Hawaii Confirms Martin Luther King’s Judgment on ‘A Right Delayed’

Opinion

Life in the Igeocracy: While showboating ridiculous infringements that won’t do a thing to “prevent gun violence,” the only thing these grinning functionaries are actually preventing is the lawful exercising of a fundamental right. (Gov. David Ige/Facebook photos)

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “It may be years before Hawaii sees changes to its firearms law following the July 24 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the state’s requirement for a license to openly carry a firearm in public violates the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment,” the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported last Thursday. “

Former law enforcement officer George K. Young Jr. of Hilo sued the state and state and county officials including the Hawaii County police chief in 2012, after the chief twice rejected his application for a license to carry a handgun.”

They were citing an opinion from retired State Supreme Court Justice and current Honolulu Police Commission Vice Chair Steven Levinson, who may be right about this despite his astounding ignorance on related facts about the case. Levinson makes no bones about supporting citizen disarmament, invoking the long-discredited “Dodge City” meme the antis were raising decades ago to try and strangle a nascent concealed carry movement in its crib.

It’s also pretty telling that Levinson’s being presented as an expert commentator, but can’t even tell if the National Rifle Association was the driving force behind the challenge to Hawaii’s infringements against bearing arms. It was not. The case  was the work of attorney Alan Beck.

Per Beck:

“I have received no help from any gun rights organization. I conducted the appeal entirely on my own from 2012 until 2015. In 2015 my good friend attorney Stephen Stamboulieh made an appearance in the case. We are representing Mr. Young pro bono because no attorney in the State of Hawaii would take his case and Mr. Young has had his constitutional rights violated. It is an honor to vindicate Mr. Young’s constitutional rights.”

Here’s where Levinson may be right:  Don’t be surprised to see a long and drawn-out appeal for the entire 9th to hear the case. Whatever happens there, expect to see it appealed. Once that happens, expect to wait some more for the Supreme Court to decide if it’s going to hear it or not.  (I agree with Beck that “the Supreme Court [will be] receptive to this,” but there are no guarantees and who knows how – and how quickly – the political winds will change?)

In the mean time, with the refusal to allow either open or concealed carry, Hawaii remains essentially a “gun-free zone” once citizens leave their homes. As we’ve seen in an earlier report, “may issue” for concealed carry translates not just into “may not,” but into “Hell no.”

“A right delayed is a right denied,” Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed in his 1962 civil rights speech to the New York State Civil War Centennial Commission.

That’s exactly what’s happening in Hawaii and in plenty of other places in the land of the Second Amendment. That we as individuals must take on a government with limitless resources to fight for our entitlements is an intolerable situation. It’s made more so with the realization that defying the diktats of tyrants in any other way makes us “criminals.”


About David Codrea:David Codrea
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

22 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rock

When one of the assholes in the pic are being mugged, raped, murdered, etc…. Just smile and nod, that is all they have and will do for you. These pieces of SHIT are clueless.

James Pritchett

We have a 1 party state. No lawyer will take these cases because once they do,their law career is over. They are effectively blackballed by state and the attorneys assoc. We need a 2A attorney, who is basically independently well off, and wants to challenge. Alas, no such exists. The right of self defense exists, just not in Hawaii.

Alan

A reasonable assumption is, I submit, the following. A wholesale house cleaning of government, elected and appointed is required. What will actually take place or happen is another story.

watchdogman

What do the congressthings in Hawaii know? Hell, they build entire cities, etc on an active volcano. Feel sorry for them, hell no!

Raymond Levy

Hey idiot , there is only one active volcano in Hawaii , and its on the big island ,or rather the island of Hawaii , and there are no buildings on it , in fact the whole place is a national park and you cant build shit in a national park, so gets your facts correct , I know I am Native Hawaiian born and raised in Hawaii , and live in California now… as far as their gun laws go its a tragedy that they in Hawaii are like California libtards , just like Californians the people of the… Read more »

Ceefour

Yeah…you are,obviously are an hawaiian,judging by your rude language. You are right about there being only one volcano…….this week. Judging other hawaaiiaians by your manners……I’m not impressed.

Conutry Boy

Well now, maybe that volcano will take care of the anti 2nd hawiians soon………

Trumped

Interesting how the nra did not lend a hand. It is not as if they aren’t swimming in money or anything. Maybe they need to spend more on lobbying, political races, and court cases and less on sending me ten direct marketing letters a month for various contests and other promotions to get me to extend my membership. The GOA sure seems to get a lot more bang for the buck with lobbying and elections.

BillyHuckleberry

Absolutely! Right on! Go GOA!

JDL

The NRA’s best competency is in lobbying lawmakers, not litigation. SAF is much more adept at litigation. You can be sure that they have both watched this case progress. You have an incorrect perception of the impact of the NRA. When speaking with a Congresscritter, the NRA says, “our 6 million members support…” where as the GOA says, “our several hundred thousand members support…” The 6 million members always have more influence. Nothing wrong with GOA – I’m a member, too – but the gorilla is the NRA. And the multiple mailings do bring in net revenue and the only… Read more »

Vanns40

I have a problem with an organization that pays 6 and 7 figure salaries to its executives and has been proven to have scuttled pro-gun legislation because 1. it wasn’t headed up by them or 2. it didn’t fit their political agenda at the time.

They have backed politicians who have not had the best interests of gun owners at heart simply because a “higher up” politico wanted that person elected. Your assessment is incorrect. NRA/ILA has a superb legal division WHEN they decide to utilize them. The “when” being the overwhelming elephant in the room.

Henry

Did you know that all of the NRA’s six (actually five, according to Dana Loesch recently) million members support increased regulation of bump stocks? Neither did I. But that’s what the NRA has been telling your congressman.

https://home.nra.org/joint-statement

I’d rather have a doberman who protects me unconditionally than a gorilla that bribes intruders to leave by handing them some of my stuff.

Alan

I’m a Life Member of long standing and nobody even slightly connected with the NRA solicited my opinion or thinking on this subject.

Trumped

1. GOA has over 1.5 million members 2. Harry Reid and other media figures have pointed out that the nra wanted to compromise after Newtown and other events, but it was the GOA lobbying that stopped universal registration, not the nra – the nra is largely a paper tiger unless energized by the grass roots or goa lobbying of its members 3. GOA sticks its neck out in cases like the Colorado recalls very early on when the nra was afraid to lose and offered zero support 4. Why would I feel guilty over not supporting a group that has… Read more »

Green Mtn. Boy

In case the Leftards of Hawaii are not aware one can bump fire without the need of a so called bump fire stock,much good their infringement does them.

Richard L

Green Mtn.Boy, of course you must realize that facts just get in the way of abject stupidity

Dave in Fairfax

JEEZ, don’t mention that! They’ll ban fingers, belts and string.

Green Mtn. Boy

Not to mention Jerry Miculek,the human bump fire.

George Pace

I actually called the police department in Hawaii county the day after the bill was signed, when the police chiefs announced, apparently on their own without any legal process, that they were instituting an “amnesty” and people had 30 days to turn them in either via taking them to a police station or calling and having an officer pick them up. After an hour getting bounced around to various people who had no idea what I was talking about (I guess they only enforce the laws they’ve heard of) I was told that when they have any information, they will… Read more »

George Pace

I actually called the police department in Hawaii county the day after the bill was signed, when the police chiefs announced, apparently on their own without any legal process, that they were instituting an “amnesty” and people had 30 days to turn them in either via taking them to a police station or calling and having an officer pick them up. After an hour getting bounced around to various people who had no idea what I was talking about (I guess they only enforce the laws they’ve heard of) I was told that when they have any information, they will… Read more »

VT Patriot

As you’re well aware, our rino guv is trying to turn us into Cal east or Hawaii of the north. August 14 that has to change. Molon Labe.

Green Mtn. Boy

I intend to voice my displeasure with governor Benedict Scott, RINO,on the 14th. ,one week from today,when Vermonters go to the polls to cast judgment on the Liar. See you there.