6-3 Ruling in Wolford v. Lopez Opens the Door to More Hidden Guns in Stores, Restaurants, and Banks
Philadelphia — The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Hawaii law today in Wolford v. Lopez that required customers to ask private business owners for permission before bringing a concealed firearm onto their property. The 6-3 decision strikes down a 2023 Hawaii law and threatens similar protections that allow business owners across the country to decide whether guns are welcome on their premises.
The following statement in response to the ruling was issued by Adam Garber, CeaseFirePA Education Fund’s CEO:
“This egregious decision takes a tool away from the people who know their business and customers best,” said Garber. “A grocery store owner, a WaWa manager, a bank branch manager should get to decide whether they want concealed, hidden guns in the same aisles as their employees and customers. Today, the Supreme Court said that decision matters less than a gun owner’s convenience. This ruling could put Pennsylvanians at risk every time they run an errand.”
“While Pennsylvania doesn’t have this law yet, the ramifications should worry every business owner in the country. What’s next–the ability of stores to ask people to leave for carrying a concealed firearm or post a “No Gun” sign? The Court’s opinion leaves so-called “sensitive places” like schools, courthouses, and bars alone for now. But that distinction reveals exactly what’s at stake: the government can still decide that a hospital or a courthouse is special enough to ban guns, other business owners are forced to allow concealed carry of firearms in their stores as the default instead of within their control. The people closest to a business and its customers should have the right to decide whether guns belong there, not be told that right doesn’t exist.”
