BELLEVUE, Wash. — June 25, 2026 — For the second week in a row, the U.S. Supreme Court has handed a victory to gun owners after striking down Hawaii’s so-called “Vampire Rule” in Wolford v Lopez.
Last year, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to strike the law down. The Hawaii law, similar to statutes found in California, New York and other states, bans carry of firearms on property open to the public – grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more – unless the owner posts a sign stating that carry is allowed on the premises. Prior laws permitted lawful carry in businesses open to the public unless the owner affirmatively requested that guns not be carried. The flipping of the default situation – from allowing guns unless denied, to banning all guns unless invited – created a de facto public carry ban that today the Supreme Court has held to violate the Second Amendment.
“Our stance is that one of the most fundamental underlying principles of the Second Amendment is the right to carry in public for self-defense,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “If a business does not want you to carry a firearm on the premises, the burden should be on the proprietor, not the private citizen, which would be in line with the ‘no soliciting’ or ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’ signs we’re all familiar with. Today the Supreme Court told Hawaii that such transparent attempts at banning constitutionally protected conduct will not be tolerated.”
SAF was joined in the amicus filing by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Connecticut Citizens Defense League and Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.
“The Supreme Court rightfully overturned the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Wolford and now the Second Amendment rights of Hawaii’s residents are one step closer to being fully restored,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “This law was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to disarm peaceable citizens, and we’re grateful the Supreme Court saw through the ruse. With this precedent-setting ruling in hand, other states that have similar laws in place should be on notice – SAF is coming after you and will not hesitate to challenge the continued disenfranchisement of our members and the public.”
For more information visit SAF.org.
