The U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning a strict gun control law in the District of Columbia will "likely" produce legal challenges to Hawai'i gun laws, state Attorney General Mark Bennett said.

"The District of Columbia law that was invalidated differs in significant respects from Hawai'i's gun control laws," Bennett said in a written statement.

"We believe that challenges to Hawai'i laws are likely, as are challenges to gun control laws throughout the United States."

But Bennett said his office believes Hawai'i laws "are defensible against constitutional challenges."

The District of Columbia law banned ownership of loaded handguns in personal residences, but the high court, by a 5-4 vote, found that the law violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution.

"The Second Amendment community in Hawai'i is delighted with the court's opinion," said Harvey Gerwig II, president of the Hawaii Rifle Association.

"Washington, D.C., will be brought back to where it ought to be, where people have the right to protect themselves in their own homes."

Gerwig also said that the court decision may spawn legal challenges to local gun control laws.

"I think it's fairly likely that there may be some challenges but we certainly don't have an over-regulated situation as in other cities, like Chicago," he said.