The nation's high court this week found Hawaii's controversial style of "gun-free zones" doesn't square with the country's historical tradition of gun regulations, with national implications.

The case of Wolford v. Lopez (24–1046) challenged the curious statute in the Aloha State's law that all private property open to the public-- for instance, a store or restaurant-- is an automatic "no guns allowed" zone unless the owner first gives their express permission for someone carrying peaceably to enter. Such laws are dubbed a "Vampire Rule" from the trope that the mythical bloodsuckers can only enter private property if invited in by the owner, with gun owners macabrely substituted for the undead nocturnes.

The Supreme Court heard the case in January and, in a 6-3 majority, drove a figurative stake into the heart of the rule on Thursday, finding it unconstitutional. 

"This regime hobbles what the Second Amendment protects: the right of Americans to carry arms for self-defense as they go about their daily lives," wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the court's six conservative members who aligned in favor of Jason Wolford against Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. 

The majority's 24-page opinion, not counting a dissent from the court's three liberal justices, eviscerated the state's argument that the Vampire Rule was based on historical gun bans, as the prohibitions cited were Jim Crow-era bans that had been put in place to keep African Americans from legally carrying arms. 

"Unless we put history entirely out of our minds, Hawaii’s claim that this tainted artifact illuminates the original understanding of the right to keep and bear arms cannot be taken seriously," Alito concluded. 

While Hawaii officials and big-name national anti-gun groups were busy wringing hands on Thursday, with Giffords painting it as "another example of the Court’s conservative majority pushing its ‘guns everywhere’ agenda," Second Amendment advocates celebrated the obvious win. 

"The Supreme Court rightfully overturned the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Wolford and now the Second Amendment rights of Hawaii’s residents are one step closer to being fully restored," Second Amendment Foundation Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb told Guns.com. "This law was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to disarm peaceable citizens, and we’re grateful the Supreme Court saw through the ruse." 

Similar Vampire Rules exist in several states, including California, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, although they have frequently been challenged and defeated.

"With this precedent-setting ruling in hand, other states that have similar laws in place should be on notice – SAF is coming after you and will not hesitate to challenge the continued disenfranchisement of our members and the public," said Gottlieb. 

Banner image: Geissele's Count Blemula, the only vampire most discerning gun owners can tolerate. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)