2A Advocates: New Bill Highlights Hawaii Lawmakers’ ‘Loathing of the Second Amendment’

Hawaii has been under a microscope because of their anti-Second Amendment stance, and lawmakers are unrepentant in their efforts to undermind a fundamental right. 

On Jan. 20, 2026 attorney Alan Beck delivered masterful and sound arguments when challenging Hawaii’s so-called “sensitive location” law. Wolford v. Lopez seeks to undo Hawaii’s flipping of the default firearm possession rules; their law makes it so carriers must get affirmative permission to carry a firearm on private property open to the public. Three days after Beck minced Hawaii’s flawed arguments, a bill was introduced that would force all businesses to display weapons-related signage.

The bill, SB3041, was introduced by Hawaii State Senator Chris Lee. Lee serves as the Senate Assistant Majority Whip, is the vice chair on the Public Safety and Military Affairs committee, and is seated in various other leadership positions. As Cam previously reported, SB 3041 “requires businesses or restaurants open to the public to post a color-coded placard indicating whether the business or restaurant allows firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises.”

It’s not a foregone conclusion that Beck will be victorious in the Wolford case; however, the bellwethers point to a solid win. Pundits on the pro-Second Amendment side suspect there’ll be at a minimum a six-justice majority opinion; with others saying there might be as many as seven justices to sign on, with potentially one liberal vote to narrow the opinion.

Lee introducing SB3041 might be indicative of Hawaii’s legislature agreeing that they have a big loss coming their way and they’re looking to skirt that opinion.

Looking at the text of the bill, the color-coded placards have interesting overt meanings:

(1) A green placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant does not allow firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises;

(2) A yellow placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant allows either firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises, but not both; and

(3) A red placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant allows firearms and large knives to be brought onto the premises.

Andrew Namiki Roberts is a director of Hawaii Firearms Coalition, a Second Amendment advocacy group. Roberts is skeptical of the motives with the introduction of the bill and states that not only is it a usurpation of the Second Amendment, it’s also violative of the First Amendment.

“It’s clear to us that this is just another attempt by state legislators to circumvent the Supreme Court,” Roberts told Bearing Arms in a statement. “You would think that after a decade of losing lawsuits, they would consult an attorney before introducing new laws.”

Roberts is hopeful that some lawmakers from the Aloha State will apply some common sense prior to the bill becoming law. “I’m sure the state is willing to waste taxpayers’ money defending it,” Roberts noted. “What makes it even more frustrating is that if they pass it, they can drag it out in the 9th circuit for years before a final resolution is reached.”

State Senator Lee’s office did not respond to a request for comment. However, he’s been quoted by KITV.com. Lee stated that the law isn’t saying “no one can carry weapons.” He insists that the law isn’t to restrict lawful carriers: “We’re not saying you can’t go in these different places. We’re just saying make it clear for people.”

In the same KITV.com article, a representative from Everytown for Gun Safety provided an interesting talking point. “This is about our local culture and we are now bending over backwards for an incredibly small proportion of the population who wants to carry a concealed weapon and wants to be able to do it wherever they want to, whenever they want to,” said Chris Marvin on behalf of Everytown.

Invoking the language of “local culture” pairs closely with the bill’s opening statement:

The legislature finds that, for the past two hundred years, the State’s public has had an expectation of entering private restaurants and places of business without encountering lethal firearms or large knives.

Looking at the arguments in Wolford, Justice Sotomayor was hung up on the same linguistic gymnastics, “if we’re looking at a custom …” To which Beck had to sharply remind the court that analogues have to do with “the custom of the nation.”

Kevin O’Grady is a Hawaiian lawyer who specializes in the Second Amendment. O’Grady is Beck’s co-counsel in Wolford as well as many other cases. While seeing legislation like this introduced is never a good thing, O’Grady welcomes the challenge.

“This bill shows that Hawaii is unrepentant in its loathing of the Second Amendment and gun owners,” O’Grady told Bearing Arms. “I look forward to suing the state to strike it down if it is enacted.”

Seeing initiatives like this introduced in Hawaii are not surprising. Although, it’s interesting to note that the Hawaii Senate Majority did add to their list of 2026 legislative priorities to “consider measures to address serious firearm-related offenses.” How this placard system fits into the rubric of “serious firearm-related offenses” is not apparent.

Jon Abbott, another director of Hawaii Firearms Coalition also weighed in on the introduction of the bill. Abbott too is skeptical of the constitutionality of HB3041 and how it will affect both the right to keep and bear arms as well as speech rights.

“It is clear that the Hawaii Legislators have not learned their lesson from the Wolford case,” Abbott said. “SB3041  is not only an assault on the Second Amendment, but also on the First Amendment as well.

“Laws that compel speech are unconstitutional on their face. I wonder after their shameful defense of Black Codes during the Wolford hearing, will the State of Hawaii look toward more Jim Crow laws to defend this atrocious bill or will they look towards other historical tyrannies for inspiration?”

Concerning any First Amendment claims — in light of NRA v. Vullo — Hawaii will have a difficult time defending this bill should it become law.

SB3041 passed its first reading on Jan. 26. Will lawmakers of the Aloha State adopt common sense, or will they default to doubling down? Invoking “the past two hundred years,” “culture,” or “custom,” will undoubtedly have the State fall short. In Wolford, Beck correctly cites the nation’s tradition, of which no such provisions in past law exist. Given the track records of the parties Hawaii will likely face off against, why would they even attempt to pass such a bill into law?

Editor’s Note: Second Amendment groups like the ones above are hard at work across the country doing everything they can to protect our right to keep and bear arms.

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