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March 18, 2013, 01:39 PM | #101 | |
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The problem is that all three of the rights used by statute are political rights and not fundamental rights. |
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March 18, 2013, 01:53 PM | #102 |
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Those are the rights used right now. There are other rights that are recognized by the courts as civil rights.
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March 18, 2013, 02:10 PM | #103 | |
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April 6, 2013, 01:28 PM | #104 |
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Hi,
I'm new here, and after reading this thread, I've decided to join and throw in my 'two cents'. Hope it's worth more. I wrote an email to the attorney handling this case before joining, but he has not responded. I wasn't sure if the information I provided was useful, or should be kept 'secret', but since he hasn't responded, I'm assuming my info wasn't much help. So, I will share it here. Much of this discussion has focused on 'civil rights', specifically the three core 'civil rights' of (jury, voting, and public office). The feds claim that under California law, none of these rights are lost due to a misdemeanor MDVC, therefore they cannot be restored within the definition of Lautenberg even with expungement. Hence, no restoration of 'civil rights' then no 'gun rights' either. However, the feds are wrong. To this date, I have not found anyone present this angle, or argue it in a Lautenberg case as related to California: In California, just about anyone can become a Notary Public. But most people don't realize that a Notary Public is a 'public officer' commissioned by the Secratary Of State. It is well established that a Notary Public is considered 'holding public office' (a core civil right as recognized by Lautenberg). However, an applicant will be denied if convicted under misdemeanor Penal Code 273.5 (Some degree of domestic violence). Even an existing Notary Public will have his/her commission revoked/suspended if convicted of MDVC during their tenure. A person convicted of a MDVC cannot be commissioned for Notary Public until after 5 years since their sentence has ended AND they have had their conviction EXPUNGED with a certificate of rehabilitation per PC 1203.4. This is all outlined on the Secretary Of State's website and PDF file here: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notar...lines-2012.pdf It appears that under a MDVC one of the three core civil rights is lost, and restored. Now, someone may try to argue that it's only 'one' civil right lost, and not all three, and therefore not considered a 'full' loss. Ok. Allow me to point you to documents submitted by the federal attorney in the Enos case. In the following documents the fed attorney representing the defendant U.S., argues about a previous 9th Circuit decision regarding the state of Washington. He acknowledges that a felon had all his civil rights restored after a expungement or pardon (vote, jury duty, hold public office), with one little exception. The ex-convict could not specifically hold office as a county sheriff. Therefore, even though his other core civil rights were intact, he was still considered a prohibited person under federal law from possessing a firearm since he could not hold the 'public office' of sheriff. Pay particular attention to the final paragraph, as it uses the word 'or'. This is the government's own argument, using their own choice of words. BENJAMIN B. WAGNER United States Attorney EDWARD A. OLSEN, CSBN 214150 Assistant United States Attorney RICHARD ENOS, JEFF BASTASINI, LOUIE MERCADO, WALTER GROVES, MANUEL MONTEIRO, EDWARD ERIKSON, VERNON NEWMAN, Plaintiffs, v. ERIC HOLDER, as United States Attorney General, and ROBERT MUELLER, III, as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defendants. CASE NO. 2:10-CV-02911-JAM-EFB MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS Date: November 16, 2011 Time: 9:30 a.m. Place: Courtroom 6, 14th Floor Judge: John A. Mendez (excerpt from page 13): ...The fact that a state has restored an individual’s right to possess firearms is insufficient. In Andaverde, the Ninth Circuit addressed this very issue in the context of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), the felon-in-possession statute, as follows: Andaverde first argues that, because Washington state law did not prohibit him from possessing a shotgun, he should be considered as having had his civil rights restored. Therefore, Andaverde contends, his conviction is not a conviction for § 922(g)(1)’s purposes. Andaverde is incorrect. In determining whether a felon continues to suffer a civil rights disability, the Ninth Circuit considers whether the felon has been restored the right to vote, sit on a jury, and hold public office. United States v. Meeks, 987 F.2d 575, 578 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 919, 114 S. Ct. 314, 126 L.Ed.2d 261 (1993); United States v. Dahms, 938 F.2d 131, 133 (9th Cir. 1991). Andaverde contends that this restoration analysis should turn on whether state law restores the right to bear arms. Even if, in determining whether a felon’s civil rights have been restored, the court should look to state law giving felons the right to bear arms, the restoration of this single right does not prevent prosecution under § 922(g)(1). A restoration of rights must be “substantial,” not merely de minimus. Meeks, 987 F.2d at 578; Dahms, 938 F.2d at 133. We held in Meeks that, under Missouri law, which allowed convicted felons to vote and hold office, but which did not restore the right to serve on a jury, to hold office as a sheriff, or to be a highway patrol officer, the defendant had not had his civil rights “substantially restored” and thus could be prosecuted under § 922(g)(1). Meeks, 987 F.2d at 578. Andaverde, 64 F.3d at 1309 (internal footnote omitted); see also United States v. Valerio, 441 F.3d 837, 843 (9th Cir. 2006) (noting that the individual’s right to vote and right to possess firearms had been restored, but holding “that is not enough”); Brailey, 408 F.3d at 613 (“Because Brailey’s misdemeanor conviction did not remove Brailey’s core civil rights of voting, serving as a juror, or holding public office, his civil rights have not been ‘restored’ within the meaning of federal law by Utah’s 2000 amendment permitting him to possess a firearm.”); United States v. Leuschen, 395 F.3d 155, 160 (3d Cir. 2005) (stating that “[t]he absence of firearms restrictions, however, becomes relevant only if the convict’s core civil rights have been restored” and “[i]f the defendant ‘has not “had his civil rights restored,” it simply does not matter what the state law provides concerning possession of firearms.’”) (quoting Thomas, 991 F.2d at 211). I hope this helps, and someone finds it useful. |
April 26, 2013, 03:12 PM | #105 |
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@Bakyfr
PC 1203.4 used to restore your firearms rights in CA. But the BATFE has stepped in and declared that they do not consider 1203.4 to be one of the remedies described in the federal code. They say that 1203.4 does not specifically state that firearms rights are restored.
In CA your firearms rights are supposed to be restored by default 10 years after conviction (or completion of your sentence?). So if both 10 years has past, and you got a 1203.4 (to satisfy the federal remedy language), shouldn't the two together satisfy? |
April 28, 2013, 03:28 AM | #106 |
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From my limited understanding, and the informed discussion of this thread, the restoration of gun rights under California law is not recognized by the feds.
Alone and by itself, loss of gun rights is not considered a loss of a civil right. The feds only recognize the 3 core civil rights of jury duty, voting, and holding public office. A misdemeanor conviction does not cause the loss of those 3 rights. However, I have recently discovered that is not true. So a 1203.4 expungement even if it specifically indicates restoration of gun rights is not recognized by the feds. However, as I pointed out in my previous post, a misdemeanor conviction does cause the loss of the right to "hold public office" as a Notary Public. This right can only be restored with expungement under 1203.4. Therefore this now would qualify the convicted individual to properly show that one of the 3 core civil rights was lost and restored, thus qualifying him to regain gun rights under Lautenberg. |
October 14, 2013, 01:10 PM | #107 |
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SB 127
Both AB 1131 and SB 127 provide for a time period after which the offending person is no longer considered to be prohibited. Why can't Lautenberg be amended to include a specific period of time? If I'm not mistaken, they also provide a mechanism to apply for relief... so apparently funds do exist.
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October 14, 2013, 01:22 PM | #108 | |
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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November 20, 2013, 10:55 AM | #109 |
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The process in this appeals case has just been made harder.
A panel on the 9th Circuit handed down an appeals case this past Monday: USA V. DANIEL CHOVAN Judge Pregerson wrote the opinion for the Majority with Judge Bea writing a concurring opinion that disagreed with the majority in several respects. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that Mr. Chovan did not lose his "core" civil rights (Voting, Jury Duty and Ability to Hold Elected Office). The CA statute at issue does not restore these civil rights (as they were never "lost"). Therefore his only avenues of relief was to have the conviction (1) expunged, (2) set aside or to have been (3) pardoned. The Plaintiff/Appellant did not attempt these alternate routes of relief. The majority used Intermediate Scrutiny in upholding the law. Judge Bea's concurrence would have set the bar at Strict Scrutiny, but would have ruled that the Federal Statutes pass that test. |
November 20, 2013, 01:41 PM | #110 | ||
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Scalia's "presumptively lawful" and "longstanding" language continues to haunt us, and the 9th Circuit has decided that someone convicted of domestic violence is not a "law-abiding, responsible" citizen.
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We really need to hear something from the Supreme Court regarding a standard of scrutiny, since intermediate scrutiny can be used to justify nearly anything. Quote:
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November 20, 2013, 05:28 PM | #111 |
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Not only is Chovan not a good plaintiff, but this was a published opinion and therefore is citable precedent (within the CA9).
Bad plaintiff and bad cases, makes for bad caselaw. |
November 20, 2013, 09:08 PM | #112 |
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Set Aside?
In the attachment to post #109, Al, it says:
Section 922(g)(9) establishes two exceptions under which the statute will no longer apply: (1) “if the conviction has been expunged or set aside”; or (2) if the offender “has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored (if the law of the applicable jurisdiction provides for the loss of civil rights under such an offense).” 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(33)(B)(ii)." On my CA 1203.4 documents, the judge wrote "plea set aside, probation terminated". This, I think, is what we need to go after -- why CA 1203.4 is not considered to be relief as described in 921(a)(33)(B)(ii). Last edited by Cosmo; November 20, 2013 at 09:13 PM. |
November 21, 2013, 12:22 AM | #113 | ||
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Quote:
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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November 21, 2013, 12:31 AM | #114 |
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Yea, except in the past people were able to get relief from 1203.4, until the BATFE stepped in and said it's a no go. So are those people who got relief and were told they can purchase/posses firearms now in violation of the law again?
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November 21, 2013, 12:36 AM | #115 | |
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Quote:
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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November 21, 2013, 01:02 AM | #116 |
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Well, I was just looking for the site where I saw references to people, in the past, getting relief by way of 1203.4, and came across this: http://www.calgunlaws.com/wp-content...-After-All.pdf
Interesting. |
November 21, 2013, 01:19 AM | #117 |
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Okay, but (1) that involves a specific restoration of firearms rights under Penal Code 12021; (2) it says nothing about the federal government not recognizing the particular removal of firearms disability under state law; and (3) involves a specific determination that the crime involved was not a crime of domestic violence.
The thing is that the details really matter.
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
November 21, 2013, 02:15 AM | #118 | |
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I have been quite interested in this unconstitutional law for a long number of years.
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What is worse, is that there are actual INCENTIVES to falsely report. I see it all the time in the military. Don't like your unit? Location? Job? Commander? Other Soldiers? You can get re-assigned or screw over adversaries by falsely reporting assaults. In the civilian world, there has been movement to pay 'poor' women's bills, rent, phone, utilities if they report assaults. Oh, and let's not forget custody and property. Judges tend to favor women, especially when the man is 'abusive' and 'threatening' toward her. Emotional females who can whip up some tears and lie convincingly that the jerk husband/boyfriend pointed a gun at her... well they are going to have a better chance at keeping the 1) kids, 2) house, 3) savings, 4) car and 5) a lot of other property. And here's the best part. It requires no evidence other than an allegation. Yup. Just an allegation. "He did something..." That kicks the whole thing off. And it's just horrible. In my profession, I have seen countless false allegations of rape and sex assault where there was clear incentive for the woman to fabricate the assault or rape (she's married and got caught, she was drinking illegally, she was caught with drugs, reputation, etc.). The ramifications are horrible and the evidence required to convict is so minimal. Oh, and there is no such thing as a fair trial. The rules are not even and totally favor the 'victim.' If you want to know more, I will share... but I could list about a dozen reasons why it's a stacked deck against the accused/defendant. Our society is just crumbling away ... Lautenberg is one of the most horrible laws ever written and should be so narrowly tailored and applied, if not all together stricken as unconstitutional. And it goes hand in hand with the horrible application of sex assault/rape prosecutions and the unfair divorce proceedings - this should concern EVERY man because it's nearly universally against men. Last edited by leadcounsel; November 21, 2013 at 03:26 AM. |
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November 21, 2013, 10:11 AM | #119 |
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What's almost as bad if not worse is I know a guy who was the victim of DV. His spouse was abusive and manipulative. When he tried to file charges all she did was say she fought back and he spent time in jail and recieved a reputation as a wife beater...
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November 21, 2013, 04:27 PM | #120 | |
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As far as the rest of the post by LeadCounsel, I'll just say that cases are fact specific. I had a client going through a contentious custody battle (a LONG time ago) and the estranged wife accused him of assaulting her a week before the hearing on temporary custody. She used that to gain temporary custody (handled by another attorney in the firm, I handled the criminal charge). At the criminal trial, the presiding judge ruled we could use none of this to show motive for the wife to lie. I persisted on asking and my client persisted on answering. It's the closest I've ever come to going to jail but he judge's ruling was a complete mockery and a clear constitutional violation. The jury acquitted. On the other hand, I am also aware that many times, women do not report rapes and other sexual assaults due to embarrassment and fear. If they report it, they often risk opening up intimate details of their sex lives to complete strangers. Child sexual abuse, most often perpetrated by trusted family members or authority figures, is rarely reported immediately and corroborating physical evidence may be difficult to obtain. Sex crimes, by their very nature, are committed in private. Dismissing reports of crimes simply because they consist of "mere allegations" is cutting too broad a swath. A lot of crimes are prosecuted on "mere allegation." Overall the criminal justice system works. Sometimes there are warts but that means we need to work on the warts and not cut off the hand. |
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November 21, 2013, 05:14 PM | #121 |
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Serious consequences can result from these types of allegations. Prison. Felon. Lost gun and voting and civil rights. Sex offender registry. Restictions on rights. Probably among the worst stigmas. Seems like requiring more evidence than mere allegation is warranted. Perhaps people would be more inclined to not put themselves in bad situations... make wiser decisions on who and where you date, party, marry, have kids with, etc. Sorta 'you made you bed' policy of personal accountability.... something we have strayed from.
Frankly 'victims' often are partly responsible, but always immune from any personal responsibility for contributing to the situation. |
November 22, 2013, 03:40 PM | #122 |
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This thread is about the case at hand and the law it challenges. Posts about general victimization and victimhood are off topic.
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