State v. Mendoza

KLEIN, Justice.

Defendant-Appellant Marc C. Mendoza appeals from his conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 1344(b) (1993).1 Mendoza argues that HRS § 1344(b) violates his “right to keep and bear arms” under the state and federal constitutions.2

I. BACKGROUND

On March 8, 1993, a member of the Maui Prince Hotel’s housekeeping staff recovered a Colt .45 Caliber Government Model pistol from a recently vacated room at the hotel, which had been rented to Mendoza. The police determined that the pistol was not stolen, but that it was registered in Lihue,…