90-3
Opinion 90-3
Cite as Idaho Op. Att'y Gen. No. 90-3
~
.~'
-~ ...
C7Cl'" t",
' :..'
.
.....
'
(
STATE OF IDAHO
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
JIM JONES
ATTORNEY GENERAL
BOISE 83720
ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO.
90-3
TELEPHONE
12081 334-2400
TO: Mr. Terry Thompson
Fremont County Sheriff
Law Enforcement Building
st. Anthony,
ID
83445
Per Request for Attorney General's Opinion
QUESTION PRESENTED:
The 1990 Centennial Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1535, as
twice amended.
The bill dealt with the issuance of licenses to
carry concealed weapons.
Your question is whether this bill,
now
codified at Idaho Code
§ 18-3302 is constitutional.
CONCLUSION:
Idaho
Code
§
18-3302
is
unconstitutional
because it will
force
a person of
common intelligence to guess as to whether or
not he or she will be in violation of the
law.
Further, it is
unconstitutional because it does not provide proper standards for
the
persons
charged
with
applying
the
statute,
in
some
cases
forcing them to guess at its meaning,
and in other cases granting
them
unfettered
discretion
as
to
its
implementation.
Where
possible,
in
an
effort
to
answer
concerns
raised
regarding
interpretation of the statute,
an opinion will be rendered as to
those portions of the law capable of being analyzed legally.
(
-Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 2
.i\NJ..LYSIS:
I.
The statutory scheme
Idaho
Code
§
18-3302,
effective JUly
I,
1990,
purports to
regulate the
carrying
of
concealed
weapons.
The statute sets
forth
a
licensing
scheme which is to be
implemented by Idaho's
county sheriffs.
Assuming that
a person meets the requirements
of the law,
a sheriff must issue a license to that person within
sixty days
of application.
Failure to
do
so will
sUbject the
sheriff
to
injunctive
relief,
costs
and
attorneys
fees.
No
adequate
scheme is set forth
for modification or revocation of
the concealed weapons license.
The license issued by a sheriff will be effective throughout
Idaho.
No standards have been set forth for the regulation of
the
licenses
themselves.
The
licenses
are
not
limited to
the
carrying
of
firearms.
Any
and
all
deadly
weapons
may
be
concealed upon
licensure,
except for rifles
and
shotguns.
The
statute does not limit
the class, type or number of such weapons
that may be carried.
A series of exceptions are set forth that allow a sheriff to
deny
a
"citizen' s
constitutional
right
to
bear
arms."
The
statute
also
exempts
certain
classes
of
persons
from
the
application of the licensing process.
Any person found guilty of
carrying a concealed weapon in violation of the statute will be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
II.
Constitutional Law and Concealed Weapons
There is nothing in the United states or Idaho constitutions
that grants a person a constitutional right to carry a concealed
weapon.
Indeed,
art.
1,
§
11,
of
the
Idaho
Constitution
specifically empowers the legislature to pass "laws to govern the
carrying of weapons concealed on the person.... "
On the federal
level, the United states Supreme Court has stated that concealed
weapons may be regulated without violating the second amendment.
Robertson v.
Baldwin,
165 U.S.
275,
17 S.ct.
326,
41 L.Ed.
715
(1897) .
Hence, the language in Idaho Code
§ 18-3302(1)
implying that
one
has
a
constitutional
right
to
carry
concealed
weapons
is
without foundation in the context it is used.
--
(
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 3
III. Vagueness
' ..~....~.
The united States
and
Idaho
Supreme Courts
have
both held
that criminal and non-criminal statutes will be unconstitutional
under
the
due
process
clause
where
the
language
used
in
the
statute
does
not
convey
sUfficiently
definite
warning
as
to
proscribed
conduct.
In
other
words,
where
persons
of
common
intelligence
must
necessarily
guess
at its
meaning,
a
statute
will be void for vagueness.
Keyishian v.
Board of Regents,
385
U.S.
589,
87 S.ct.
675,
17 L.Ed.2d 629
(1967);
H & V Engineering
v.
Board of Professional Engineers,
113
Idaho
646,
747
P.2d
55
(1987) .
The
requirement
that
government
articulate
its
aims
with a reasonable degree of clarity ensures that state
power
will
be
exercised
only
on
behalf
of
policies
reflecting
an
authoritative
choice
among
competing
social
values,
reduces
the
danger
of
caprice
and
discrimination
in
the
administration
of
the
laws,
enables
individuals
to
conform their
conduct
to
the
requirements
of
law,
and
permits
meaningful
jUdicial
revie'tl.
Roberts v.
united states Jaycees,
468 U.s.
609,
104 S.ct.
3244,
82 L.Ed.2d 462,
479
(1984).
As
recognized
in
Roberts,
the
doctrine
is
not
only
applicable to those persons who may face prosecution for a crime,
or who
may run afoul of the policies of
a
licensing board,
but
also to the persons
who are
charged with administering the
law
and its policies.
Hence, it has been held that a statute is too
vague when it contains
no explicit standards for application so
that
a
danger
of
arbitrary
and
capricious
enforcement
exists,
LDS,
Inc.
v.
Healy,
589 P.2d
490
(Colo.
1979),
and where basic
policy
matters
have
been
delegated
to
individuals
or
groups
vlithout
explicit
standards
for
those
who
apply
them,
Tuma
v.
Board of Nursing,
100 Idaho 74,
593 P.2d 711
(1979); Saxon Coffee
Shop,
Inc.
v.
Boston
Licensing
Board,
407
N.E.2d
311
(Mass.
1980).
See also Chief of Fire Dept. of Worcester v. Wibley,
507
N.E.2d 256
(Mass.
1987),
and Wheeler v. State Board of Forestry,
192 Cal.Rptr.
693
(Cal.App. 1983).
Where the
above mentioned conditions exist,
those portions
of
a
statutory
scheme
that
violate
the
doctrine
will
be
invalidated as unconstitutional.
(
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 4
IV.
Application
of
the
Vagueness
Doctrine
to
Idaho
Code
§ 18-3302
..
~..,.'Subsection
(1)
of the statute mandates a sheriff to issue a
concealed
weapons
license
to
a
person
"for
the
purpose
of
protection
or
while
engaged
in
business r
sport
or
while
traveling" (sic).
No guidance is given the sheriff as to whether
a
different
license
is
required
for
each
of
the
various
activities
contemplated
in
the
statute.
More
important r
no
standards
are
set
forth
to
guide
the
sheriff
in
the
crucial
decision
as
to
when to
issue
a
license
in
a
particular
case.
Nothing
is
stated
as
to
the
quantum
of
proof
a
sheriff
may
require a person to produce to show a need for such a permit for
protection r
business or sport activities.
The sheriffs are left
to
decide
for
themselves
on
a
case
by
case r
county
by
county
basis r whether or not to grant a license.
The
issue
of
proof
of
need
for
personal
protection
has
proved to
be difficult in
some states.
However r
many of these
states
have articulated standards
for
licensing agencies to
go
by.
For
example,
the
District
of
Columbia
adopted
a
policy
requiring a
showing of threats of death or bodily injury and an
investigation
by
the
chief
of
police
as
to
whether
the
allegations
are factual
and
of
a
nature that
can
by protected
against
by
carrying
a
pistol.
See
Jordan
v.
District
of
Columbia,
362
A.2d
114
(D.C.App.
1976).
Maryland requires
an
investigation to determine whether carrying a weapon is necessary
as
a
reasonable precaution against
apprehended danger.
It has
been held in that state that the issue of apprehended danger is
not
to
be
vie'tled
from
a
sUbj ective
standpoint.
Snowden
v.
Handgun
Permit
Review
Board,
413
A.2d
295
(Md.App.
1980).
Pennsylvania also requires a demonstration of need.
See Gardner
v. Jenkins,
541 A.2d 406
(Pa.Cmwlth.
1988).
Conversely,
the
Idaho
citizen
and
the
county
sheriff
are
left
in
the
dark
about
whether
the
legislature
contemplated
similar
requirements.
Therefore r
it
is
entirely
likely
that
licenses will or will not be
issued based upon the vagaries of
individual circumstances and whims of individual sheriffs.
Similarly, it is unclear what the legislature meant by the
terms lIsport ll and Iltravel. 1l
Both the citizen and the sheriff are
forced to guess at whether the sport in question is
limited to
those
involving
the
use
of
weapons,
and
whether
active
participation
is
required,
or
whether
simple
attendance
at
a
spectator
sporting
event
will
entitle
a
person
to
carry
a
concealed
weapon.
As
to
"travel, " it is
unknown whether this
/:
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 5
term contemplates leaving one's hometown,
or includes
a trip to
the grocery store.
Again,
whether
a
license will be issued or
whether
a citizen will be prosecuted will be left to sUbjective
understandings of sheriffs and prosecutors.
SUbsection
(1)
next states that
a
sheriff
may
hold
up
a
license application for ninety days if
a person does not have a
driver's license,
a state identification card, or has not been a
resident for the ninety day period prior to the application date.
After the ninety day waiting period,
the license must issue.
A
close reading
of this portion of the statute
leads
one to the
conclusion that Idaho residency is not required for eligibility
for
a license.
If the legislature intended that licenses issue
only to Idaho residents, it has not clearly achieved that goal by
the wording of this section.
Similarly,
there
is
no
guidance within
the
statute
as to
whether
a
person who wishes to
apply for
a
license must
do
so
within his home county.
without such guidance, it appears that a
person
who
is
denied
a
license
by his
county
sheriff
may try
again
at
another
sheriff's
office.
The
Washington
Attorney
General has interpreted similar language in that state's firearms
law in such a manner.
See Op.Att.Gen.
1983,
No.
21.
Assuming
that the sheriff of the second county grants the license, it will
be valid in the person's home county as well.
If the legislature
intended to keep this "forum shopping" from occurring, it has not
achieved that goal either.
Subsection
(1) then lists thirteen further subsections [(a)-
(m)]
where a person's "constitutional right to bear arms" may be
denied.
[See Part
I
of this
opinion].
Although this
language
actually grants to
some unnamed pUblic entity the power to deny
the right to carry a weapon under any and all circumstances as to
persons
meeting the criteria
of
one
of
the
sUbsections,
it is
likely
that
the
true
legislative
intent
is
that
a
concealed
weapons permit will be denied by the sheriff only if one of the
thirteen categories
apply.
In construing
a
statute,
the
whole
act
must
be
looked at
in
order to
determine
intent.
state
v.
Groseclose,
67 Idaho 71,
171 P.2d 863
(1946).
Subsection
(1) (c)
states that
a license may be denied when
the
applicant
has
been
convicted
of
a
crime
with
a
penalty
exceeding one year.
This will exclude those persons who have had
a withheld judgment for such a crime.
No mention is made of the
effect of the restoration of one's civil rights under Idaho Code
§
19-2604,
after
one
is
discharged
from
probation
or
parole.
However,
as stated above, the ability to carry a concealed weapon
.:
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 6
is not
a right,
but
a matter of grace.
Therefore,
it appears
that the legislature intended
(despite its confusing use of the
phras.e
"right
to
bear
arms")
that
anyone
who
has
ever
been
convicted
of
such
a
crime will
not
be
eligible
to
receive
a
license.
This is the analysis adopted by the federal courts in
the
interpretation
of
similar
language
of
the
federal
law
pertaining to sales of firearms.
Cody v. united states,
460 F.2d
34,
(8th Cir.
1972), cert.
den.
409 U.S.
1010;
Decker v.
Gibson
Products Co.,
679 F.2d 212
(11th Cir. 1982).
See also Washington
Op.Atty.Gen.
1988, No.
10.
Subsection
(1) (e)
allows
a sheriff to deny
a
license where
one is an "unlawful user" of a controlled substance.
The county
sheriffs are given no standards to determine when a person is or
is
not
such
a
user.
It
is
unknown
whether
a
conviction
is
necessary,
as
opposed to confidential intelligence,
reputation,
associations etc.
It is also unclear when the stigma of being an
unlawful user ends.
Whether such a status ends after one week,
one month, or one year,
or after probation or parole, is left to
the policies of forty-four individual sheriffs.
Subsection
(1) (f)
states
that
a
person will
be
denied
a
license when he has
"been adjudicated mentally defective or has
been committed to a mental institution."
It is unclear what the
legislature
intended by using this phrase.
First,
there is
no
method to adjudicate someone mentally defective in Idaho law and,
in any event,
being mentally defective is not the same as being
mentally ill.
Rather, it is the state of being feeble-minded or
slm'i witted.
United states v.
Hansel,
474
F.2d 1120
(8th Cir.
1973).
However,
the statute is not limited to Idaho.
If there
are
any
courts
in
the
United
States
that
make
such
determinations,
then
a
person
so
found will
not
be
capable of
legally obtaining a license.
The rest of the phrase presents a
more perplexing issue.
What is a mental institution,
and what is
required to be considered to have been "committed?"
Again,
the
statute does not resolve the question whether the stigma of being
so adjudicated or committed ever ends.
A
federal
court
interpreting
identical
language
in
the
Federal
Firearms
1-.ct
found
that
a
formal
court
proceeding
was
necessary
in
order
for
a
person to
be
considered
"committed."
united states v. Giardina,
861 F.2d 1334
(5th Cir. 1988).
At the
same time, the Idaho Code refers to voluntary patients as having
been
"admitted,"
while
involuntary patients
are referred to
as
"committed."
Idaho
Code
§§
66-317 (b)
and
(c).
Therefore,
it
appears
that
the
legislature
intended
to
require
a
formal
commitment
by
a
court.
1-.s to the meaning
of the term
"mental
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 7
institution," it appears likely the legislature intended the term
to
be
the
same
as
"facility"
as
defined
in
Idaho
Code
§
66-
317(gY:
a
pUblic
or
private
institution
equipped
to
hold,
evaluate, rehabilitate, or provide care for the mentally ill.
Subsection
(1) (h)
states that a license may be denied where
a
person
has
been
prosecuted
for
a
misdemeanor
"crime
of
violence"
within
three
years
of
the
application.
The
term
"violence"
has
been
defined
as
strength
or
energy
actively
displayed or exerted,
vehement or forcible action,
or an unjust
exercise of force.
state v.
Riley,
83 Idaho 346,
362 P.2d 1075
(1961).
While such misdemeanors as assault and battery clearly
meet
this
definition,
it
is
entirely
unclear
whether
the
legislature intended to include such crimes as resisting arrest/
Idaho
Code
§
18-705/
disturbing the peace
(which includes
such
acts
as
quarreling
and
fighting),
Idaho
Code
§
18-6409/
false
imprisonment,
Idaho
Code
§
18-2901,
discharge
of
an
aimed
firearm,
Idaho
Code
§
18-3305,
injuring another by the careless
use
of
a
firearm,
Idaho
Code
§§
18-3312
and
18-3306/
riotous
conduct near an election place,
Idaho
Code
§
18-2313,
negligent
vehicular manslaughter,
Idaho Code
§
18-4006(3) (c),
or any other
"non-property crime" misdemeanor.
The Washington firearms statutes include the term "crime of
violence. II
Idaho I s
statute
appears
to
be
partially
based
on
these
laws.
However,
Washington
la~{
explicitly
defines
what
crimes
fall
within
the
category
of
"violent."
RCW
9.41.040.
Idaho
has
no
similar
provision.
J..gain,
normally
intelligent
people are forced to guess at the law's application and sheriffs
are left to create sUbjective policies on their own initiative.
Subsections
(1) (i)
and
(m)
deal with persons who are facing
trial or who have received a withheld judgment "for a crime which
would
disqualify
him
from
owning,
possessing
or
receiving
a
firearm."
Such persons may be denied a permit.
No Idaho statute
on its
face would
so disqualify
a person,
nor does
any federal
statute.
However,
18
USC
§
922
states that
persons
who
are
charged
with
or
convicted
of
a
crime
exceeding
one
year
imprisonment
may
be
charged
with
a
federal
crime if
they
are
found
to
ship,
transport
or
receive
a
firearm
which
has
been
involved in interstate commerce or foreign commerce.
Therefore,
in a technical sense, they are "disqualified" from possessing any
firearm
not
entirely
indigenous
to
Idaho.
However,
this
disability
does
not exist for
those given
a
withheld
judgment/
because such a
jUdgment is not
a conviction under Idaho
law and
18 USC
§ 921(a) (20) states that state law will be looked to as to
the definition of the term "conviction."
"Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 8
Putting subsections (c),
(i)
and
(m) together, the following
can.be
saio. -with
some
degree
of
certainty.
If
a
person
is
convicted of
a
felony
(a crime carrying a penalty in excess of
one year),
he will not be entitled to
a license at any time in
the
future.
If
a
person
receives
a
withheld
judgment
for
a
felony,
he may still obtain a license because no Idaho or federal
law
disqualifies
him
from
owning
a
firearm.
If
a
person
is
merely charged with
a
felony,
he is not entitled to
a
license
until he is acquitted or is granted a withheld jUdgment.
After subparts (a)-(m), subsection (1) states that a license
shall be revoked immediately upon conviction "for
a
crime which
makes the person ineligible to own, possess or receive a firearm
or upon a conviction for a violation of this section."
p.s stated
above,
only
conviction
of
a
felony
will
so
disqualify
such
a
person.
A conviction for violation of "this section" appears to
mean
a
conviction
for
carrying
a
concealed
weapon
without
a
license.
The
only
other
mention
of
revocation
in
the
entire
statute is
a passing reference to previous licenses having been
"revoked for cause" in subsection
(13) (f).
No standards are set
forth as to who may revoke the license,
and no method is set up
for keeping track of the status of the licenses.
Even
though
no
one
has
a
constitutional right to
carry
a
concealed weapon,
the state legislature has created a statutory
right to
do
so,
assuming
one is
able to
convince asheriff to
issue a license.
Once such a liberty interest is created, it may
not be taken away without due process of law.
This analysis as to liberty parallels the accepted due
process
analysis
as
to
property.
The
Court
has
consistently held that some kind of hearing is required
at some time before a person is finally deprived of his
property interests.
Wolff v.
McDonnell,
418 U.S.
539,
94 S.Ct.
2963,
41 L.Ed.2d 935,
952
(1974).
Such
procedural
due
process
principles
have
been
held to
apply to the revocation
of
licenses.
In re
RUffalo,
390
U. S.
544,
88
S.Ct.
1222,
20
L.Ed.
20.
117
(1968).
The
fact
that
a
conviction
is
a
predicate
for
such
a
revocation
is
of
no
significance.
Even
though
an
agency
may
immediately
revoke
a
license in such a case, the licensee still must have the right to
request
a
post-revocation hearing to test the propriety of the
revocation.
Dixon v. Love,
431 U.S.
lOS,
97 S.ct 1723,
52 L.Ed.2d
--
.'
(
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 9
172
(1977).
Therefore,
notice and an opportunity to be heard
must
be
glven
before
the
final
revocation
of
the
concealed
weapons license.
Yet, none is provided for in the statute.
While it
can
be
argued that
notice
and
a
hearing
can
be
"read
into"
the
statute
by
implication
in
order
to
make it
constitutional, it remains unclear
who is
supposed to give the
notice and afford the hearing.
It is not known whether it is the
issuing sheriff,
the sheriff of the licensee's home county,
any
other sheriff, or anyone else for that matter.
Nothing is stated
as
to
what
must
be
done to
ensure that the
licensee
does
not
circumvent the
revocation provision
by
immediately
obtaining
a
new license from a different sheriff.
Finally,
the
meaning
of
the
portion
of
the
statute
pertaining
to
when
a
person
becomes
"disqualified"
to
own
a
firearm
is
sUbject
to
varied
interpretation,
depending
upon
a
close
revier,{
of
the
federal
la".,rs.
This
could
lead
various
sheriffs
to
varying
interpretations,
resulting
in
unequal
application of what little standards exist as to revocation.
The
penalty
of
revocation
cannot
be
imposed
for
violations
of
a
standard whose meaning is dependent on surmise or conjecture or
uncontrolled
application
by
the
administrator
imposing
the
penalty.
LDS~ Inc. v.
Healy~ supra.
Because of the
lack of
standards to
ensure procedural
due
process, the lack of guidelines for anyone attempting to revoke a
license,
and
the
lack
of
a
system
to
make
the
revocation
effective,
this
portion
of
the
statute
is
unconstitutionally
vague and in violation of procedural due process principles.
Similarly, the portion of the statute alluding to revocation
for
cause is
a nUllity.
No standards for revocation for
cause
are
given.
It
is
unknown
whether
the
legislature
intended
revocation to occur when a license is obtained by fraud,
where a
license
is
misused,
or
when
an
event
occurs
which
would
have
allowed the sheriff to deny the application in the first place.
Because
none
of
these
matters
is
addressed,
no
revocation for
cause
may
occur.
A license
may
only
be
revoked
for
specific
reasons enumerated in the statute,
and an agency or board may not
create new reasons,
no matter how logical or reasonable.
Atlanta
Attractions~ Inc. v. Massell,
463 F.2d 449
(5th eire
1972).
Subsection
(5)
allows
a
sheriff
to
issue
a
temporary
emergency license for "good cause pending review under subsection
(1) ."
No guidelines are given as to what would constitute good
cause.
Again,
this subsection lends itself to widely divergent
:
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 10
applications based upon the sUbjective analysis of those charged
with applying the statute.
Although some discretion is necessary
in applying_licensing statutes,
where the discretion becomes so
boundless
as
to
virtually
assure
capricious
application,
the
statutory scheme cannot stand.
Tuma v. Board of Nursing,
supra.
This
same logic applies to subsection
(11),
which allows
a
sheriff to issue a permit to persons between the ages of eighteen
and
twenty
one
dependent
upon
the
"judgment"
of
the
sheriff.
Apparently,
a
sheriff
may
grant
such
a
license
whenever
he
decides it is warranted on his
own,
and without any guidelines
from the legislature.
Legislation that
contains
language
so
loose
as
to
leave
overly wide discretion
encourages erratic administration,
turns
individual
impressions
into the yardstick of action,
and bases
regulation
upon
the
beliefs
of
the
individual
administrator
rather
than
law.
Further,
jUdicial
review
is
rendered
inoperative.
Interstate
circuit,
Inc.
v.
city of Dallas,
390
u.s.
225,
88
S.ct.
1298,
20
L.Ed.2d
225
(1968).
For
these
reasons, subsections
(5)
and
(11) are unconstitutionally vague.
Subsection
(7)
states that
one
may
not
carry
a
concealed
weapon without a license except at home or at one's "fixed place
of
business."
It then defines
the
term
"concealed
weapon"
to
include
pistols
or knives
and
"any other
deadly
or
dangerous
weapon."
This
apparently
would
include
caustic
chemicals,
explosives, or anything else that could cause harm.
However, the
law
goes
on to
state that
"[t]he
provisions
of
this
section
shall not apply to
any shotgun or rifle."
This proviso can be
interpreted
in
t·1l0
contradictory
and
mutually
exclusive
ways.
The
first
is
that
a
rifle
or
shotgun
(including
a
sawed
off
shotgun)
is not a concealed weapon and
the entire statute does
not apply to those forms of weapons;
and therefore
a person may
conceal
such weapons
on his person or in his vehicle without
a
license.
The second way is that
a license may never be granted
for
the
carrying
of
a
concealed
rifle
or
shotgun;
therefore
anyone
so
concealing
such
a
weapon
will
be
guilty
of
a
misdemeanor
under
subsection
(14).
It
is
completely
unclear
which of the two interpretations the legislature intended.
This,
again,
leaves
the
sheriff
and
prosecutor
with
individual impressions as
a yardstick in the decision to arrest
and prosecute a person.
Again,
a citizen is forced to guess as
to the law's application,
and when he does so guess, it may not
be the same guess the sheriff makes.
Hence,
a citizen may seek
to obtain
a
license
in
one
county
and
be told that
one is not
(
·Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 11
required.
He may then be arrested in another county by a sheriff
taking
an
opposite
view
of
the
law.
Subsection
(7),
as
it
applJ.es to rifles and shotguns, is unconstitutionally vague.
Subsection
(12) (b)
exempts
lIemployees
of
the
adjutant
general
and
military
division
of
the
state
where
military
membership is a condition of emploYment"
from the application of
the statute.
The question has
been raised
as to whether this
language can be applied to such persons when they are off duty.
In
order
to
find
that
the
exemption
only
applies
to
on-duty
personnel,
one would have to read language into the statute that
is not there.
Because the exemption is clear on its face,
such
an approach would be
improper.
Where
language of
a statute is
clear,
there
is
no
occasion
for
application
of
principles
of
construction.
state
v.
Nab,
112
Idaho
1139,
739
P.2d
438
(Ct.App.
1987).
The only proper answer
(though not necessarily
the logical one) is that all employees are exempted, irrespective
of whether they are on or off duty.
Subsection
(12) (d)
states
that
the
following
persons
are
exempt from the licensing scheme:
1>.ny
person
outside the
limits
of
or
confines
of
any
city,
or
outside
any
mining,
lumbering,
logging
or
railroad camp,
located outside any city,
while engaged
in
la\vful
hunting,
fishing,
trapping
or
other
lawful
outdoor activity that involves the carrying of a weapon
for personal protection.
This
subpart
must
be
read
in
conjunction
with
subsection
(9),
which
states
that
no
one
may
carry
a
concealed
weapon
without
a
license
when
in
a
motor vehicle.
Hence,
it
appears
that anyone who is not in
a car or truck,
who is outdoors,
and
not within city limits or
one of the
camps referred to,
who is
not hunting or fishing or trapping,
must obtain a license unless
they are engaged in a
lawful "activity that involves carrying a
'.'leapon for personal protection."
What this phrase means is not
addressed by the legislature.
There
are
obviously
innumerable
activities
that
can
be
accomplished outdoors,
without
a
car,
outside
a city:
hiking,
boating, farming,
horseback riding, skiing, bicycling, gardening,
camping - the list is endless.
Clearly, the legislature did not
intend
the
exemption
to
apply
to
every
activity
that
can
be
accomplished
outside
the
limits
of
a
city
or
above
referenced
camp.
Considering the relative difference
in acreage
in
Idaho
between
land
outside
and
inside
city
limits,
such
an
:
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 12
interpretation would virtually nullify the very purpose
of the
statute
-
the
statertlide
regulation
of
concealed
weapons.
The
persons residing in unincorporated areas of the state number in
the tens of thousands.
A statute will not be interpreted by a
court in such
a
way that an absurd result ensues,
if possible.
Gavica v. Hanson,
101 Idaho 58,
608 P.2d 861
(1980).
If this is
"activity that
protection? II
activity?
Who
test?
true, then what can be inferred from the phrase:
involves
the
carrying
of
a
weapon
for
personal
Is
transporting
something
of
value
such
an
decides when a particular activity will meet this
Yet again,
a person is left to shift for himself in deciding
whether his actions will
be
exempt
from or in violation of the
law.
Prosecutors and police will have to guess when the law has
been broken,
and persons will be sUbject to criminal prosecution
unequally
and
arbitrarily.
Yet
again,
this
portion
of
the
statute is unconstitutionally vague.
H & V Engineering v.
Board
of Professional Engineers,
supra.
The legislature,
in passing Idaho Code
§
18-3302 has set up
a
regulatory
maze
using
terms
often
lacking
in
objective
measurement.
In some cases, the subsections are extraordinarily
ambiguous.
In others, the vagueness is aggravated by the need to
cross-reference
with
unidentified
state
and
federal
statutes
pertaining to ownership of firearms, restoration of civil rights,
mental health,
fugitives,
illegal aliens,
military affairs etc.
At the
same time,
the statute punishes sheriffs if they make an
error in denying a license by mandating that the sheriff pay for
costs and attorney fees when an injunctive action against him is
successful.
Idaho Code
§ 18-3302(6).
A statute that forbids
or requires the doing of
an act in
terms
so
vague that
persons
must
necessarily differ
as
to its
application "violates the first essential of due process of
la~.;."
Connally v. General Construction co.,
269 U.S.
385,
46 S.Ct.
126,
70 L.Ed.
322
(1922).
In the final analysis, the statute produces
this result in such areas as who may apply for a license, who may
be denied a license,
who is exempt from licensure,
how a license
may be revoked,
and whether a license may be revoked.
When these
vague
portions
of
the
statute
are
severed
from
the rest,
what
remains is a meaningless series of exceptions and subparts having
no independent value.
For these reasons, it is the opinion of the Attorney General
that Idaho Code
§ 18-3302 is unconstitutional in its entirety.
Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 13
AUTHORITIES CONSIDERED:
-.:.........
1.
constitutions
Idaho Constitution, art. 1,
§ 11.
2.
Federal statutes
18 U.S.C.
§ 921(a) (20).
18 U.S.C.
§ 922.
3 .
state statutes
Idaho Code
§ 18-705.
Idaho Code
§ 18-2313.
Idaho Code
§ 18-2901.
Idaho Code
§ 18-3302.
Idaho Code
§ 18-3305.
Idaho Code
§ 18-3306.
Idaho Code
§ 18-3312.
Idaho Code
§ 18-4006.
Idaho Code
§ 18-6409.
Idaho Code
§ 19-2604.
Idaho Code
§ 66-317.
4.
Cases
Atlanta Attractions, Inc.
v. Massell,
463 F.2d 449
(5th Cir.
1972) .
Chief of Fire Department of Worcester v. Wibley,
507 N.E.2d
256
(Mass.
1987).
cody v.
United states,
460
F.2d
34
(8th Cir.
1972),
cert.
den.,
409 U.S.
1010.
Connally v.
General
Construction
Co.,
269
U. S.
385,
46
S.
ct.
126,
70 L.
Ed.
322
(1922).
Decker
v.
Gibson
Products
Co.,
679
F.2d
212
(11th
Cir.
1982).
"Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 14
Dixon v.
Love,
431 U.S.
105,
97
S.
ct.
1723,
52
L.
Ed.
2d
172
(1977).
-(;ardner-~. Jenkins,
541 A.2d 406
(Pa.Crnwlth.
1988).
Gavica v. Hanson,
101 Idaho 58,
608 P.2d 861
(1980).
H
&
V Engineering v.
Board of Professional
Engineers,
113
Idaho 646,
747 P.2d 55
(1987).
Interstate Circuit, Inc. v. City of Dallas,
390 U.S.
225,
88
S. ct.
1298,
20 L.
Ed.
2d 225
(1968).
Jordan
v.
District
of
Columbia,
362
A.2d
114
(D.C.App.
1976) .
Keyishian v.
Board of Regents,
385 U.S.
589,
87 S. ct.
675,
17 L.
Ed.
2d 629
(1967).
LDS, Inc. v. Healy,
589 P.2d 490
(Colo.
1979).
Roberts v.
united states Jaycees,
468
U.S.
609,
104
S.
ct.
3244,
82 L.
Ed.
2d 462,
479
(1984) .
Robertson v. Baldwin,
165 U.S.
275,
17 S. ct.
326,
41 L.
Ed.
715
(1897).
In re Ruffalo,
390 U.S.
544,
88
S.
ct.
1222,
20
L.
Ed.
2d
117
(1968).
Saxon
Coffee
Shop,
Inc.
v.
Boston
Licensing
Board,
407
N.E.2d 311
(Mass.
1980).
Snowden
v.
Handgun
Permit
Review
Board,
413
A.2d
295
(Md.App.
1980).
State v. Groseclose,
67 Idaho 71,
171 P.2d 863
(1946).
State v.
Nab,
112 Idaho 1139,
739 P.2d 438
(Ct.App.
1987).
State v. Riley,
83 Idaho 346,
362 P.2d 1075
(1961).
Tuma v. Board of Nursing,
100 Idaho 74,
593 P.2d 711
(1979).
united States v. Giardina,
861 F.2d 1334
(5th Cir.
1988).
united States v. Hansel,
474 F.2d 1120
(8th Cir.
1973).
(
· Mr. Terry Thompson
Page 15
Wheeler
v.
state
Board
of
Forestry,
192
Cal.
Rptr.
693
(Cal. App_.
1983).
_.:_"i;
_
Wolff v.
McDonnell,
418 U.S.
539,
94 S. ct.
2963,
41 L.
Ed.
2d 935,
952
(1974).
5.
Other
RCW 9.41.040.
Washington Op. Atty.
Gen.
1988,
No. 10.
Washington Op. Atty.
Gen.
1983,
No.
21.
DATED this 12th day of June,
1990.
JIM JONES
Attorney General
State of Idaho
~,
~,
\
\
JIM JONES
(
Analysis by:
MI CHAEL KP..NE
Deputy Attorney General
Chief,
Criminal Law Division
: