Nordyke v. King - Madison Society
Transcription
Nordyke v. King - Madison Society
Law Offices of Donald Kilmer A Professional Corporation 1645 Willow Street, Suite 150 San Jose, California 95125 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: 408/264-8489 Fax: 408/264-8487 July 20, 2010 Via: E-Mail To: Don B. Kates, Alan Gura, Steven Halbrook, Robert Dowlut, Chuck Michel, Bruce Colodny, Robert Levy, Eugene Volokh, Ilya Shapiro, Tracy DuellCazes, William Van Alstyne, Bob Cottrel, David Kopel, David Hardy, Gene Hoffman, Alan Gottlieb, Jason Davis, Clayton Cramer, Mark Barnes, AliceMarie Beard. (My apologies for any inadvertent exclusions.) Re: Nordyke v. King, Case No.: 07-15763 United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Before: Alarcón, O’Scannlain and Gould, Circuit Judges. Memorandum Suggesting Amicus Briefs Ladies and Gentlemen: Attached are the Order from the 3-judge panel with guidelines for the issues to be addressed and the deadline for supplemental briefs. Also enclosed is a copy of the Joint Statement of Undisputed Facts from the case. The matter is on appeal from the County’s successful motion for summary judgment. The JSUF was used for that motion, which resulted in a judgment for the County. The Second Amendment issue is on appeal from denial of a motion to amend. Unless the county changes its mind, the parties have conceded that the Court of Appeals can summarily deal with the Second Amendment issues without further discovery. In my opinion this hurts the County more than it does us, because there are no facts in this record to suggest that the fairgrounds are a sensitive place. I have also enclosed my amicus brief to SCOTUS in the McDonald case which fairly outlines what we think the Ninth Circuit got wrong in this case. The purpose of this memo is to open a discussion about amicus briefs in the Nordyke case. As you can see from the order, we have a panel that is open to reconsidering its original opinion published at Nordyke v. King, 563 F.3d 439 (9th Cir. 2009). If you recall, it was a pyrrhic victory for gun rights. (i.e., The Court incorporated the Second Amendment under Due Process, but found that the County ordinance did not offend that amendment.) Page 1 of 3 I have the following thoughts about briefs that might be submitted by various amici: 1. Principle Brief by the parties will swing for the fence on strict scrutiny and sensitive places. 2. It would be nice to have a Criminologist "Brandeis Brief" on crime statistics (judicially noticeable from Cal DOJ website) in Alameda County not correlating with lack of gun shows, and loss of FFLs in Alameda County. e.g., The violent crime rate in Alameda County went up and down during the 11 years that the ordinance has been in place. Calguns Foundation and/or Second Amendment Foundation have expressed an interest in this project. 3. It would be nice to have a brief on whether statutory and field preemption should be reconsidered in light of Heller/McDonald finding that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental right. This would be a perfect brief for Chuck Michel (CRPA) to write based on his recent victory in Fiscal v. San Francisco. (the Prop H case) There is some wonderful language in Justice Janice Rodgers Brown’s dissent in that case: The majority concedes that state law might partially preempt the county ordinance at issue here, but it concludes that the ordinance is enforceable against plaintiffs, because plaintiffs seek only to promote a gun show. The majority, in effect, reasons that, because the county could prohibit gun shows on county property, the county is free to enforce the totally different prohibition at issue here--so long as it does so against a gun show promoter. The flaw in this logic becomes apparent when we consider a hypothetical involving the constitutional protection of free speech. Suppose the county enacted an ordinance prohibiting any and all speech favoring residential rent control--in other words, a content-based restriction of political speech that would clearly violate First Amendment principles. A billboard company seeks to display billboard advertisements promoting rent control and challenges the ordinance on First Amendment grounds. In those circumstances, I doubt the majority would hold that, because the county is free to regulate billboard advertising (see City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent (1984) 466 U.S. 789, 806-807 [104 S. Ct. 2118, 2129-2130, 80 L. Ed. 2d 772]; Metromedia, Inc. v. San Diego (1981) 453 U.S. 490, 507-512 [101 S. Ct. 2882, 2892-2895, 69 L. Ed. 2d 800]; City and County of San Francisco v. Eller Outdoor Advertising (1987) 192 Cal. App. 3d 643, 658-661 [237 Cal. Rptr. 815]), it can enforce its unconstitutional restriction of speech against the billboard company. Rather, the majority would likely hold that the ordinance exceeds the county's regulatory authority under the state and federal Constitutions. Put another way, the question before us is not whether the county might be able to enact some hypothetical ordinance prohibiting what plaintiffs want to do. The question is whether the ordinance the county actually enacted exceeds the county's authority, which it does. Page 2 of 3 [...] The majority attempts to make the issue quite small, involving a restriction applicable only to county property (maj. opn., ante, at p. 884); the litigants, on the other hand, insist the stakes are large. It does not matter whether the issue is large or small, though, if the government exceeds its authority. As Judge Kozinski has noted, the small and superficially benign acts of a democratic government can erode personal freedom just as surely, and to the same end, as the large and malignant acts of a tyrant or dictator: "Liberty--the freedom from unwarranted intrusion by government--is as easily lost through insistent nibbles by government officials who seek to do their jobs too well as by those whose purpose it is to oppress . . . ." (U.S. v. $ 124,570 U.S. Currency (9th Cir. 1989) 873 F.2d 1240, 1246 [ 108 A.L.R.Fed. 643].) Because the ordinance conflicts with state law and because I believe the structural constraints on government authority are equally as important as the substantive ones, I dissent. Nordyke v. King, 27 Cal 4th 875, 885 (2002) 4. It would be nice to have a Brief on why the Alameda Ordinance can't even pass intermediate scrutiny. This would be a tricky brief as we don’t want to concede intermediate scrutiny, but since the County will argue this position, it would be nice to have some counter-point. 5. It would nice to have a brief on what level of scrutiny (strict) to apply to violation of equal protection of a fundamental right. i.e., the County allows the Scottish games to bring guns onto the fairgrounds but still prohibits guns at gun shows. NAAS ? 6. I would be nice to have a brief on the need for uniformity and a principled approach to the law of constitutional scrutiny. Something that supports the rejection by the McDonald Court of the idea that some fundamental rights are more/less fundamental than others. (Call this that anti-Animal House brief.) This might be a good one for the NRA and/or CATO. 7. I am open to other suggestions here. Cordially, /s/ Donald Kilmer, Attorney for Nordykes enc: Order JSUF [Docket No. 145] Amicus Brief P.S. I heard a rumor that Paul Clement may lend his talents to this effort. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Clement, nor do I have his contact information. Can someone on this list forward this memo to him? Thank you. Page 3 of 3 Case: 07-15763 07/19/2010 Page: 1 of 2 ID: 7409806 DktEntry: 129 FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT RUSSELL ALLEN NORDYKE; ANN SALLIE NORDYKE, dba TS Trade Shows; JESS B. GUY; DUANE DARR; WILLIAM J. JONES; DARYL N. DAVID; TASIANA WESTYSCHYN; JEAN LEE; TODD BALTES; DENNIS BLAIR, R.L. ADAMS; ROGER BAKER; MIKE FOURNIER; VIRGIL MCVICKER, JUL 19 2010 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS No. 07-15763 D.C. No. CV-99-04389-MJJ Northern District of California, San Francisco ORDER Plaintiffs - Appellants, v. MARY V. KING; GAIL STEELE; WILMA CHAN; KEITH CARSON; SCOTT HAGGERTY; COUNTY OF ALAMEDA; COUNTY OF ALAMEDA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Defendants - Appellees. Before: ALARCÓN, O’SCANNLAIN and GOULD, Circuit Judges. The parties are ordered to file supplemental briefs addressing: (1) the impact of McDonald v. City of Chicago, No. 08-1521, 2010 WL 2555188 (U.S. June 28, 2010), on the disposition of this case; and (2) any other issue properly before this court, including the level of scrutiny that should be applied to the ordinance in question. Case: 07-15763 07/19/2010 Page: 2 of 2 ID: 7409806 DktEntry: 129 Such briefs shall be no longer than fifteen (15) pages each and shall be filed simultaneously no later than thirty (30) days from the date of this order. Any amicus curiae brief addressing the issues identified above shall be no longer than fifteen (15) pages, shall be filed simultaneously with the parties’ supplemental briefs, and shall otherwise comply with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 29. Parties and amici who are registered for ECF must file their briefs electronically without submission of paper copies. Parties and amici who are not registered ECF filers must file their original briefs plus seven (7) paper copies. The time and location of oral argument, if any, will be set by separate order of the court. The Appellants’ Motion for Supplemental Briefing, filed with this court on July 13, 2010, is DENIED as moot. 2 4 DonaldE. J. Kilmer,Jr. [SBN: 179986] LAW OFFICESOF DONALD KILMER 1645Willow Street.Suite150 SanJose,California95125 Voice:(408)264-8489 Fax: (408)264-8487 E-Mail: [email protected] 5 Attorneyfor Plaintiffs I 2 a J ffi-fftre* $Fp" 5 zao6 ,,,fiåf-4ffift/fftffffi 6 7 I UNITED STATESDISTRrcT COURT NORTHERNDISTRICTOF CALIFORMA SAN FRANCISCODIVISION 9 f"-^-\, 10 11 t2 RUSSELLALLEN NORDYKE,et al., CaseNo.: CV -99-04389-MJJ JOINT STATEMENTOF T]NDISPUTED FACTS Plaintiffs, 13 Date: October3.2006 . Time: 9:30a.m. Judge: HonorableMartin Jenkins Courthouse:U.S.CourtHouse 450 GoldenGateAvenue SanFrancisco.CA 94102 VS. t4 15 t6 : r Þ & @ &å Defendants- t7 18 The parties hereby stipulate that the following facts are undisputed for purposesof l9 Defendants' pending summaryjudgment motion. The Defendantsobject to the inclusion 20 of some of the facts for the reasonsnoted immediately underneatheach particular fact 2l objected to. The undisputed facts set forth herein may be challenged and/or objected to 22 by any partyat a later stageof the proceedingsin this case,consistentwith the Federal 23 Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedureand all Local Rules. 24 25 26 27 Don¡ld Kilmer Attom€y at Iåw 1645WìllowSt. Suitc150 Sæ Joæ,CA 95125 Vc:408264-8489 Fx:4081264-8487 MARY V. KING, et aL., 28 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT l. On July 4, 1998a shootingoccurredat the AlameâaCountyFairsrou"nds la.k.a. Pleasanton Fairgroúnds)iíurine thè annual CountyFair. Tñe shooiingresllted in gunshotwoundsto I people. Statement:Undisputed Facts 1. Declarationof JamesKnudsen: Exhibit A attachedto DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. Page1 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 2. TheJuly4, 1998shootingincident resultedin the arrestandconvictionof the shooter:JamaiJohnson.He was sentenced to california statePrisonupon conviction. TO 2. DEFENDANTS'RESPONSES PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR ADMISSION: #26. 3. The July 4,1998 shootingincident at the PleasanionFairgroundsrias not associatedin anv wav with anv of the Plaintiffs or theír activities duiine sun shows at the PleasantonFairgrouäã's. 3. DEFENDANTS'RESPONSESTO PLATNTIFFS'REQUEST FOR ADMISSION: #30 and#31. 8 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 9 4. The DefendantCOUNTY OF ALAMEDA 4. Paragraph 31 of the Defendants' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS is the duly AMENDED ANSWER TO THIRI) electedlegislativebody with the powerto AMENDED COMPLAINT. passordinancesin accordance with the county charterandin accordance with the laws of the Stateof California. The BOARD OF SUPERVISORS alsohasultimate administrativeauthorityoverthe Pleasanton Fairgrounds. 10 ll t2 13 T4 15 T6 T7 18 t9 20 5. In 1999,DefendantsMARY V. KING, GAIL STEELE,WILMA CHAN, KEITH CARSON,andSCOTTHAGGERTY were the duly electedmembersof the Boardof Supervisorsfor the Countyof Alameda, Califomia. 5. Paragraph 32 of the Defendants' AMENDED ANSWER TO THIRI) AMENDED COMPLAINT. 6. The Alameda County Fairgrounds (aka: The PleasantonFairgrounds)is located in Alameda County. Public and private events are scheduledat the fairgrounds on a regular basis. 33 of the Defendants' 6. Paragraph AMENDED ANS\ryER TO THIRI) AMENDED COMPLAINT. 25 7 . The AlamedaCountyFairgroundsis 7. Parcgraph34 of the Defendants' situatedwithin a Public andInstitutional AMENDED ANSWER TO THIRD zoningdistrict on unincorporatedcounty AMENDED COMPLAINT. propertywithin the City of Pleasanton, California.The Fairgroundswereawardedto the Countyin a Final Orderof Condemnation filed on November17, 1965 "for public purposes,namel5 for the construction thereonof necessary public buildings,. . ." County of Alameda v. Meadowlark [See: DairyCom.Ltd.;CaseNo;3227221 26 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 2l 22 23 24 27 Donald Kilntr Anomcrya¡ I¿w 1645Wilow St. Suite150 Sæ Jore,CA 95125 \,lc: 4081264-E489 Fx:408/264-8487 28 Statement:Undisputed Facts Page2of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 8. The Alameda County Fair Association is a non-profit corporation which managesthe fairgrounds through an Operating Agreement with the County of Alameda. 8. Paragraph 35 of the Defendants' AMENDED ANSWER TO THIRI) AMENDED COMPLAINT. 7 9. On May 20,1999, Defendant,Mary V. King sent ã memorandumto Couirff Corñrsel- Richard Winnie - reque'sting that he researcha wav to prohibit eun shows on County Proþerty. 9. DEFENDANTS'RESPONSETO PLAINTTFFS'REQUEST FOR ADMISSION:#1,#2,and#3.See ExhibitA of the PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. I Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. a J 4 5 6 9 10 11 T2 t3 t4 15 T6 t7 i. T]NDISPUTEDFACT 18 t9 20 2l 22 23 24 10. On July 20,1999, Alameda County Supervisor,'Ma'fuV. King issued a press release.announcinga proqosedordinance to restnct trearm possessronon county properfy. 10.DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR ADMISSION: #6. #7 and#8. See ExhibitB of the PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. I l. On July 20,1999,AlamedaCounty I I. DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO Supervisor,-Mary V. Kine madea soeeóh PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR in õonnectionwith the aniouncemeirtof a ADMISSION:#l l, #12and#13. See proposedordinanceprohibitingpossession Exhibit C of the PLAINTIFFS' of firearmson countyproperty. REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. Defendant's Objection(s) : Relevance. 12. On July 26,1999,Plaintiffs' Counsel 12. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL sent a letter to Alameda County Counsel 26 DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P. requestingclarification of the ierms on the See:Exhibit H affachedthereto. proposedordinanceand requesting inftirmal resolution of any issuesrËlating to implementation and inierpretation of" the Ordinance as it applied to gott shows. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 13. On August17,1999,theAlameda CountyBoardof Supervisorsadopted OrdinánceNo.: 0-2d00-ll. Which later becameSection9.12.120of the Codeof AlamedaCounty.The Ordinanceorohibits the possession of flreaÍns on County Proþerty,includingthe Fairgrounds. 13.DEFENDAIITS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR ADMISSION:#16.#17 and#18.See ExhibitD OfthEPLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. 25 26 27 Dotrrld Kilntr ^ttom€y at I¡w 1645willow St. Suite150 Sæ Joæ,CA 95125 Vc: 408/264-8489 Fx:4081264-E487 28 Statement Undisputed Facts Page3 of 19 Nordyke v. King 1 2 a J 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 I2 13 t4 l5 l6 t7 18 19 20 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 14. OnAugust 23,1999, RichardWinnie, Alameda County Counsel, sent a letter and copy of the Ordinance to Richard K Pickering, the General Manager of the PleasantonFairsrounds. The letter disagreeswith t[e pressreports that the ordinancepreventsgun shõws,and asserts that gun shows may be conductedon the fairgrounds without the presenceof firearms. The letter also statesthat the Ordinancedoes not proscribe the sale of firearms or arnmunition on countv property, provided that such articies cannot be displayed on the premises. 14.DEFENDAIITS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION:#16.#17 and#18.See ExhibitD of the PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. 15. In a September7, 1999letter,the General Manager of the Alameda County Fairgroundsreãuesteda written olan froín the Ñordyke PÉintifß asking thát they explain how they would conduct their gun shõw at the Alameda Countv Fairerouñds in compliance with the Ordinance] I5. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL 26 DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P. See:Exhibit H attachedthereto. 16. Durins the months of Aueust and Septembeí tggg the Scottish"Caledonian Gamescontactedthe Fairground's Manager, the Alameda County Sherifl Alameda Countv Counsel and Defendant Scott Haggerty iegarding the Ordinance's impact on the Scottish Gamesheld at the Fairgrounds. The Scottish Gamesinvolve the display/possessionof rifles with blank cartridges in connection with historical reenacünentsof gun battles. 24 25 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 22 23 16. Depositionof Rick K. Pickering. 9:16- 14:12;26:6-26:22; 30:7-34:8 - 80:9. and78:18 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceasto first sentence. 17. The ScottishCaledonianGames. another cultural event that takes place at the PleasantonFairgrounds,which involves the possessionand displavof firearms was not required to submít a written plan for conducting their event in compliance with the Ordinance. 2l And Exhibit B attachedto DEFENDANTS'MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 26 27 Donald K¡ùner 1 o LO ,{ttomey at Iáw 1645Willow St. SuiteI 50 Sil Jow. CA 95 125 Yc:4081264-8489 Fx:408/264-8487 Statement:Undisputed Facts Page4of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT UNDISPUTEDFACT 18. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL 26 underF.R.C.P. DISCLOSURES thereto. Exhibit H attached See: 6 18. On September16,1999,Plaintifß' Counsel sent a secondletter to Alameda County Counsel seekingto avoid litigation regarding the Ordinanceand its effect on Plaintifß' gun shows. The letter also statedthat Plaintiffs could not practically or profitably conduct a gun show without guns. 7 19. On September 17,1999,the Plaintiffs 19. JudicialNotice of Docket Report. filed this action. a J 4 5 I And Exhibit C attachedto DEFENDANTS'MOTIONFOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 20. DEFENDANTS'RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION:#21,#22 and#23.See: Exhibit E OfthEPLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION. l0 20. On September20,1999, Alameda Countv Counsel Richard Winnie sent a letter fo the Alameda Board of Supervisorsrecommendingchangesto the Ordinance. 11 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. t2 21. On September24,1999,Plaintiffs' Counsel sent a third letter to Alameda County Counsel seekingto avoid litigation and maintain the statusquo in order to explore options regardingthe Ordinances' application to gun shows at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. 21. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P.26 See:Exhibit H att¿chedthereto. 22. On September 28,1999,The AlamedaCountyBoardof Supervisors passedOrdinance0-2000-22,which amendedAlamedaCountvCodeSection 9.12.120. 22. SeeExhibit A attachedto MOTION FOR DEFENDANTSO SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 23. The Ordinancestill prohibitsthe possession of firearmson County property. 23. SeeExhibit A attachedto DEFENDANTS'MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 9- 12-120(b). 24. The Ordinance containsan exception for the possessionof firearms for: "authorized participants in a motion picfure, television,video, danceor theatrical production or event, when the participant lawfully usesthe firearm as part of that production or event, provided that when such firearm is not in the actual possessionof the authorizedparticipant, it is securedto prevent unauthorizeduse." 24. SeeExhibit A attachedto DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 9 13 t4 15 t6 T7 18 T9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 27 Donald K¡lmq )e Anomey at t¿w 1645Willow St. Suite150 Sm Josq CA 95I25 Yc:4081264-8489 Fx:4081264-84E7 e-r2-r20(ÐØ). 25. On October19, 1999,Defendants' 25. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL Counselrespondedto Plaintifß' overtures DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P.26 to avoid litigation in a letterto Plaintifß' See:Exhibit H attachedthereto. Counsel. Statement:Undisputed Facts Page5 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 a J 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 l2 l3 l4 l5 t6 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 26. OnOctober 20,1999, Plaintiff s Counsel sent a letter to the General Manager of the PleasantonFairgrounds requestingcontractual and/or legal authority for his request that Plaintiffs provide a written plan for conducting gun shows in compliancewith the ordinance. 27. IudicialNotice of DocketReport. 28. Plaintifß (Nordykes) canceledthe gun show scheduledfor the weekend of November6/7,1999due to: a. prevent the fraud of hosting a gunless gun show, b. the Court's November3,1999 Order denyrng injunctive relief, c. the demand bv the fairerounds to produce a wri'tten plan"for hosting a gun-lessgun show, which the Plaintiffs were unable to do. d. cancellation of reservationsby several vendors and exhibitor-s due to the passageof the Ordinance. 28. SeeTll34 and35 of theAMENDED VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES, INJUNCTION, AI\D DECLARATORY JUDGMENT. Enteredon the Docketon November16, 1999. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 18 t9 Defendant's Objection(s) : Relevance. 20 30. On January5,2000,the Events Coordinatorof ihe AlamêdaCounty Fairgroundssenta letter to the Norilykes returningtheir depositsfor the year 2000, becausePlaintiffs couldnot producea plan to hold gun shows(witliout firearms) that would complywith the Ordinance. 2l 22 23 SeealsoExhibit D attachedto DEFENDANTS'MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 27. November3. 1999.this Honorable Court issuedan OrderdênyrngPlaintiffs' requestfor pre-trialinjunctiverelief. 29. In a December10, 1999letter,the EventsCoordinatorof the Alameda CountyFairgroundsreleasedall reserved datesheld for Plaintiffsfor the year2000. t7 26. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL 26 DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P. Exhibit H attached thereto. See: 29. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL 26 DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P. H attached thereto. Exhibit See: 30. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P.26 See:Exhibit H attachedthereto. SeealsoExhibit E attachedto DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; ANd declarationof Rick Pickeringatll6. 24 25 26 27 Dotrald Kiùns Attomey aI I¿w 1645Willow St. Suite I 50 Sæ Josq CA 95125 Yc:408/264-8489 Fx:408/264-8487 28 Statemenu Undisputed Facts Page6 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNDISPUTED FACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 31. As of November3,2005,The 31. Depositionof Rick K. Pickering. Scottish Gameshave never been required 9:16- l-4:12:26:6-26:22: 30:7-34:8 to submit a plan (written or otherwise) and78:18- 80:9. about how their show would comply with the Ordinance.Instead,the Alamêdã County Counsel and Alameda County Sherifi simply "assured" the Fairgroind' s managementthat the Scottish Games complied with the Ordinance as amended. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 32. To date, the Nordykes have not explained how they could conduct a gun Showat the Alameda Countv Fairerounds (without firearms) consisterit with"the Ordinance. 32. Declarationof Rick Pickeringatl7. 33. In 2005,the Nordykesheldmultþle gun showsin California. 33. SeeExhibit F attachedto DEFENDAI\TS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 3!. In.20Q5,þrq wereat least22 grxt showsin California. 34. SeeExhibit G attachedto DEFENDANTS'MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 35. THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT at fl 60.9. t6 35. Plaintifß' zun shows"brins hundreds,if nolthousands.of füearmsto onelocation." t7 36. Plaintiffs' gun shows"involve the exhibition,displayandoffering for sale" 36. THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT at n n. 9 10 l1 t2 13 T4 15 18 t9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 oI ilreanlls. 37. Attendanceat the Plaintiffs' eun 37. THIRD AMENDED showsat the AlamedaCountyFai-reroundsCOMPLAINT at 1T45. wasat least4,000people. 38. At Plaintiffs' gun shows, in order for a firearm to be sold, it must be physically inspectedby both tlie seller and the buyer to insure correct documentationof the serial number, make, model and caliber of the weapon; and to insure that the fi.rearm may be legally sold. 38. THIRD AMENDED 60.i - 60.n. COMPLAINT at T'1T Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 26 27 Donald Kikner Attomcy at I¿w ló45 Wilow St. Suite I 50 Se Joæ,CA 95125 Yc:408/264-8489 Fx:4081264-8487 28 Statement Undisputed Facts PageTof 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 a J 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 L2 l3 l4 l5 t6 l7 18 t9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 39. Fairground's Manaser. Richard 39. Declarationof RichardPickeringat Pickerinsl basedon his läowledee of I e. firearmsãnd his experienceas añNRA instructor is not awãre that anv firearms subjectto the Count¡r's ban orí possession, andnot within an exception to ihe ban, have been allowed on fhe Fairgrounds. 40. The Scottish Games eventsheld at the Alameda County Fairgrounds involve historical re-endctmeñtsof gun battles. 41. The General Manager, Richard Pickering, has no personal knowledge of any live alnmuniti^onbeing used in the historical re-enactmentsthat are oart of the Scottish Games,and that he would take immediate stepsto prevent or prohibit the use ofiive ammunition in such a situation, and that rifles used during the historical re-enactrnentsare required to be unloaded or loaded with blank cartridges. 42. According to Richard Pickering, as part of the Orãinance being enforcèd,it is gnly thosgpersonsdirectty-participatíngin tne hrstorrcalre-enactrnentswho mav possessa rifle, and those personsaré required to have the firearm in their actual possessionand when not in their possession,to securethe rifle. 43. Defendantshave no evidenceof anv violent criminal activitv occurrine at ariv ' gun show hosted by thé Nordykeíand held at the Alameda Countv Fairsrounds for the years 1991through Feb. z*7,2006. 40. Declaration of Richard Pickering at li 13. 41. Declaration of Richard Pickering at 13. 1T 42. Declarationof RichardPickeringat 1113. Seealso:ExhibitA ($ 9.12.120(Ð(4)) AttAChEd tODEFENDANITS'MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. 43. DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTTFFS'REQUESTFOR ADMISSION:#30. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 44. Defendantshave no evidenceof anv violation of federal or state frearm laws occurring at any gun show hosted by the Nordykes and held at the Alameda County Fairgiounds for the years l99l through 44. DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR ADMISSION:#31. February 27,2006. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 27 Domld KilmÈ Attom€y at [¿w ¡645 wil¡ow St. Suite 150 So Jos, CA 95125 Yc:4081264-8489 Fx:4081264-84t7 28 Statement: UndisputedFacts Page8 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 J 4 5 6 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 45. The Alameda Ordinance contains no 45. DEFENDANTS'RESPONSETO languagedirecting any interestedparty to PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR any particular departmentor agency of the ADMISSION:#35. County of Alameda for decisions regarding interpretationsof the Ordinance. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 46. The Alameda Ordinance does not prohibit an offer to sell a firearm. 46. DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION:#41. 47. The Alameda Ordinance does not prohibit the actual sale of a firearm. 47.DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTIFFS' REQUESTFOR ADMISSION:#41. 48.DEFENDANTS' RESPONSETO PLAINTTFFS'REQUESTFOR ADMISSION: #27. t2 48. Sometimeafter the July4, 1998 shooting, the Alameda County Fair Association purchasedmetal detectorsfor the purposeof detecting weapons at the entranceto the County Fairgrounds. t3 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 14 49. RandiRossi,the Directorof the FirearmsDivision of the California Departmentof Justice,is awareof no violationsof anv stateor federallaws occurringat the gun showshostedby the Nordykes.Furthermore.the Nordvkes are in compliancewith the þromoter requirements of CaliforniaPenalCode$ 12071.4,a.k.a.:Gun ShowEnforcement and SecurityAct of 2000. 7 8 9 10 11 15 t6 t7 ') 18 l9 20 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance and Question of Law. 23 50. IgnatiusChinn,a SpecialAgent Supervisorwith the FirearmsDivision of the CaliforniaDepartrnentof Justice,is awareof no violationsof anv federal and/orstatelaws bv the Norilvkes while puttingon their gun shows. 24 Defendant'sObjection(s): Relevance. 2l 22 49. Depositionof RandiRossi. 16:1222:18. 50. Depositionof IgnatiusChinn. \2:5 - l2:8. 25 26 27 Donsld Kilntr Attom€y at [åw 1645WiüowSt. Suite150 Sæ Jos, CA 95125 Yc:40E/2648489 Fx:40E/264-8487 28 Súatemenf Undisputed Facts Page9of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 3 4 ) 6 7 I 9 10 1l 72 l3 t4 15 T6 l7 18 19 20 2l 22 23 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 51. California PenalCode g 12071.4 otherwiseknown as the Gun Show Enforcementand SecuriWAct of 2000 becamestatelaw after thê Nordykes canceledtheir last show at the Alameda County Fairgroundsin Novemb er, 1999. 5I. REQUESTFOR JUDICIAL NOTICE Re: LEGISLATIVEHISTORY oF PENAL CODE ç 12071.4. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 52. Califomia PenalCode $ 12071.4(bX5) requires gun show promoters to verifu that all firearms in their possessionat the show or event will be unloaded, and that the firearms will be securedin a manner that prevents them from being operatedexcept for brief periods when the mechanical condition of a firearm is being demonstratedto a prospectivebuyer. 52. REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE Re: CaliforniaPenalCode$ 1207r.4(b)(s). Defendant's Obj ection(s) : Relevanceand Question of Law. 53. Califomia PenalCode g 12071.a(g) mandatesthat no person at a gun show or event, other than security personnel or swom peaceofficers, shall possessat the sametime both a firearm and ammunition that is designedto be fired in the firearm. Vendors having those items at the show for sale or exhibition are exempt from this prohibition. 53. REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE Re: CaliforniaPenalCode$ 1207r.4(Ð. Defendant's Objection(s) : Relevanceand Question of Law. 54. California PenalCode ç 12071.4(h) mandatesno member of the public who is under the age of 18 years shall be admitted to, or be permitted to remain at, a gun show or event unless accompaniedby a parent or legal guardian. Anymember of the public who is under the age of 18 shall be accompaniedby his or her parent, grandparent,or legal guardian while at the show or event. 54. REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE Re: CaliforniaPenalCode$ 1207r.4(h). 24 25 Defendant' s Objection(s) : Relevanceand Question of Law. 26 27 Donald K¡lns Attom€y at [áw 1645Wilow St. Sùite 150 Sæ Jose,CA 95 I 25 Yc:408/264E489 Fx:4081264-848'1 28 StatementUndisputedFacts Page10of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 J 4 5 6 7 8 9 l0 l1 t2 t3 l4 15 r6 t7 18 t9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT UNDISPUTEDFACT 55. CalifomiaPenalCode $ 12071.4(i) mandatesthat persons other than show or event security personnel, sworn peace officers, or vendors, who bring firearms onto the gun show or event premisesshall sign in ink the tag or sticker that is attachedto the firearm prior to being allowed admittanceto the show or event, as provided for in subdivision(i). 55. REQUESTFOR JUDICIAL NOTICE Re:CaliforniaPenalCode$ 1207r.4(I). Defendant's Objection(s) : Relevanceand Question of Law. 56. California Penal Code $ 12071.4(k) mandatesall personspossessingfirearms at the gun show or event shall have in his or her immediate possession,govemment-issued photo identification, and display it upon request,to any security officer, or any peace officer. 56. REQUESTFOR JUDTCIAL NOTICE Re: CaliforniaPenalCode 1207r.4(k). Defendant' s Objection(s) : Relevanceand Question of Law. 57. California PenalCode $ 12071.4(t') mandatesthat all firearms carried onto the premisesof a gun show or event bymembers of the public shall be checked,clearedof any ammunition, securedin a manner that preventsthem from being operated,and an identification tag or sticker shall be attached to the firearm, prior to the personbeing allowed admittance to the show. The identification tag or sticker shall statethat all firearms transfersbetween private parties at the show or event shall be conducted through a licensed dealer in accordancewith applicable state and federal laws. The person possessingthe firearm shall complete the following information on the tag before it is attachedto the firearm: (1) The gun owner's signature. (2) The gun owner's printed name. (3) The identification number from the gun owner's government-issuedphoto identification. 57. REQUESTFOR JUDTCIAL NOTICERe: CaliforniaPenalCode 1207r.4(ì. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Question of Law. 27 Donald Kil¡nq Attomey at I¿w lß5 Willow St. Suite 150 Sð Jo*, CA 95125 Yc:408/264-8489 Fx:4O8/264-8487 28 Statemenf Undisputed Facs Pagell of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 6 58. Plaintiff DARYL DAVIS has testified through declaration,that he is a member of the "gun culfure" and that possessionofa gun at a gun show supports,and is intendedto convev. his be-lièfthat the SecondAmendmeniprotects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 7 Defendant'sObjection(s): Relevance. J 4 5 8 9 l0 1l t2 13 t4 15 t6 t7 t8 t9 59. Plaintiff DARYL DAVIS has testified 59. SeeDECLARATION OF DARYL through declaration,that he supportsthe DAVIS, Plaintiff. 1l1T l0-l 5. National Rifle Association's intemretation of the SecondAmendmenfi and tliat he attendsgun shows with guns in order to support the NRA by actually engagin-gthe act ot'possessinga firearm at a sun show in a j uiisdiction-(Northern Catiñrnia) where that right is_called into question by current stateãnd federal caseläw. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 60. Plaintiff DARYL DAVIS has testified 60. SeeDECLARATION OF DARYL that there is a great likelihood that others DAVIS, PlaÍntiff. IT 16- 18. would understandthesemessases.This is basedon his own observationiof people possessingand handlins zuns at eùn ^shows he-hasattended." " Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Hearsay. 23 61. Plaintiff DUANE DARR has testified through declaration,that he is a member of the "gun culfure" and that possessionofa gun at a gun show supports,and is intended to convev. his belièf that the SecondAmendmeni' protects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 24 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 20 2t 22 58. SeeDECLARATION OF DARYL DAVIS, Plaintiff. fT l0 - 15. 61. SeeDECLARATION OF DUANE DARR, Plaintiff. Tf 8 - 12. 25 26 27 Donald Kilmø .Attomeyat [åw 1645WillowSt. Suite150 Sa Jos€.CA 95 | 25 !c:408/264-E489 Fx:408/264-8487 28 Statemenl Undisputed Facts Page12 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 J 4 5 6 7 i ì 62. Plaintiff DUANE DARR has testified 62. SeeDECLARATION OF DUANE through declaration,that he supportsthe DARR, Plaintiff. lTll8- 12. National Rifl e Association' s interpretation of the SecondAmendment: and that he attends gun shows with guis in order to support the NRA by actually engagingthe act ofpossessinga firearm at a gun show in a jurisdiction (Northern California) where that right is called into question by current stateand federal caselaw. 8 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 9 63. Plaintiff DUANE DARR has testified that there is a great likelihood that others would understandthesemessages.This is basedon his own observationsof people possessingand handling guns at gun shows he has attended. 10 lt l2 13 t4 t6 t7 Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 18 2l 65. Plaintiff JESS GUY has testified through declaration, that he is a member of the "gun culfure" and that possessionof a gun at a gun show supports,and is intended to convey, his belief that the SecondAmendméút protects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 22 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. t9 20 63. SeeDECLARATION OF DUANE DARR, Plaintiff. IlT 13- 16. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Hearsay. 64. Plaintiff DUANE DARR has testified that the physical presenceof a firearm is necessarvto conduct and contract for the salé of a firearm. especiallyantique firearms. 15 f - ) EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT UNDISPUTEDFACT 64. SeeDECLARATION OF DUANE DARR, Plaintiff.l[I 13- 16. 65. SeeDECLARATION OF JESS GUY, Plaintiff. 1l1l8 - 19. 23 24 25 26 27 DonrH KiLner Anomey at [¿w 1645WillowSt. Suite150 Sa Joæ,CA 95125 Vc: 408/264-8489 Ex:4081264-8487 28 Statement: Undisputed Facts Page13of 19 Nordyke v. King 1 2 - J 4 5 6 7 i I 66. Plaintiff JESS GIIY has testified 66. SeeDECLARATION OF JESS through declaration,that he supportsthe GUY, Plaintiff. lTT8 - 19. National Rifle Association's inÌerpretation of the SecondAmendment: and tliat he attendsgun shows with guis in order to support the NRA by-actually engagingthe act ofpossessinga firearm at a euñ show in a juiisdiction-(Northern Cahfõrnia) where that right is called into question by cuffent state and federal caselaw. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 9 l2 67. Plaintiff JESS GUY has testified that there is a great likelihood that others would understandthesemessases.This is basedon his own observationiof people possessingand handling guns at gun shows he has attended. 13 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Hearsav. 10 : EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT I I l UNDISPUTEDFACT 1t l4 t5 16 t7 18 t9 68. Plaintiff JESS GUY attendedthe NORDYKE'S sun show at the Santa ClaraCounty Fãirgrounds on the weekend of April 8 819,20:06.He was present when the pictures that are attaõhedto his declaratioirwere taken and he made the observationsset forth in paragraphs22.a. -22.s of his declaration.^ 23 24 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 2l 22 68. SeeDECLARATION OF JESS GUY, Plaintiff, ffi22 -24. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 69. Plaintiff VIRGIL Mc VICKER has testified through declaration,that he is a member of the "gun culture" and that possessionofa gun at a gun show supports,and is intended to convey, his belief that the SecondAmendment protects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 20 67. SeeDECLARATION OF JESS G[.IY,Plaintiff.lTf20 -21. 69. SeeDECLARATION OF VIRGIL Mc VICKER, Plaintiff.I'1T12- 14. 25 26 27 Don¡H K¡ùntr Attom€y at Iåw 1645wi[ow St. Suite 150 Sa Joç, CA 95 | 25 Yc:4O81264-8489 Fx:4081264-8487 28 Statement:Undisputed Facts Page14 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 - J 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 T2 13 t4 15 t6 t7 18 l9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 27 Donrld K¡ùntr Attomey at I¿w 1645WiüowSt. Suite150 Sæ Jos. CA 95I 25 Vc: 408/264-8489 Fx:4081264-8487 T]NDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 70. Plaintiff VIRGIL Mc VICKER has testified through declaration,that he supportsthe National Rifle Association's interpretation of the SecondAmendment; and that he attendsgun shows with guns in order to supportihe Nnn by actuãlly engagingthe act of possessinga firearm at a gun show in a jurisdiction (Northern California) where that right is called into question by current stateand federal case law. 70. SeeDECLARATION OF VIRGIL 12- 14. Mc VICKER, Plaintiff.'lTlT Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 7 | . Plantiff VIRGIL Mc VICKER has testified that there is a great likelihood that others would understandthese messages.This is basedon his own observationsof peoplepossessineand handling guns at guir shbws he hãs attended. 71. SeeDECLARATION OF VIRGIL Mc VICKER, PlaintÍff.lTT15- 18. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance Hearsay. 72. Plaintiff MIKE FOURNIER has testified through declaration,that he is a member of the "gun culture" and that possessionofa gun at a gun show supports,and is intendedto convey, his belief that the SecondAmendment protects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 72. SeeDECLARATION OF MIKE FOURNIER, Plaintiff. TIT5 - 7. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 73. Plaintiff MIKE FOURNIER has testified through declaration,that he supports the National Rifle Association's interpretation of the Second Amendment; and that he attends gun shows with guns in order to support ihe NRA by actuãily engaging the àèt of possessin{ a firearm at a gun show in a jurisdiction (Northern California) where that right is called into question by current stateand federal case law. 73. SeeDECLARATION OF MIKE FOURNIER, Plaintiff. TT5 -7. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 28 Statement: Undisputed Facts Page15of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 J 4 5 6 7 8 9 l0 ll l2 13 l4 l5 t6 t7 l8 UNDISPUTEDFACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 74. Plaintiff MIKE FOURNIER has testified that there is a great likelilrood that others would undeistandthese messages.This is basedon his own observationsof peoplepossessineand handling guns at guir shbws he hãs attended. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Hearsay. 75. Plaintiff MIKE FOURNIER doesnot have a permit to carry concealedweapons pglsuant to California Penal Code $ 12050. 75. SeeDECLARATION OF MIKE FOURNIER, Plaintiff. lTTl0 - 13. 76. Plaintiff MIKE FOURNIER sells. at his store and at gun shows. manv of the samekinds of eñgravedand coÍrmemorative firearms that are shown in the book Steel Canvas- The Art of 76. SeeDECLARATION OF MIKE FOURNIER, PlaintÍff. tTT10- 13. AmericanArms,by R.L. Wilson. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 77. Patronsand exhibitors attend gun shows for various reasons.but overwhelming attend them in order obtain political information about their "right to keep and bear arms" and to assembiewith like-minded individuals reeardine their coÍrmon culture (i.e., the Srn cuÎ-ture.) Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. t9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 27 Don¡ld Kil¡ner Attomey at Iåw 1645W-illowSt. Suite 150 Sæ Jose.C,4.95 t25 Yc:4081264-8489 Fx:408/264-8487 74. SeeDECLARATION OF MIKE FOURNIER, Plaintiff. TI I - 9. 78. Patronsand exhibitors at Plaintifß' gun shows are strongly opposedto attending gun shows, and overwhelmingly state that they will not attend gun shows, where the possessionof fireañrs, and thê therefore the presenceof firearml is prohibited. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 79. Guns and the possessionof guns, especially at gun shows, can conîey polltrcal messages. 77. Seethe morethan300 THIRI) PARTY DECLARATIONS IN SUPPORTOF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 17,1999; filed on or aboutSeptember includinethe DECLARATION OF AMY HÕ which includesthe statistical breakdownregardingstatementsmadeby patronsandexhibitorsfiled the sameday. 78. Seevideo tapedinterviewsof patrons andexhibitorsattendingthe April 8/9, 2006gun show at the SantaClaraCounty Fairgrounds,attachedto: DECLARÁ.TION OF PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL DONALD KILMER RE: TAPED INTERVIEWS AT T.S. GUN SHOW AT SANTA CLARA COTJNTY FAIRGROUNDS APRIL 819,2006. 79. See:PLAINTIFFS EXPERTS' REPORT. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevanceand Hearsay. 28 Statement Undisputed Facts Page16 of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 a J 4 5 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Lack of Foundation. 7 81. Plaintiffs RUSSELL and SALLIE NORDYKE have testified through their declarations,that they are membersof the "gun culfure" artdthat possessionof a gun at a gun show supports,and is intended to convey, their belief that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to "keep and bear arms." 9 10 il t2 13 l4 15 l6 ( 80. The possessionof firearms on county property, and therefore the ability to hold gun shows on county fairgrounds, has been bannedin the counties of: Alameda" Sonoma,San Mateo, Marin; and the Ciry of Santa Cruz. 6 8 ,,::- EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT UNDISPUTEDFACT t7 18 l9 20 2l 22 23 24 80. PLAINTIFFS' INITIAL 26 DISCLOSURESunderF.R.C.P. See:Exhibit N attachedthereto. 81. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL AND SALLIE NORDYKE. 1n27&,28. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevance. 82. Plaintiffs RUSSELL and SALLIE 82. See:DECLARATION OF NORDYKE have testified through their RUSSELL AND SALLIE NORDYKE. declarations,that they support the &.28. nn27 National Rifle Association' s interpretation of the Second Amendment; and that they host gun shows with guns,'inpart, in oráer to support the NRA by actually engaging the act of possessinga firearm at a gun show in a jurisdiction (California) where that right is called into question by current state and federal caselaw. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 83. Plaintifß RUSSELL and SALLIE NORDYKE have testified that there is a greatlikelihood that others would understandthesemessages.This is based on their own observationsof people possessingand handling guns at gun shows they host and promote. 83. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL AND SALLIE NORDYKE. -37. Íïnze Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Hearsay. 25 26 27 DotraldKilmù Attomey at [.¿w 1645Willow St. Suitc 150 Sæ Jose.CA 95I 25 Yc:408/264.8489 Fx:4081264-8481 28 Statement:Undisputed Facts PageITof 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 J 4 5 l UNDISPUTED FACT EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT 84. Plaintiffs RUSSELL and SALLIE NORDYKE are unwilling to commit a fraud upon their regular exhibitors, vendors and patrons by hosting a gun-less gun show. They - maintain that the very ldea is absurd. 6 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 7 85. Plaintiffs RUSSELL and SALLIE NORDYKE maintain that they comply with all Federal and StateLaws regüÉting the firearms industry and gun shows in particular, and that they are membersof the National Associationof Arms. Inc.. and that thev follow that associatiôns guidelines fôr conduct safe and lawful gun shows. 8 9 10 11 12 t3 t4 l5 T6 t7 18 t9 20 2l 22 23 24 25 84. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL A¡{D SALLIE NORDYKE. -37. T,1129 85. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL AND SALLIE NORDYKE. nn2e-37. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 86. There is no gun show loophole at California Gun SÉowsthat coriply with California law. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevanceand Questionof Law. 87. Plaintiffs RUSSELL and SALLIE NORDYKE have sustainedmonetary lossesin the form of lost profits from the ban on gun shows at the Alameda County Fairgroùnds. They also have monetary lossðs(though nof sought in this suit)' ÍÌom the ban on zun shows in the Counties of Mariã, Sonomaand San Mateo. 86. Depositionof RandiRossi. I 1:916:12. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL AND SALLTENORDYKE.ffi32 &,33. 87. See:DECLARATION OF RUSSELL AND SALLIE NORDYKE. 1T36.d. Defendant's Obj ection(s): Relevanceand Lack of Foundation. 88. Alameda CounWCounsel'sOffice is authorized to interprét the Ordinance and its exceptions. 88. DEFENDAIITS' RESPONSESTO PLAINTIFFS' INTERROGATORIES. #21.^. Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 26 27 Donald KiLner Attomey at Iåw 1645wilow St. Suite 150 Sæ Jose,CA 95125 Vc:408/264-E489 Fx:408/264-8487 28 Statement: Undisputed Facts Page18of 19 Nordyke v. King I 2 UNDISPUTED FACT EWDENTIARY SUPPORT 4 89. Richard Pickering, General Manager of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, has no authority to grant exceptions to Alameda County Ordinances. 5 Defendant's Objection(s): Relevance. 3 6 7 8 9 l0 90. Richard Pickering, General Manager of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, referred all decisions about exceptions to Alameda Ordinance to County Counsel and/or the Alameda County Sheriff. 89. SeeExhibit 8 attachedto Deposition of Rick IC tictering. 90. Depositionof Rick K. Pickering. 36: l 8 - 3 9 : 1 8a n d7 2 : 1 9- 7 5 : 2 . 8 0 : I - 1 0 . Defendant's Objection(s) : Relevance. END OF DOCUMENT END OF DOCUMENT ll t2 l3 The parties agÍee,by and through counsel,that facsimile signaturesshall constitute originals. t4 l5 r6 SO STIPULATED. Date:á.q/(ærL ------T----7-) t7 t8 t9 Attorney for Plaintiffs Attorney for Defendants 20 2l 22 23 24 25 26 27 DoDrld Kil¡trer Aflomey at I¡w I 645 Willow St. Suire I 50 Sãn Jose,CA 95125 tlc: 4081264-8489 Fx:4OBt26Ç8487 28 Statement:UndisputedFacts Page19of 19 Nordyke v. King No. 08-1521 In the Supreme Court of the United States O TIS M CD ONALD, ET AL., Petitioners, v. C ITY OF C HICAGO, ET AL., Respondents. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for The Seventh Circuit AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF OF THE APPELLANTS FROM THE NINTH CIRCUIT INCORPORATION CASE of NORDYKE V. KING, MADISON SOCIETY, and GOLDEN STATE SECOND AMENDMENT COUNCIL – IN SUPPORT OF REVERSAL JASON A. DAVIS DAVIS & ASSOCIATES 27281 Las Ramblas, Suite 200 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (949) 310-0817 DONALD E. J. KILM ER , JR .* LAW OFFICE OF DONALD KILM ER , APC 1645 Willow St., Suite 150 San Jose, CA 95125 (408) 264-8489 *Counsel of Record Counsel Press, LLC (800) 274-3321 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i Table of Cited Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii I. Interests of Amici. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. Argument Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 III. Why Scrutiny Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A. The Nordyke Panel’s Scrutiny . . . . . . . 8 Analysis Was Just Plain Wrong B. The Nordyke Panel’s “Sensitive . . . . . 14 Places” Analysis Was Wrong IV. Judicial Scrutiny: Second Amendment. . . . . . . 20 V. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 ii TABLE OF CITED AUTHORITIES FEDERAL CASES Acers v. United States, 164 U.S. 388 (1896). . . . . . . .4 Adamson v. California, 332 U.S. 46 (1947). . . . . . . 28 Alberty v. United States, 162 U.S. 499 (1896). . . . . . 4 Allen v. United States, 164 U.S. 492 (1896). . . . . . . . 4 Allison v. United States, 160 U.S. 203 (1895). . . . . . .4 Andersen v. United States, 170 U.S. 481 (1898). . . . 4 Beard v. United States, 158 U.S. 550 (1895). . . . . . . 4 Brown v. United States, 256 U.S. 335 (1921). . . . . . .4 Brown v. Walker, 161 U.S. 591 (1896). . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Corfield v. Coryell,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 6 F. Cas. 546 (C.C.E.D. Pa. 1823) Danforth v. Minn., 552 U.S. 264 (2007). . . . . . . . . . 23 District of Columbia v. Heller, . . . . . . . . . . . . . passim 554 U.S. ___ 128 S. Ct. 2783 (2008) Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145 (1968) . . . . . . . . 2 Forsyth County v. The Nationalist Movement,. . . . .23 505 U.S. 123 (1992) iii Gourko v. United States, 153 U.S. 183 (1894). . . . . . 4 Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003) . . . . . 21, 22 Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297 (1980). . . . . . . . . . . 11 Hickman v. Block, 81 F.3d 98 (9th Cir. 1996). . . . . 24 Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944). . 22 Lawrence v. Tex., 539 U.S. 558 (2003) . . . . . . . 21, 26 Lebron v. National R.R. Passenger Corp.,. . . . . . . . . 6 513 U.S. 374 (1995) Logan v. United States, 144 U.S. 263 (1892). . . . . . . 4 McDonald v. City of Chicago,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 567 F.3d 856 (7th Cir. 2009) Miller v. Tex., 153 U.S. 535 (1894) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Minneapolis Star & Tribune Co. v. Minn. Commissioner of Revenue,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 460 U.S. 575 (1983) N.Y. Times. Co. v. United States,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 403 U.S. 713 (1971) Nordyke v. King,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 229 F.3d 1266 (9th Cir. 2000) Nordyke v. King, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . passim 563 F.3d 439 (9th Cir. 2009) iv Nordyke v. King, (reh’g en banc granted). . . . . . . . . . 1 575 F.3d 890 (9th Cir. 2009) Planned Parenthood v. Casey,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 21 505 U.S. 833 (1992) Pleasant Grove City v. Summum,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 129 S. Ct. 1125 (2009) Police Department of Chi. v. Mosley,. . . . . . . . . . . . .14 408 U.S. 92 (1972) Presser v. Ill., 116 U.S. 252 (1886). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins,. . . . . . . . . . . 5 447 U.S. 74 (1980) Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996) . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Rowe v. United States, 164 U.S. 546 (1896) . . . . . . . 4 Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 39 (1919) . . . . . 23 Silveira v. Lockyer, (reh’g en banc denied). . . . . . . . 22 328 F.3d 567 (9th Cir. 2003) Starr v. United States, 153 U.S. 614 (1894) . . . . . . . 4 Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3 (1883) . . . . . . . . 3 The Slaughterhouse Cases, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 83 U.S. (16 Wall.) 36 (1873) v Thompson v. United States, 155 U.S. 271 (1894) . . . 4 United States v. Carolene Products Co., . . . . . . . . . 26 304 U.S. 144 (1938) United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1875) . . . 3 United States v. Gilbert,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 286 Fed. Appx. 383 (2009) United States v. Harden, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54717 (D. Or. 2008) United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939). . . . . . 27 United States v. Walters, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53455 United States v. White, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60115, Va. Bankshares, Inc. v. Sandberg,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 501 U.S. 1083 (1991) Wallace v. United States, 162 U.S. 466 (1896). . . . . 4 STATE CASES Kasler v. Lockyer, 23 Cal. 4th 472 (2000) . . . . . . . . 24 Nordyke v. King,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 27 Cal. 4th 875, 118 Cal. Rptr. 2d 761 vi FEDERAL STATUTES Firearm Owner's Protection Act, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Pub. L. No. 99-308, 100 Stat. 449 (1986) Protection of Law Commerce in Arms Act, . . . . . . . .25 Public Law 109-92, 15 U.S.C. § 7901-7903 The Credit CARD Act of 2009, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Pub. L. No. 111-24, 123 Stat., 1734 (2009) STATE CONSTITUTIONS Alaska Const. art. 1, § 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Vermont. Const. ch. 1, art. 16,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 STATE STATUTES Cal. Penal Code § 12050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Cal. Pen. Code § 171.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cal. Pen. Code §171b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Cal. Pen. Code §171b(b)(7)(A)-(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 MISCELLANEOUS Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(f)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 vii Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(f)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Nonsubstance Reorganization of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Deadly Weapon Statutes, Calif. Law Revision Commission (June 2009). SCHOLARLY AUTHORITY Black, Hugo L., The Bill of Rights, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 35 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 865 (1960). Kopel, David, The Supreme Court's . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Thirty-Five Other Second Amendment Cases. 18 St. Louis Univ. Public Law Rev. 99 (1999 ) Massey, Calvin R., The New Formalism: . . . . . . . . 21 Requiem for Tiered Scrutiny?, 6 U. Pa. J. Const. L. 945 (2004) Silberman, Laurence H.,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Uncommon Knowledge: The Law and More with Judge Laurence Silberman. Hoover Institution, Stan. U. (August 5, 2009) 1 I. INTERESTS OF AMICI1 Russell and Sallie Nordyke, along with the other named plaintiff/appellants in the case of Nordyke v. King, 563 F.3d 439 (9th Cir. 2009), have a special interest in the outcome of this case. They are gun show promoters, exhibitors and vendors who operate at county fairgrounds throughout Northern and Central California. The County of Alameda passed an ordinance forbidding the possession of guns on county property, which includes the County Fairgrounds. The ordinance was intended to, and has the effect of banning the Nordykes’ gun shows at that venue. A sua sponte order was issued by the Circuit for the case to be reheard en banc. Nordyke v. King, 575 F.3d 890 (9th Cir. 2009). En banc argument took place on September 24, 2009. The case was then withdrawn from submission pending the outcome of this case. Amicus Virgil McVicker, in addition to being a named plaintiff in the Nordyke case, is president of the Madison Society. The society is a membership organization whose purpose is to sponsor public interest litigation to preserve and protect the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for its members and all responsible law-abiding citizens. 1 The parties were notified ten days prior to the due date of this brief and all consented to the filing of this brief. No counsel for a party authored this brief in whole or in part, and no counsel for party made a monetary contribution intended to fund the preparation and submission of this brief. No person other than amici curiae, their members, or their counsel made a monetary contribution to its preparation or submission. 2 Amicus Golden State Second Amendment Council is an open membership association based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The purpose of the association is to educate the general public and influence public policy regarding the right to keep and bear arms; including but not limited to the right of selfdefense, the rights of hunters, and the hobbies of collecting and sport shooting of firearms. II. ARGUMENT SUMMARY Even though incorporation is the question presented by the grant of certiorari in this case; the historical analysis of the fundamental nature of the “right to keep and bear arms” and its significance to American jurisprudence, has already been fully examined by this Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. ___ , 128 S. Ct. 2783, (2008). That historical/legal analysis already makes a sufficiently strong case for Fourteenth Amendment due process incorporation of the Second Amendment under the test in Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145 (1968). In Nordyke v. King, 563 F.3d 439 (9th Cir. 2009), a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit performed the required analysis suggested by this Court in Heller, 128 S. Ct. at 2813 n.23. That opinion, found the Second Amendment incorporated against state and local governments. The Seventh Circuit demurred on the incorporation question. McDonald v. City of Chicago, 567 F.3d 856 (7th Cir. 2009). However, even if stare decisis trumps the plain language and contemporary understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Seventh Circuit still had a duty to articulate constitutional reasons for 3 denying the McDonald plaintiffs the protections of the Second Amendment. The three-judge panel in that Circuit did not even perform the Duncan v. Louisiana “required analysis.” This is sufficient justification for reversal. The clear implication of the question presented by certiorari in the McDonald case is that the mechanism of incorporation for the Second Amendment will be through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges or Immunities Clause and/or its Due Process Clause.2 This would suggest that the Supreme Court may be open to a reexamination of its holding in The Slaughterhouse Cases, 83 U.S. (16 Wall.) 36 (1873). Purging the legacy of Slaughterhouse is reason enough to reconsider the post-civil war insurgency against the Fourteenth Amendment manifested by that case and its progeny.3 However, overruling The Slaughterhouse Cases is only useful to Second Amendment litigants and the lower courts if this Court provides a standard of review for the underlying fundamental right. 2 Silberman, L., The Law and More with Judge Laurance Silberman. Stan. U. (Aug. 5, 2009), suggests the Second Amendment may not require incorporation because it is broadly written and does not address Congressional authority like the First Amendment’s “Congress shall make no law [...].” Video and transcript: http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/63317727.html 3 United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1875); Presser v. Ill., 116 U.S. 252 (1886); Miller v. Tex., 153 U.S. 535 (1894); and The Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3 (1883). 4 A second plain error made by the Seventh Circuit was its suggestion (almost an implied finding) that the right of self-defense itself can be abrogated by state and local governments. That implied finding not only contradicted Heller itself – it ran afoul of dozens of Supreme Court cases holding that the right of selfdefense is recognized by our constitutional case law in ways that should make it enforceable against the states by any method of incorporation. See Logan v. United States, 144 U.S. 263 (1892); Gourko v. United States, 153 U.S. 183 (1894); Starr v. United States, 153 U.S. 614 (1894); Thompson v. United States, 155 U.S. 271 (1894); Beard v. United States, 158 U.S. 550 (1895); Allison v. United States, 160 U.S. 203 (1895); Brown v. Walker, 161 U.S. 591 (1896); Wallace v. United States, 162 U.S. 466 (1896); Alberty v. United States, 162 U.S. 499 (1896); Acers v. United States, 164 U.S. 388 (1896); Allen v. United States, 164 U.S. 492 (1896); Rowe v. United States, 164 U.S. 546 (1896); Andersen v. United States, 170 U.S. 481 (1898); and Brown v. United States, 256 U.S. 335 (1921).4 The modern talisman of the three-tiered method of judicial scrutiny was not explicitly used in these turnof-the-century cases. Perhaps that is why these cases were overlooked by the Seventh Circuit. In those states that do not have a state constitutional right to keep and bear arms (California, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York) this newly incorporated right will be the only substantive protection of this enumerated right. 4 Collected from: David Kopel, The Supreme Court’s Thirty-Five Other Second Amendment Cases. 18 St. Louis University Public Law Review 99 (1999). 5 In those states with a Second Amendment analog in their constitutions, incorporation will guarantee a baseline right, in much the same way that the criminal procedure protections of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments have standardized the minimum rights afforded the accused throughout the United States. Incorporation of the Bill of Rights is a form of constitutional preemption that insures a baseline uniformity of the rights, privileges and immunities of all persons entitled to the protections of our Constitution, in every jurisdiction subject to its reach. This is the very essence of the Fourteenth Amendment. Of course enforcement of constitutional rights against the states, does not prevent those states from affording greater protection of those rights. See Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins, 447 U.S. 74 (1980), for operation of this principle in a First Amendment context. The incorporation issue was foreshadowed, but not compelled, by the facts of Heller. It may be argued that the scrutiny question is similarly not yet ripe for resolution in the McDonald case. However when the court below spent as much ink on how the Second Amendment might be applied in the states (i.e., a state might have the power to nullify the right of selfdefense), as it did about whether it applies to the states, it was addressing scrutiny. When a lower court passes on an issue sua sponte, the issue may properly be presented to the Supreme Court. Va. Bankshares, Inc. v. Sandberg, 501 U.S. 1083, 1099 n.8 (1991). (raising such an issue before the Court is particularly appropriate where the question (1) is in a “state of evolving definition and uncertainly,” and (2) is “one of importance to the administration of 6 federal law”). See also Lebron v. Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp., 513 U.S. 374, 379 (1995), (“even if this were a claim not raised by the petitioner below, we would ordinarily feel free to address it since it was addressed by the court below”). Since judicial scrutiny and the incorporation issues are inextricably intertwined in McDonald, this Court should resist the minimalist approach of Heller now that the Second Amendment will apply in 50 more jurisdictions. The sheer number of potential cases and controversies that may arise after incorporation of this Amendment suggests that this Court may want to address the scrutiny issue now, even if only in the name of judicial economy. III. WHY SCRUTINY MATTERS The rules for judicial scrutiny of the Second Amendment are critical for at least two reasons: (1) to define the substantive “right to keep and bear arms” in a way that insures uniform justice throughout the United States, and (2) to keep judicial scrutiny of fundamental rights in general – as a device for insuring liberty – from turning into a unprincipled empty gesture with no application to future cases. The Heller opinion made it clear that certain long standing regulations of the right to keep and bear arms were presumptively valid under the Second Amendment. Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2816-17. However the Court provided no abstract rules for determining that validity beyond the concrete examples cited. Several cases involving felons in possession of firearms have attempted to exploit Heller. See e.g., United States v. Gilbert, 286 Fed. Appx. 383, 2008 U.S. 7 App. LEXIS 15209 at 4-5 (9th Cir. 2008) (noting that the possession of machine guns and short-barreled rifles and possession of firearms by felons are all still prohibited post-Heller); United States v. Harden, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54717, at *1-2 (D. Or. 2008) (upholding prohibition on possession by felons). United States v. White, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60115, 2008 WL 3211298 (S.D. Ala.)(citing United States v. Walters, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53455, 2008 WL 2740398 (D.V.I.))("no court has, ever under an individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment, found 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) constitutionally suspect."). With justification, these cases were summarily adjudicated in accordance with the Heller decision, i.e., the Second Amendment does not protect violent criminals. But most guns in the United States are possessed by law-abiding citizens. A rule for scrutinizing state action that touches on Second Amendment rights is particularly critical when the government is interfering with the rights of the law-abiding when they are engaged in activities that are already wellregulated and that present no danger to the public. The Nordyke three-judge panel ultimately found for the County in that case and the ordinance withstood challenges under the First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendments. Whether the Nordyke three-judge panel’s scrutiny analysis on those claims was correct is still an open question. An analysis of that opinion, as it relates to scrutiny (on the First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendment claims) is presented here in the hope that this information will aid the Court in resolving the incorporation and scrutiny issues raised in the McDonald case. 8 A. The Nordyke Panel’s Scrutiny Analysis Was Just Plain Wrong. The Supreme Court did not announce a formal standard of review in Heller. This omission was criticized in Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 458. However, rational basis is clearly off the table. See Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2818, n.27. Even though the Nordyke panel suggested that Second Amendment rights should trigger the same strict scrutiny standard of review as First Amendment rights Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 458, n.19; they appeared to abandon that test when they proceeded to engage in the kind of balancing test rejected by Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2821. See Nordyke, at 563 F.3d. 457-60. The Nordyke three-judge panel also invoked a “sensitive places” doctrine/definition that was introduced, but not explained, in Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2816-17. See Nordyke, at 563 F.3d. 459-60. What is unique about the Nordyke fact pattern is that it is particularly well suited to a discussion of “judicial scrutiny” as a legal doctrine, because it forces us to compare and contrast a new application (Second Amendment) of tiered scrutiny with those areas of constitutional law that have historically analyzed rights in this way. (e.g., First Amendment and Equal Protection). Even if the Nordyke panel got the result right, Second Amendment litigants in the McDonald case (and throughout the country) would benefit from an authoritative explanation from this Court as to why they got it right. The Nordykes held their gun shows at the County Fairgrounds, without incident, for more than 10 years before the case was filed in 1999. They have continued 9 to hold gun shows at other fairground venues for more than 20 years. The California Department of Justice and local law enforcement testified that the gun shows promoted by the Nordykes, locally and throughout the state, are safe and well regulated. The government in the Nordyke case admits that the gun shows at the fairgrounds are neither a primary nor a secondary source of crime. Alameda County cites no discreet public safety reasons for its ordinance. Its sole justification is generalized statistics about violent crime rates, which have nothing to do with the Nordykes’ gun show activities. Nordyke’s First Amendment component rests on the Defendants’ concession that possession of guns at gun shows can convey particularized messages, likely to be understood by their intended audience. The author of the ordinance (King) even announced in a press release that the purpose of the law was to ban gun shows and eliminate the fairgrounds as “a place for people to display guns for worship as deities for the collectors who treat them as icons of patriotism.” The Equal Protection aspect of the case arises because the County permits the Caledonian Scottish Games to possess firearms at the fairgrounds for their expressive purposes, but still prohibits gun shows that operate under substantially identical regulations. The right to possess a gun at a gun show arises out of an ancillary “right to keep” which implies a right to acquire or purchase. The Second Amendment protects two distinct rights – “the right to keep” and “the right to bear” arms. Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2830-31. It also arises out of the “right to bear” or carry arms for lawful purposes. Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2793 passim. 10 The County of Alameda has even maintained the absurd position that gun shows and gun sales can take place on county property (e.g., the Fairgrounds) as long as no guns are present. There is no so called “gun show loop-hole” in California as state law requires that all firearm sales (including those at gun shows) be processed through a federal and state licensed firearm dealer. The County conceded that the Nordykes’ gun shows complied with all federal and state laws, and all safety regulations relating to gun shows and firearm transactions. A recitation of the sheer volume of federal and state laws regulating sales, possession and gun show activities would exceed the limited space permitted in this brief. It is an undisputed fact that the promoters, exhibitors, vendors and patrons comply with all these laws. Brief examples include: (1) guns at gun shows must be unloaded and secured in a manner that prevents operation, except for brief periods of mechanical demonstration for a prospective buyer; (2) no person (except security and sworn peace officers) may possess a firearm and the ammunition for that firearm at the same time; (3) no person under 18 years is permitted to attend a gun show unless accompanied by an adult; and (4) no person may bring a gun to a gun show unless they have a government issued photo identification, and the firearm must be tagged and identified with the information from that I.D. These state/federal laws are substantially identical to the exceptions for gun possession contained in the Alameda ordinance. Yet the Nordyke panel found no violation of equal protection (in the exercise of a fundamental right) when it differentiated the gun shows from the Caledonian Scottish Games. 11 The Nordyke panel cited Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 873 (1992), and Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 315-16 (1980), for the proposition: “not every law which makes a right more difficult to exercise is, ipso facto, an infringement of that right.” But these cases dealt with a demand that government maintain medical facilities, personnel, funding and equipment to perform abortions for women (indigent or not) who sought to exercise their right to an abortion. Furthermore, the laws forbidding abortions that were challenged in these cases all had lifesaving exceptions for the life of the mother. See Casey, at 505 U.S. 87795. Self-defense (preservation of innocent life) is the primary right recognized in Heller for which keeping, bearing, and acquiring arms is the means. The Nordyke plaintiffs were not asking the Court to force the County to maintain the fairgrounds so that they could conduct gun shows. They were asking to compete on a level playing field with other organizations (e.g., Scottish Games, County Fair, Auto Shows, Dog Shows, Antique Shows, Sportsman Shows, Art Shows, etc...) that leased the fairgrounds for their events. The County had not offered a scintilla of evidence that the Nordykes’ gun shows imposed a greater burden on the County than any other event. In fact, the Nordykes contribute to the County by paying to lease the venue, they maintained insurance like any other promoter, and they comply with all special laws directed at their particular endeavor; all while generating indirect revenue for the County through rent, food sales, parking fees and sales taxes. Nor were the Nordykes complaining about a mere burdening of any of their rights. They would welcome 12 any appropriate regulation designed to address issues of gun safety and crime prevention.5 But the ordinance is not an appropriate regulation aimed at a community evil. It seeks to ban gun shows and the “gun culture” from county property through the pretext of public safety. Furthermore, the citation to Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, 129 S. Ct. 1125 (2009), in Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 459, n.21, is confusing. If the panel means that the county is free to express its own anti-gun viewpoint under a Second Amendment analysis, why does its later First Amendment analysis proceed as if the ordinance is a neutral regulation instead of the county’s pretextual vehicle for a partisan anti-gun message? First Amendment scrutiny can not be that different from Second Amendment scrutiny. The sponsor of the ordinance, Mary King (County Supervisor) sent a memorandum to County Counsel prior to introducing the ordinance. It was copied to all board members. It requested that County Counsel research a way to prohibit gun shows on county property. The memorandum clearly set forth a purposeful intent, based on political philosophy, to deny gun shows access to county property. The County, speaking through Supervisor King, issued a press release in connection with the ordinance. That press release reiterated that the purpose of the pending legislation was to deny gun shows access to 5 E.g., The County could supplement the State law that prohibits a person from simultaneously possessing a firearm and the ammunition for the firearm, by requiring ammunition vendors to be physically segregated from the firearm vendors. 13 the fairgrounds because the County did not agree with the political values of the people attending gun shows. (i.e., The County should not provide “[...] a place for people to display guns for worship as deities for the collectors who treat them as icons of patriotism.”) The Nordykes are entitled to the factual inference that their gun shows were targeted for extinction because of the political values expressed at gun shows and the County’s disagreement with those values. This targeting of a disfavored group is relevant to the scrutiny discussion of the First Amendment (under a Texas v. Johnson analysis), the Second Amendment (overbreadth), and the Fourteenth Amendment (Equal Protection). See also: Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996). Nordyke is wholly different from Pleasant Grove City v. Summum because the Nordykes are not asking to place a permanent monument on county property. But the panel’s strong inference that the County is engaged in anti-gun propaganda as a property owner, is certainly probative as to whether the County is engaged in the regulation of expressive conduct by banning gun shows in order to “send a message” that guns are bad. And because the County is engaged in its own expression and the regulation of expression by others, the panel should have applied the more rigorous scrutiny analysis under Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989). Another inconsistency arises with a finding that the County’s ban on gun shows does not violate Equal Protection (of a fundamental right) vis-á-vis guns possessed at gun shows vs. guns possessed at the Scottish Games. The guns at gun shows are secured pursuant to state law. While the guns at the Scottish 14 Games are secured pursuant to a county ordinance. This is a distinction without a difference and cannot survive strict scrutiny of a fundamental right under an Equal Protection claim. Under the First and/or Second Amendment and under an Equal Protection (for fundamental rights) analysis, the government is required to: (1) produce evidence, (2) that demonstrates a compelling interest, (3) and prove that the government’s regulation is not more restrictive of the right(s) than is necessary to address the compelling interest. Police Dep’t of Chi. v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92 (1972). The County failed on all three counts because it has conceded that gun shows are not a source of any community evil. So if the County’s exclusion of gun shows from the Fairgrounds is based on a desire to engage in a hoplophobic message for Second Amendment purposes, then its ordinance is invalid under Heller, as it is not designed to address public safety or crime prevention. And if the County is expressing its hoplophobia by banning the expressive conduct of possessing guns at gun shows, then it is violating the First Amendment’s commandment against censorship; and/or it is violating Equal Protection by permitting expression with guns by the Scottish Games, but forbidding expression with guns at gun shows. B. The Nordyke Panel’s “Sensitive Place” Analysis was Wrong. The Nordyke three-judge panel also indulged the County’s argument that the fairgrounds is a “sensitive place.” 15 But the County presented no evidence – none – that the Fairgrounds (or indeed any county property) is a “sensitive place.” How could it? Discovery was closed and this case was already on appeal out of the district court when the Heller opinion was filed on June 26, 2008. Heller’s “sensitive places” concept was set forth in dicta at 128 S. Ct. at 2816-17: [W]e do not undertake an exhaustive historical analysis today of the full scope of the Second Amendment, nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. (Emphasis added) The adjective “longstanding” modifies the noun “prohibition” regarding felons and the mentally ill; and it might be stretched to cover sensitive places. There was no factual record in the Nordyke case that the county fairgrounds had a longstanding history as a sensitive place. The facts construed in the light most favorable to the Nordykes are: (1) Mary King had been trying for “years” to get rid of gun shows, (2) the Nordykes had conducted gun shows at the Alameda Fairgrounds for almost 10 years before the ordinance was passed, and (3) the Nordykes continued to hold gun shows at other fairgrounds throughout California while this case has been pending. When and how did “fairgrounds” as a class of property undergo a transformation to a sensitive place? 16 The Nordyke panel tried to describe a distinction without a difference for the ways guns are handled at gun shows (secured unless the gun is being mechanically demonstrated to the buyer) and the way guns are handled during the Scottish Games (secured until the re-enactors are actually staging their mock battles). This has nothing to do with defining a sensitive place. A sensitive place, like a courthouse, would neither permit mock battles nor gun shows. How can the fairgrounds be a sensitive place if secured guns are possessed at gun shows, but “not-asensitive” place when guns are possessed by “authorized participants in a motion picture, television, video, dance or theatrical production or event, [...] ” ? [Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(f)(4).] Neither the County nor the Nordyke opinion provides any compelling explanation for this inconsistency. Why aren’t gun show patrons and exhibitors, who pay their admission and follow all federal and state laws regulating gun shows, “authorized participants” at an event? Furthermore, why is the County’s property not sensitive to functional movie prop guns, but is sensitive to gun show guns which are secured unless being mechanically demonstrated? How can the fairgrounds be a “sensitive place” when the ordinance exempts imitation firearms or BB guns and air rifles? [Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(d).] An airport “sterile area” or airliner does not tolerate the presence of imitation firearms. See Cal. Pen. Code § 171.5. Persons with valid licenses to carry loaded and concealed firearms under Cal. Penal Code § 12050, are also exempt from the ordinance. [Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(f)(3).] A jail or prison does not permit such 17 licensees to retain their weapons when interviewing or visiting inmates. The County’s ordinance is not delineating “sensitive places.” At best, the County is describing permissible and impermissible “uses” of guns, which negates any argument that county property is per se sensitive to the presence of guns. The only place where the ordinance attempts to define “places” is where it exempts from the ordinance “local public buildings” as defined in Cal. Pen. Code § 171b. [Alameda Ordinance § 9.12.120(c).] This state law in California bans guns in government buildings, but this code section cited by the ordinance specifically includes an exception for the purpose of conducting a law-abiding gun show. See Cal. Pen. Code § 171b(b)(7)(A) and § 171b(b)(7)(B). Consider these easily verified general facts regarding places where guns show up in parks and fairgrounds: ! The publication: Gun Shows: Brady Checks and Crime Gun Traces was jointly published in January 1999, by the United States Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury See http://www.atf.gov/pub/treas_pub/gun_s how.pdf. Gun shows are described on page 4. Nationally there were 4,442 gun shows advertised in a trade publication for calendar year 1998. California was among the top 10 states where gun shows took place. “Ordinarily, gun shows are held in public arenas, civic centers, fairgrounds, and armories,...” 18 ! On May 22, 2009, President Obama signed into law a bill that was passed with bipartisan support that permits lawabiding citizens to possess firearms in National Parks – consistent with the law of the state in which the park is located. [The Credit CARD Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-24, 123 Stat, 1734 (2009).] These facts can be judicially noticed for the proposition that public places, where many people gather, like: parks, fairgrounds, public arenas, civic centers, and government buildings where gun shows take place, are not longstanding examples of historically “sensitive places.” The Nordyke three-judge panel made a prejudicial unwarranted finding regarding sensitive places. The County did not even request that the case be returned to the trial court so that it could attempt to prove that its fairgrounds (or indeed all of Alameda County’s properties) are particularly sensitive places. Neither is there is any legal basis for the panel’s creation of a definition of “sensitive place” out of the dicta in Heller. The panel did note that “Second Amendment law remains in its infancy” and that Heller itself “does not provide much guidance.” Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 460. This state of affairs should have triggered a default fundamental rights analysis. It should be the County’s burden to demonstrate a compelling justification for classifying its fairgrounds as a sensitive place, and the County must be required to demonstrate that there is no less burdensome regulation that addresses the 19 compelling interest that they assert.6 The County did not meet that burden, and the Nordyke three-judge panel was wrong to give it a pass on this issue. An expansive interpretation of “sensitive places” is not unique to the Nordyke facts. In its post-Heller opposition to a motion for summary judgment in Palmer v. District of Columbia, Civil Action No.: 0901482 (HHK), an ongoing challenge to D.C.’s complete ban on carrying firearms, the defendants argued that the entire federal enclave is a sensitive place: Defendants aver that the whole of the District of Columbia should be considered a “sensitive” place, given its dense concentration of iconic structures, government facilities, embassies, and regular meetings of diplomats and leaders from around the world. See Hearing on the Impact of Proposed Legislation on the District of Columbia’s Gun Laws Before the House Comm. on Oversight & Government Reform (Sept. 9, 2008). (Testimony of Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of Police) at 5 (“[T]he District of Columbia, as the seat of the Federal government with its multitude of critical official and symbolic buildings, monuments, and events and high-profile public officials traversing its streets every 6 For example, the County took steps to control the unlawful possession of deadly weapons at the fairgrounds by the simple expedient of installing metal detectors at the entrance to the fairgrounds during the county fair. 20 day, is a city filled with “sensitive” places. Our laws should reflect that reality.”)7 Without guidance from this Court, judicial scrutiny of infringements of the Second Amendment will proceed in a chaotic and, perhaps, regionally-biased manner among the Circuits. Certainly the en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit would benefit from a word or two about judicial scrutiny when they revive their deliberations of the Nordyke case after the opinion in McDonald is published. IV. JUDICIAL SCRUTINY: SECOND AMENDMENT Judicial scrutiny requires identification of the role of the constitutional right at issue. In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. N.Y. Times. Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713, 717 (1971). Justice Hugo Black, Concurring. 7 http://www.archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.dcd.137887 /gov.uscourts.dcd.137887.6.0.pdf page 27-28. 21 Heller examined the Second Amendment in a context of the right of self-defense in the home, because those were the facts of that case. Without an articulation of the contours of the right, the Nordyke panel felt constrained to recognize the right solely in that context. Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 458. And because the county ordinance challenged in that case merely burdened the right outside the home it was upheld. How is it possible that an un-enumerated fundamental right (abortion) is important enough to warrant an “undue burden” test8 – but an enumerated right may be so circumscribed? Will judicial scrutiny of the Second Amendment enhance or further erode the device of three-tiered scrutiny?9 What will be the replacement doctrine? The Second Amendment plays a vital role in our republic. As Heller points out, at the very least it recognizes a Blackstone-like fundamental “law of nature” in the use of force by individuals for selfdefense. Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2798. Only recently in the dissent on Second Amendment issues, Chief Judge Kozinski and Judge Gould of the Ninth Circuit have offered defense of the community and resistance against tyranny to the catalogue of Second Amendment 8 See Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992). 9 For a discussion about the way recent Supreme Court decisions (e.g., Lawrence v. Tex., 539 U.S. 558 (2003), and Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003).) may be undermining a principled approach to tiered scrutiny. See Professor Calvin R. Massey’s article: The New Formalism: Requiem for Tiered Scrutiny?, 6 U. Pa. J. Const. L. 945 (2004). 22 values important to the republic. See, respectively: Silveira v. Lockyer, (reh’g denied) 328 F.3d 567, 569-70 (9th Cir. 2003); Nordyke v. King, 563 F.3d 439, 464 (9th Cir. 2009). The First and Second Amendment complement each other. They share a common purpose by recognizing that liberty of thought is useless without the right to defend ideas. Our constitutional form of government also recognizes that liberty of action leads to anarchy without a civic virtu of understanding that is brought about by a “marketplace” of ideas. These amendments taken together remind us that that marketplace is best protected by the governed and the government. The Nordyke three-judge panel suggested that a fundamental rights analysis (i.e., strict scrutiny) should be applied to the Second Amendment in much the same way as the First Amendment. Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 458, n.19. Instances of government action surviving strict scrutiny are rare and have historically been confined to equal protection and racial classification schemes. See Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944), and Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003). With the Heller presumption that long standing regulations will survive strict scrutiny, Heller, at 128 S. Ct. 2816-17, it becomes imperative to define the compelling government interest at stake in Second Amendment cases. Future judges who take up the “loaded weapon” described in Justice Jackson’s dissent in Korematsu, at 323 U.S. 246, need to know how to use strict scrutiny in a safe and responsible manner. Prevention, and if that fails, prosecution of criminal violence should be the only compelling 23 justification for infringing the individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Background checks to prevent violent and mentally unstable persons from acquiring firearms are the quintessential means for achieving this government interest. Rules that make sensitive places like courthouses, jails, and prisons off limits to private firearms, where the government must exercise a monopoly of force – because that is the function of the building – probably pass constitutional muster. This might be a Second Amendment analogue to the First Amendment’s anecdote about shouting fire in a crowded theater. Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 39 (1919). Rules regulating, but not prohibiting, the carrying of firearms in non-sensitive places, should probably take the form of non-discretionary, ministerial duties, not unlike issuing a driver’s license or parade permit. See Forsyth County v. The Nationalist Movement, 505 U.S. 123 (1992). Though for a contrary view, see the state Constitutions of Vermont (Vt. Const. ch. 1, art. 16) and Alaska (Alaska Const. art. 1, § 19). Maintaining uniformity in the application, operation, and interpretation of laws that touch on fundamental rights, especially in the context of criminal law, is another important constitutional value that should apply equally to all fundamental rights. See generally, Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000). Of course this must be done in a way that recognizes that states have legitimate interests in addressing their own policy considerations. Danforth v. Minn., 552 U.S. 264 (2007). The Nordyke case initially had a preemption claim. Nordyke, at 563 F.3d 444. In 2000, the Ninth Circuit certified to the California Supreme Court the question 24 whether state laws regulating gun shows and the possession of firearms preempted the Ordinance. See Nordyke v. King, 229 F.3d 1266 (9th Cir. 2000). The California Supreme Court answered that the Ordinance was not preempted. See Nordyke v. King, 27 Cal. 4th 875, 118 Cal. Rptr. 2d 761. That all occurred before Heller. When she was sitting on that Court, Associate Justice Janice Rogers Brown (currently of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals) dissented from the finding of “no preemption” – in part – because her colleagues on the California Supreme Court refused to analogize the rights of the gun show promoters to core First Amendment rights. At the time of that decision, the law in the Ninth Circuit was that individuals had no standing to assert Second Amendment rights. Hickman v. Block, 81 F.3d 98 (9th Cir. 1996). Furthermore, the State of California does not recognized a right to keep and bear arms in its own State Constitution. See Kasler v. Lockyer, 23 Cal. 4th 472, 480 (2000).10 Justice Brown went on to warn that even small intrusions on liberty can erode personal freedom just as surely as the malignant acts of dictators. See Nordyke v. King, at 118 Cal. Rptr. 2d 768-69. Her point was that uniformity of law was as much a component of liberty as the underlying substantive constitutional right. At a minimum state laws that trench on the right to keep and bear arms should be uniform within their respective jurisdictions. 10 This was another case addressing equal protection and the right to keep and bear arms, in which Justice Brown also wrote a dissent. Kasler v. Lockyer, 23 Cal.4th 472, 503-10 (2000). 25 An opinion in the McDonald case that incorporates the Second Amendment against the states, but which also includes a holding that all laws regulating the “right to keep and bear arms” must be uniform within each state serves the following functions: (1) Since firearms are ubiquitous, exercising the right to possess firearms should not conflict with the right of intrastate travel11; (2) law-abiding firearm owners need only acquaint themselves with federal and state laws, instead of being held criminally accountable in every town, city, county, and parish they travel through within their state while exercising a fundamental right; and (3) instead of the municipal codes of tens of thousands of cities and counties being subjected to challenges under the Second Amendment, a constitutionally recognized, baseline preemption of “the right to keep and bear arms” that funnels down those challenges to the bodies of law of 50 states plus one federal body of law, strangles the majority of potential lawsuits in their crib.12 Turning to a conventional analysis, based on case law, of the Chicago Municipal Code challenged in the Mc Donald case: (1) The handgun ban is D.O.A. via Heller upon a finding that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments under either theory of incorporation; (2) The re-registration scheme, with its forfeiture consequences and arbitrary 11 Interstate travel with firearms is already protected by the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 99-308, 100 Stat. 449 (1986). 12 This would be the corollary application of the principle at work in the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, Public Law 109-92; 15 U.S.C. § 7901-7903. 26 deadlines, would not even pass rational basis review under United States v. Carolene Products Co., 304 U.S. 144 (1938). See also: Lawrence v. Tex., 539 U.S. 558 (2003), which applied a kind-of rational basis test by refusing to apply intermediate or strict scrutiny to laws infringing on sexual intimacy; (3) The fee requirements are fatally tied to the re-registration scheme, but probably still fail as a special tax that burdens a constitutional right. See generally: Minneapolis Star & Tribune Co. v. Minn. Commissioner of Revenue, 460 U.S. 575 (1983). Scrutiny of Chicago’s gun laws in the abstract should start with a presumption of invalidity to the extent that Illinois State law already regulates “the right to keep and bear arms.” That would assume Illinois state law meets a compelling government interest test and that those laws are necessary to address that interest.13 The Second Amendment, as an equally dignified part of the Bill of Rights, deserves at least this level of judicial scrutiny. V. CONCLUSION This renaissance of the Second Amendment must be vigorous, principled and complete. The Bill of Rights 13 See Nonsubstance Reorganization of Deadly Weapon Statutes, Calif. Law Revision Commission (June 2009). In response to a veto message on SB 1140 (Scott)(2004) by California Gov. Schwarzenegger, citing byzantine complexities in his state’s firearms laws, the legislature commissioned this study to revise and simplify California’s Deadly Weapons Control Act. http://www.clrc.ca.gov/pub/Printed-Reports/RECpp-M300. pdf 27 will only work if virtuous citizens are exercising all of their rights as actual limitations on government. The Court can, and should, take this opportunity to provide all of the jurisdictions in this country with rules for judicial scrutiny of the Second Amendment, at the same time it takes up the issue of incorporation. Associate Justice Hugo L. Black liked to say that written constitutions are indigenous to the United States, and that the consequences of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights were already taken into account by those who wrote and ratified that document. He went on to warn against the danger of granting any branch of government the power to balance its interests against the rights of the people. In his iconic speech14 on the Bill of Rights, Justice Black quoted one of his heroes, Thomas Jefferson, to remind us that, “Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” In that same speech, Justice Black gave us a (reverse) countdown of the “absolute” constitutional values set forth in the Bill of Rights. He did not patronize the Second Amendment as less than absolute, so long as the arms that are regulated (not banned) are necessary to a well-regulated militia.15 14 James Madison Lecture at New York University School of Law on February 17, 1960. Black, Hugo L., The Bill of Rights, 35 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 865 (1960). 15 Having served in the Senate when the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) was passed and on the Supreme Court when United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939), was decided, Justice Black was in a unique 28 Justice Black’s dissent in Adamson v. California, 332 U.S. 46 (1947), is emerging as the inevitable standard for application of at least the Bill of Rights to state action, even though Privileges or Immunities incorporation may subsume more than those Ten Constitutional Commandments. Corfield v. Coryell, 6 F. Cas. 546 (C.C.E.D. Pa. 1823). The contest on the Court between the “balancers” and the “absolutists” evolved into the present day three-tiered approach to constitutional rights. In order to keep one-tenth of the Bill of Rights from becoming a “blank paper by construction” this Court should define the contours of judicial scrutiny for the Second Amendment along side the incorporation question. Respectfully Submitted, DONALD KILMER * LAW OFFICES OF DONALD KILMER , APC 1645 Willow Street, Suite 150 San Jose, CA 95125 (408) 264-8489 JASON DAVIS DAVIS & ASSOCIATES 27281 Las Ramblas, Suite 200 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (949) 310-0817 *Counsel of Record position to expound on the relationship between mere regulatory legislation (i.e., the taxing of machine guns and short-barreled shotguns) and the absolute protections afforded individuals by all of the Bill of Rights as against government action infringing any one of those rights.