George K. Young Jr. is fighting Hawaii’s appeal of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that struck down Hawaii’s prohibition to open-carry firearms (“Hilo gun owner contests petition in open-carry case,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 9).

In Hawaii, the chief of police is responsible for firearms registration and issuing firearms licenses to carry. Issuance of a license requires showing a reason or need to carry a firearm. Practically no licenses have been issued.

Our rights as Americans were granted by our Creator and are protected by the Constitution. None of our rights require demonstration of “need” in order to exercise those rights. Nobody has to show a need for religion to have freedom of religion. Nobody has to show a need for speech to have freedom of speech.

Although American citizens are free to exercise their constitutional rights — or not — the government is not free to take them away, and that includes Second Amendment rights.

Young is right and, hopefully, he will prevail.

Rhoads Stevens

Hawaii Kai

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