Gonzalez v. Vill. of W. Milwaukee, No. 10-2356 (7th Cir. 2012)
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Plaintiff, active in Wisconsin’s "open carry" movement, carried a holstered handgun into stores and was arrested for disorderly conduct. His gun was confiscated, but eventually returned. He was not prosecuted. He sued arresting officers and municipalities under 42 U .S.C. 1983, asserting false. He claimed retention of his guns was an unconstitutional seizure and violation of the Privacy Act because officers obtained his Social Security number during booking. The district court granted defendants summary judgment on all claims. In 2011, Wisconsin adopted a concealed-carry permitting regime and amended its statutes to clarify that openly carrying a firearm is not disorderly conduct absent circumstances indicating criminal or malicious intent. WIS. STAT. 947.01(2). Also in 2011, plaintiff was convicted of homicide, mooting his claim for prospective declaratory relief. The Seventh Circuit affirmed with respect to damages claims. The officers are entitled to qualified immunity. At the time, the state constitutional right to bear arms was new, Wisconsin law was unclear, and the Supreme Court had not decided a case applying the Second Amendment to States. It was reasonable for officers to believe that the circumstances gave them probable cause for a disorderly conduct arrest. Delayed return of the handguns was not a "seizure."
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