State Attorney General Anne Lopez has joined a national coalition of fellow attorneys general in an amicus brief to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals supporting New York’s concealed-carry laws.

What You Need To Know

  • New York passed new legislation designating “sensitive locations” where firearms cannot be carried following the Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen 

  • The new law also requires applicants to reveal their social media accounts and contact information for family and household members

  • The coalition argued in its brief that the new law is constitutional and that licensing requirements are an appropriate way to ensure that applicants who lack the character or temperament to safely carry a weapon are not eligible to receive a permit

  • The City and County of Honolulu and Hawaii County have considered enacting similar “sensitive locations” laws. The Hawaii State Legislature is also expected to examine the issue this session

In the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen striking down New York’s law requiring applicants to provide a compelling reason why they should have a permit to carry a concealed firearm, the state passed new legislation designating “sensitive locations” where firearms cannot be carried. The new law also requires applicants to share their social media accounts and contact information for family and household members.

The coalition argued in its brief that the new law is constitutional and that licensing requirements are an appropriate way to ensure that applicants who lack the character or temperament to safely carry a weapon are not eligible to receive a permit.

“Common-sense firearms laws — like New York’s rules prohibiting guns in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings — are constitutional and effective,” Lopez said in a statement released on Thursday. “Laws like these have a crucial role to play in protecting the public from the serious risks of gun violence.”

The state Department of the Attorney General reported that since the Bruen ruling it has been “vigorously defending” challenges to Hawaii’s firearms regulations, including prohibitions on possession of assault pistols and large-capacity magazines.

The City and County of Honolulu and Hawaii County have considered enacting similar “sensitive locations” laws. The Hawaii State Legislature is also expected to examine the issue this session.

Joining Lopez in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.