The Buckeye Institute has submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Wolford v. Lopez, urging the court to overturn a decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The organization argues that Hawaii’s law, which criminalizes carrying a firearm onto private property unless the owner gives explicit consent, violates constitutional rights when applied to properties open for public use.
David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, explained the issue with an analogy: “Imagine an Ohio law banning cars with bumper stickers from That School Up North from filling up at Ohio gas stations during the week of The Game unless the station posts a sign explicitly permitting ichigan fans. Such a law, while understandable during game week, is an obvious violation of constitutional rights. And Hawaii’s law—criminalizing carrying a firearm onto private property unless the owner expressly consents—is no less a violation.”
In its filing, The Buckeye Institute contends that the Second Amendment should receive equal protection and respect as other constitutional rights. The group also claims that Hawaii’s statute reflects a broader pattern of state overreach and indifference toward Second Amendment protections and that it infringes on citizens’ right to bear arms.
The brief further notes that Hawaii’s legislation not only makes exercising a constitutional right illegal in certain situations but also imposes legal obligations on property owners to understand these requirements and inform visitors about their rights regarding firearms. According to The Buckeye Institute, this creates an indefensible and unconstitutional restriction on gun ownership and use.
