Supreme Court Hears Arguments Over Hawaii’s ‘Vampire Rule’ Gun Law-l
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a high-profile challenge to a Hawaii gun law that critics have dubbed the state’s “vampire rule,” reflecting its requirement that licensed handgun carriers obtain express permission before entering private property open to the public.
The case, Wolford v. Lopez, centers on a 2023 Hawaiian statute that makes it a misdemeanor for concealed-carry permit holders to bring firearms into retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and other publicly accessible private property unless the property owner grants explicit verbal or written consent or posts clear signage permitting firearms.
Three Maui residents and the Hawaii Firearms Coalition sued soon after the law’s passage, arguing it violates the Second Amendment by significantly limiting where law-abiding gun owners can carry their weapons for self-defense. A federal judge initially blocked enforcement of parts of the law, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld it, prompting the Supreme Court review.
In defending the statute, Hawaii officials assert the measure reflects a balance between public safety, property owners’ rights and constitutional rights, and is consistent with long-standing legal traditions governing property and firearms. Opponents, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration, contend the law effectively nullifies the right to carry in most everyday public-private settings by imposing onerous consent requirements.
The high court limited its review to the so-called “default rule” about carrying on private property open to the public and will not address other elements of Hawaii’s broader firearms code, such as provisions governing “sensitive places” like bars or beaches.
The ruling is expected later this year and could have national implications for similar laws in California, New York, Maryland, and New Jersey that also hinge on property owners’ consent to armed entry.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., refused to block President Trump’s administration from enforcing a new policy requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before visiting immigration detention facilities.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said that she and other Minnesota lawmakers were kicked out of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 10. After being told about the Trump administration’s rule about visits from lawmakers, they were told to leave the facility.
Attorneys for several Democratic members of Congress asked Cobb to step in, but the judge said on Monday that they used the wrong “procedural vehicle” to do so. The judge also said that the January 8 policy is a new action by the Department of Homeland Security that is not covered by her previous order in favor of the plaintiffs.
“The Court emphasizes that it denies Plaintiffs’ motion only because it is not the proper avenue to challenge Defendants’ January 8, 2026, memorandum and the policy stated therein, rather than based on any kind of finding that the policy is lawful,” Cobb wrote.
Cobb put a stop to an administration oversight visit policy last month. On December 17, she said that ICE probably can’t ask members of Congress to give them a week’s notice before they visit and see how things are at ICE facilities.
The Associated Press says that U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quietly signed a new memo the day after Renee Nicole Good died in Minneapolis. This memo reinstated a seven-day notice requirement.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs from the Democracy Forward legal advocacy group said that DHS didn’t tell them about the new policy until after Reps. Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig were denied entry to an ICE facility located in the Minneapolis federal building.
Melissa Schwartz, a spokesperson for Democracy Forward, said they were looking over the judge’s most recent order.
Rep. Ilhan Omar Intensifies Criticism of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota sharply escalated her criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations on Monday, accusing federal agents of treating Minneapolis as an occupying force and again calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation or impeachment.
In remarks to constituents in Minneapolis, Omar repeatedly described the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal officers in the city as an inappropriate use of government authority, saying the situation has created fear among local residents. Omar said Minneapolis is “currently under occupation” and cited concerns about schools, hospitals and daily life as evidence of what she called harmful federal intervention.
“We do not exaggerate when we say we have schools where two-thirds of the students are afraid to go to school,” Omar said. “We do not exaggerate when we say we have people who are afraid to go to the hospital because our hospitals have occupying paramilitary forces.”
Omar referenced two recent fatalities during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis — the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good — and argued those incidents underscored the need for new leadership at DHS. In her remarks, she blamed senior White House advisers for shaping the administration’s immigration policies.
“When we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now,” Omar added. “And there needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller.”
Omar’s comments follow an appearance on MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, where she reiterated those positions and broadened her critique to include senior administration officials. In that interview, she said Noem should resign or face impeachment, echoing earlier statements from House Democratic leadership. Omar also repeated criticism of Miller, a senior White House adviser on immigration policy, calling him a “copycat of the Nazis” and suggesting he should be prosecuted.
Her remarks also tied national Republican rhetoric on immigration to broader social tensions, asserting that aggressive enforcement language has “created anger” that can lead to confrontations with Somali immigrants and other community members in Minnesota.
Omar’s public criticism comes amid the ongoing federal immigration operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Federal agents have been deployed to Minneapolis to apprehend illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, drawing protests and heightened scrutiny from local officials and advocacy groups.
Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have called for increased oversight of DHS and ICE policies as part of broader negotiations over long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Jeffries has publicly stated that Noem should be impeached if she does not resign, and Schumer has called for additional conditions on immigration enforcement in appropriations legislation.
In response to increased political pressure, DHS has taken steps to increase transparency in its operations. Earlier this week, Secretary Kristi Noem announced that body-worn cameras will be issued to all federal immigration enforcement officers deployed in Minneapolis as an immediate measure, with plans to expand the program nationwide as funding becomes available. “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Federal officials have said that some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers present during the Jan. 24 shooting of Pretti were already equipped with body cameras, though full footage has not been released. Officials have not yet clarified whether ICE officers were wearing cameras during the earlier fatal encounter involving Good.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded to Noem’s announcement by saying body cameras should have been in place prior to the deaths of Pretti and Good, who were tragically killed while interfering with ICE law enforcement operations.
20 Minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as… See more
Just 20 minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as the focus of a rapidly developing update that has already begun to ripple across newsrooms and social media.
While early headlines sparked confusion and speculation, sources close to the situation emphasized that the confirmation centers on a professional development rather than the alarming rumors that briefly circulated online.
The speed at which the news broke—paired with Guthrie’s high public profile—helped fuel the immediate surge of attention, with viewers eager for clarity and context.
According to initial reports, the confirmation came during a tightly scheduled appearance in Arizona, where Guthrie has been involved in ongoing media commitments.
Attendees described a composed and focused presence, noting that the announcement was handled with care and precision. Industry insiders say the timing underscores how quickly information now travels, especially when it involves trusted faces in broadcast journalism.
Within minutes, clips, quotes, and partial summaries began trending, amplifying both interest and misunderstanding.
What stands out most is the response from colleagues and longtime viewers. Messages of support and curiosity poured in, reflecting the connection Guthrie has built over years of consistent reporting and calm authority during major national moments.
Analysts suggest that the public reaction speaks less to the announcement itself and more to the trust audiences place in familiar voices—when news breaks about them, it feels personal. That trust has kept the conversation largely measured, even as speculation continues.
As details continue to emerge, media observers caution against jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information. Full context is expected to be clarified through official channels shortly, and until then, reputable sources urge patience.
One thing is clear: when news involves a figure as recognizable as Savannah Guthrie, even a brief confirmation can command national attention in minutes. Stay tuned as this story develops and the full picture comes into focus.
