The State of Hawaii is the only state in the union which maintains an effective ban on acquiring and owning firearms and ammunition by those between the ages of 18 – 20. Under Hawaii law, adults under 21 years old cannot apply for – or be granted – a Permit to Acquire (PTA). As a result, adults under the age of 21 years old are prohibited from purchasing, owning or possessing firearms and ammunition in Hawaii.
Hawaii’s prohibition directly conflicts with this nation’s history and tradition and the very text of the Second Amendment itself. Since Bruen, federal courts have routinely overturned firearms restrictions on adults under 21 years old. Rather than reconsider its ban on adults under the age of 21 owning firearms, Hawaii has broadened its ban to include ammunition.
On November 20, 2024, the Second Amendment Foundation, joined by two individuals and two businesses, filed suit against Hawaii’s Attorney General, Anne E. Lopez. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the challenged statutes violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments and requests preliminary and permanent injunctive relief along with nominal damages.
Case Team: Alan Beck, Kevin O’Grady
Case Documents
To access all of the case documents, please visit the docket.
Case Media
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