As the 2023 Legislative Session Begins Today in Hawaii, Lawmakers Have an Opportunity to Prioritize Common Sense Gun Safety Legislation

Today, lawmakers return to the State Capitol for the first day of the state legislative session in Hawaii. In recent years, the state has had one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country as lawmakers continue to lead on gun violence prevention. This legislative session, the legislature has an opportunity to build on that progress, and continue to make Hawaii a national leader in the fight against gun violence. Hawaii is a clear example of how strong laws work to save lives, yet there is still work to be done, particularly following SCOTUS’ dangerous ruling in Bruen which undermined one of Hawaii’s critical gun safety laws.

In recent months, local officials have been trying to work quickly to pass measures to define sensitive locations given that last year, state legislators did not have an opportunity to pass a bill in response to the Bruen. The court decision struck down a state law that ensured people were not carrying firearms in public unless they had a specific need to do so. This year, lawmakers have an opportunity to fix the state’s gun laws in response to the reckless Supreme Court decision and continue building on the progress of the last decade.

Currently, Hawaii has some of the strongest gun laws in the country and leads the nation with the lowest rate of gun deaths a year, in large part due to its common-sense gun safety policies. Among many of its life-saving laws, the state has a law that requires gun purchasers to obtain a license and complete a firearm safety course.

More Information on Gun Violence in Hawaii: 

• In an average year, 55 people die by guns.
• With a rate of 3.8 deaths per 100,000 people, Hawaii has the 2nd-lowest rate of gun deaths in the US.
• 61 percent of gun deaths in Hawaii are by firearm suicide.

More information about gun violence in Hawaii is available here. 

If you have questions, or to request an interview with a volunteer from Hawaii Moms Demand Action about advocacy and gun violence prevention in the state, please reach out to [email protected].