By: Anthony Morelli
Gun rights have been stripped from the residents of one key U.S. city.
The city has declared war on gun owners, and the Second Amendment has fallen.
And now gun owners will have to decide whether it’s time to get out.
The state of Hawaii has been on the offensive against gun rights in recent weeks, starting with their bizarre Supreme Court decision that the Second Amendment doesn’t square with the “Spirit of Aloha.”
Hawaii has always been a unique U.S. state, as it is a relatively new addition to the union and many residents of the state don’t even identify with the United States or want to be a part of it.
A 2014 poll by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser found that only 63% of Hawaiians want the state to remain a part of the U.S. While 63% is a majority, that number is far lower than would be found in other states.
For that reason, American traditions like gun rights don’t resonate with as many Hawaiians as they do on the mainland. But that doesn’t mean gun owners in Hawaii don’t have rights.
That’s why it is so disturbing that the Honolulu Police Department has apparently decided to unilaterally stop recognizing the Second Amendment.
According to Hawaii News Now, “Another lawsuit has been filed in the battle over gun control in Hawaii.”
“This time, the federal complaint is on behalf of gun owners who say the Honolulu Police Department is intentionally and unconstitutionally dragging its feet in issuing permits to carry concealed handguns.”
Police departments do not exist for the purpose of deciding what the law should be. They exist to enforce the laws that are on the books.
As it is one of the 50 states, the Constitution is the law of the land in Hawaii. And the Honolulu Police Department should stop trying to resist that fact.
The article continues, “The lawsuit names three owners, one of whom applied for his concealed carry permit six months ago.”
“The other two filed last March, nearly a year ago. They say they still haven’t heard a word back from HPD, according to attorney Kevin O’Grady.”
“The lawsuit says the law requires HPD to issue concealed carry permits in a reasonable time.”
“Gun owners have already complained about required consumer training and intrusive questions in the Hawaii process, and now the delays.”
If people in Hawaii don’t like guns, they have every right to not buy guns for themselves. No one is forced to own a gun.
But the Constitution protects certain rights for all citizens. Free speech makes some people uncomfortable, but it is protected for everybody – whether those people support Trump or Biden, or even if have an extreme ideology like communism or anarchism. Everyone has free speech.
Gun rights are no different. As long as the Second Amendment is a part of the Constitution, Hawaiians will have a right to own guns.
And this effort by the Honolulu Police Department to take that right away from residents of the city is an egregious abuse of power.