly if they are accessed by unauthorized individuals, such as minors.
(1) Keeps the firearm in a securely locked box or other container or in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or
(2) Carries the firearm on the person or within such close proximity thereto that the person can readily retrieve and use it as if it were carried on the person.
For purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of eighteen years.
(1) A place of repair;
(2) A target range;
(3) A licensed dealer's place of business;
(4) An organized, scheduled firearms show or exhibit;
(5) A place of formal hunter or firearm use training or instruction; or
(6) A police station.
"Enclosed container" means a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm.
(b) Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver shall be guilty of a class B felony.
Other Weapons Restrictions
COMING SOON!
Police Encounter Laws
Some states impose a legal duty upon permit holders that requires them to inform a police officer of the presence of a firearm whenever they have an official encounter, such as a traffic stop. These states are called “duty to inform” states. In these states you are required by law to immediately, and affirmatively, tell a police officer if you have a firearm in your possession.
In addition to “duty to inform states,” some states have “quasi duty to inform” laws. These laws generally require that a permit holder have his/her permit in their possession and surrender it upon the request of an officer. The specific requirements of these laws will vary from state to state.
The final category of states is classified as “no duty to inform” states. In these states there are no laws that require a gun owner to affirmatively inform an officer if they have a firearm. Additionally, there are also generally no laws that require you to respond or provide a permit if asked about the presence of a firearm.
(1) The license issued under section 134-9 or documentation regarding the person's qualifications under title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C;
(2) Government-issued photo identification; and
(3) Except with respect to firearms that are a part of the official equipment of any federal agency as provided under section 134-11(b), documentary evidence that the firearm being carried is registered under this chapter,
and shall, upon request from a law enforcement officer, present government-issued photo identification and the license or credentials and evidence of registration.(b) When a person carrying a firearm, including a person carrying a firearm pursuant to a license issued under section 134-9 or in accordance with title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C, is stopped by a law enforcement officer or is a driver or passenger in a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer, the person carrying a firearm shall immediately disclose to the law enforcement officer that the person is carrying a firearm, and shall, upon request:
(1) Identify the specific location of the firearm; and
(2) Present to the law enforcement officer a license to carry a firearm issued under section 134-9 or documentation regarding the person's qualifications under title 18 United States Code section 926B or 926C.
(c) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-9.2
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14-119.1
134-D
Red Flag or Emergency Risk Orders
Emergency Risk Orders (or "Red Flag Laws") enable rapid legal action when someone is believed to be at significant risk of harming themselves or others with a firearm. Generally speaking, these controversial laws allow law enforcement to seek a court order to temporarily confiscate firearms from the individual and prevent them from purchasing new ones while the order is in effect. The most robust laws also permit family members and others to file petitions.
[Insert state law in shadowbox]
OR
[State] does not have Emergency Risk Orders ("Red Flag Laws).
Use of Force in Defense of Person
The legal use of force, including deadly force, is regulated by state law. There are no federal laws that dictate when you can use force in self-defense in all states. As such, it is essential to become familiar with individual state laws.
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Use of Force in Defense of Others
Defense of third party laws allow an individual to use force, including deadly force, to protect another person from harm. These laws generally permit intervention if the third party would have had the right to use force in their own self-defense under the same circumstances. The exact application of these laws will vary by jurisdiction, so it is important to understand the framework of each individual state.
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Use of Force in Defense of Habitation
The term "castle doctrine" comes from English common law providing that one's abode is a special area in which one enjoys certain protections and immunities, from which one is not obligated to retreat before defending oneself against attack, and in which one may do so without fear of prosecution.
Many states have instituted castle doctrine laws, with varying degrees of formality. Some states have statutorily enacted castle doctrine laws, some have judicially-created protections (called “common laws”), while others have no amplified protections in the home at all.
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Use of Force in Defense of Property
Generally speaking, the use of deadly force is limited to circumstances that reasonably present an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death of a human being. As such, using deadly force in defense of mere personal property is almost categorically prohibited. Although most states will allow the use of some amount of force (i.e. physically restraining someone until the police arrive), the use or threatened use of deadly force in defense of mere property is generally not permitted.
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Self-Defense Immunity
To address the risk that those acting in lawful self-defense might be sued by their attacker, some states have implemented protective measures in the form of civil immunity statutes. These statutes serve to shield victims from certain civil lawsuits. If a state has a civil immunity statute in place, you generally enjoy protection from being sued by your attacker or attacker’s family as long as your use of force is deemed to be criminally justified. This legal framework provides a layer of protection for individuals who, in the course of defending themselves, might otherwise be subjected to additional legal challenges in the form of civil lawsuits.
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Duty to Retreat
A duty to retreat is an obligation to flee that is imposed upon a civilian who is under attack. If applicable, it applies to the victim of unlawful force prior to their ability to use deadly force to defend him or herself. The duty to retreat makes self-defense unavailable to those who use deadly force when they could have retreated from the confrontation safely. The alternative to duty-to-retreat laws is no-duty-to-retreat laws or stand-your-ground laws as they’re commonly called. Stand-your-ground states impose no duty to flee upon victims and instead state that one can stand their ground and meet force with force, under certain situations.
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Self-Defense Limitations
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Use of Force Considerations
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Use of Force Against Animals
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Cases to Watch
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