Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statement applauding Hawaiʻi County’s Council for passing changes regarding where firearms can be carried in public. This action comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s reckless ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, invalidating a critical part of Hawaiʻi’s laws limiting who can carry concealed firearms in public.
“This measure gives our residents peace of mind as it ensures that firearms are kept out of places they don’t belong – like hospitals and daycares. This will save lives,” said Vanessa Ruderman, a volunteer with the Hawaiʻi Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We will continue pushing for policies to ensure the safety of our communities, while celebrating the important step lawmakers are taking today for gun safety.”
The ordinance would prohibit firearms in voting centers, government buildings, public transportation, and places that serve alcohol. It would also prohibit firearms in hospitals, schools, daycares, and playgrounds, unless otherwise stated by the institution. The ordinance is a critical step for gun safety in Hawaiʻi County.
Every year, around 55 Hawaiʻi residents are shot and killed, and nearly 135 are wounded but Hawaiʻi has the second-strongest gun laws of any state in the country and the second-lowest rate of gun deaths in the U.S. However, authorities are concerned with rising gun-related crime in Hawaii. The state has noted a massive uptick in seized ghost guns. If you have questions or want to request an interview with a volunteer from Hawaiʻi Moms Demand Action and/or Students Demand Action, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
More information about gun violence in Hawaiʻi is available here.