Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel led a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief (PDF) supporting Hawai‘i’s and other states’ authority to enact reasonable firearms regulations to protect their communities from gun violence, and ensure that only law-abiding, responsible citizens are permitted to purchase firearms. The brief was filed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Yukutake v. Lopez, supporting Hawai‘i’s en banc proceedings after a divided Ninth Circuit panel ruled unconstitutional two provisions of Hawai‘i’s firearm permitting scheme: its 30-day time limit on purchase permits and its inspection requirement for certain new firearms.
“Every state has a responsibility to keep their residents safe, and that includes taking common-sense steps to reduce gun violence,” Nessel said. “Our laws should reflect the values and needs of our communities, and Hawai‘i’s firearm permitting regime does just that. By ensuring guns are in the hands of only responsible, law-abiding individuals, we can protect lives while upholding constitutional rights. I am proud to lead this coalition supporting Hawai‘i’s commitment to protecting their residents.”