Residents of Honolulu can expect a more efficient process for applying for permits to carry guns in public, as the city has agreed to grant or deny applications within four months of submission. This decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by residents who raised concerns about significant delays, some lasting up to a year.
The lawsuit, filed in March, alleged that the prolonged delays were a deliberate tactic by the city to maintain strict restrictions on gun permits, a practice that was prevalent prior to a landmark 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. This ruling had a nationwide impact on gun laws, including those in Hawaii, known for having some of the most stringent gun regulations in the country.
Before the Bruen decision, Hawaii's county police chiefs rarely issued licenses for open or concealed carry. Following the ruling, there was a gradual shift towards issuing concealed carry permits. However, the lawsuit claimed that Honolulu continued to impede the process by approving permits at an extremely slow pace, effectively maintaining the restrictive nature of the permitting system.
Legal representatives for the plaintiffs emphasized that the delays in obtaining concealed carry licenses indicated a lack of government commitment to upholding citizens' Second Amendment rights. The agreement reached between the parties now mandates that applications must be processed within 120 days of submission, ensuring a more timely review process.
In addition to the expedited timeline for processing applications, the city has committed to exploring the implementation of an online application system by March 8, 2026, to further streamline the process.
Commenting on the agreement, one of the lawyers involved in the case highlighted the importance of safeguarding individuals' rights to self-defense as recognized by the Supreme Court. A similar lawsuit is currently ongoing in Los Angeles, where applicants have faced even longer delays in the permitting process.
Despite the progress made in Honolulu, the city is not experiencing the same volume of applications as Los Angeles. In 2023, Honolulu processed and approved 1,577 carry licenses, according to firearms statistics from the state attorney general's office.
