The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Wolford v. Lopez on June 25, 2026, striking down a Hawaii law that prohibited individuals from carrying guns without permission onto private property open to the public. The decision means that property owners must now actively post notice or otherwise communicate that guns are not allowed on their property.

The Hawaii law had made it illegal to carry handguns onto private property open to the public, including locations such as grocery stores, gas stations, and hotels, without explicit permission. The Court's ruling places the responsibility on property owners to restrict firearms by providing clear communication.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority decision, which was joined by Justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Alito stated that Hawaii's law infringed upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, writing that the law "hobbles what the Second Amendment protects: the right of Americans to carry arms for self-defense as they go about their daily lives." He added that "'the plain text of the Second Amendment protects' what petitioners want to do: carry handguns for self-defense."

James Madison drafted proposed amendments to the Constitution, including what later became the Second Amendment, in 1789. Over 130 people are killed by guns every day in the United States.

Why It Matters

The Supreme Court's decision in Wolford v. Lopez alters the legal landscape regarding firearm carry on private property accessible to the public. By shifting the burden to property owners to prohibit guns, the ruling could change how businesses and public-facing establishments manage firearms on their premises. This decision reinforces the Court's interpretation of Second Amendment rights, impacting gun control regulations at the state level.