State v. Phillip Cole
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2003 WI 112 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: OF WISCONSIN 01-0350-CR COMPLETE TITLE: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Phillip Cole, Defendant-Appellant. ON CERTIFICATION FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: July 15, 2003 November 14, 2002 Circuit Milwaukee Maxine A. White ABRAHAMSON, C.J., concurs (opinion filed). CROOKS, J., concurs (opinion filed). PROSSER, J., concurs (opinion filed). BRADLEY, J., joins Justice Prosser's concurrence. DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: For the defendant-appellant there were briefs and oral argument by Michael K. Gould, assistant state public defender. For the plaintiff-respondent cause was argued by Jeffrey J. Kassel, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was James E. Doyle, attorney general. 2003 WI 112 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 01-0350-CR (L.C. No. 99 CM 10862) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT State of Wisconsin, FILED Plaintiff-Respondent, JUL 15, 2003 v. Phillip Cole, Cornelia G. Clark Clerk of Supreme Court Defendant-Appellant. APPEAL from a judgment and order of the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, Maxine A. White, Judge. ¶1 JON P. WILCOX, J. Affirmed. This case involves a constitutional challenge to Wis. Stat. § 941.23 (1999-2000),1 the state law prohibition against carrying a concealed weapon. challenge is brought by Phillip Cole, who was The convicted under § 941.23 after police found two concealed weapons within the vehicle in which Cole was riding. Cole challenges the constitutionality of the concealed weapons statute in light of 1 All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 1999-2000 version unless otherwise indicated. No. Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin 01-0350-CR Constitution, which guarantees citizens' state constitutional right to bear arms. He claims that the statute is unconstitutional on its face and as applied to him. ¶2 Before trial, Cole pled weapons charge and a drug charge. guilty to the concealed After he was sentenced, Cole filed a motion to vacate the concealed weapons conviction on the basis that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 violates Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin denied. Constitution. The postconviction motion was Cole appealed and the court of appeals certified the matter to this court. We accepted certification, and we now uphold the decision of the circuit court. I ¶3 The facts of this case are not in dispute. On the evening of November 6, 1999, Milwaukee police officers pulled over a vehicle driven by Minko Lewis for an expired registration and a defective brake lamp. Phillip Cole, the defendant in this case, was a passenger in the vehicle. As one of the officers approached the vehicle, he saw Cole conceal an item in the glove compartment. Police searched Cole and the vehicle. found marijuana in Cole's left breast pocket. Officers Police also found a loaded .380 caliber pistol in the glove compartment of the vehicle and a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol beneath the driver's seat. Cole told police that the marijuana was for personal that use and he carried compartment for protection. 2 the .380 in the glove No. ¶4 On carrying May a 12, concealed Wis. Stat. § 941.23 (marijuana) 2000, in and violation Cole pled weapon (CCW) possession of guilty to of in 01-0350-CR charges violation of of tetrahydrocannabinols Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(e).2 The Milwaukee County Circuit Court, the Honorable Maxine A. White, presiding, sentenced Cole to 60 days on the CCW charge and 15 days (concurrent) on the possession charge with Huber privileges. ¶5 On September 29, 2000, Cole filed a motion to vacate his conviction on the concealed weapons charge, alleging that the CCW statute is an unconstitutional constitutional right to bear arms. infringement of his The state constitutional right to bear arms is found in Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution and provides as follows: "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose." art. I, § 25. Wis. Const. Section 941.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which Cole claims violates that provision, states: "Any person except a peace officer who goes armed with a concealed and dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor." ¶6 Charles 2 The F. Milwaukee Kahn, Jr., County Circuit presiding, Court, denied the the Honorable postconviction Wisconsin Stat. § 961.41(3g)(e) provides: If a person possesses or attempts to possess tetrahydrocannabinols included under s. 961.14(4)(t), or a controlled substance analog of tetrahydrocannibinols, the person may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. 3 No. motion, finding the statute to be constitutional. 01-0350-CR Cole appealed and on October 23, 2001, the court of appeals certified the matter to this court. This court then accepted certification on November 27, 2001. ¶7 companion This case was originally scheduled to be decided as a case to State Wis. 2d 134, 645 N.W.2d 264. v. Gonzales, 2002 WI 59, 253 After oral argument in Gonzales, this court decided Gonzales on alternative grounds, finding that Gonzales' challenge to Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution failed because the amendment was not in effect on the day the defendant violated Wis. Stat. § 941.23. In an order dated June 13, 2002, this court then determined that State v. Cole would be held and heard with State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ___ N.W.2d ___. II ¶8 The Wisconsin weapons law in 1872. Legislature first passed a concealed §1, ch. 7, Laws of 1872; see also State v. Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d 654, 671, 594 N.W.2d 780 (1999). As noted in Dundon, the original statute contained several exceptions to the prohibition that were then repealed in 1878.3 3 Dundon, 226 In 1878, the statute, then Wis. Stat. § 4397, provided: Any person who shall go armed with any concealed and dangerous weapon, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not more than six months, or by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: provided, this section shall not apply to any policeman or officer authorized to serve process. 4 No. Wis. 2d at 671-72. 01-0350-CR Since 1878, the CCW statute has remained substantively the same, including only an exception for peace officers.4 ¶9 Id. at 672. Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution was adopted by the citizens of this state in November 1998. Jeffrey Monks, Comment, The End of Gun Control or Protection Against Tyranny?: The Impact of the New Wisconsin Constitutional Right to Bear Arms on State Gun Control Laws, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. 249, 250. It became effective on November Gonzales, 253 Wis. 2d 134, ¶¶8-9, 15, 29-30. 30, 1998. See The amendment was State v. Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d 654, 672, 594 N.W.2d 780 (1999) (quoting Wis. Stat. ch. 181, § 4397 (1878)). 4 Dundon provides a summary of much of Wis. Stat. § 941.23. There the court noted: the history of Section 4397 was renumbered as Wis. Stat. § 340.69 in 1925. § 1, ch. 4, Laws of 1925. In 1953, the legislature repealed § 340.69 and adopted Wis. Stat. § 341.23, a statute very similar to the current statute. § 2, ch. 623, Laws of 1953. In 1955, this statute was repealed and renumbered, with minimal changes, as the current Wis. Stat. § 941.23. § 1, ch. 696, Laws of 1955. Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d 654, 672. In 1969, Wis. Stat. § 941.23 was split into subsections. §§ 1, 2, ch. 272, Laws of 1969. Subsection 1 was substantially the same as what is now the complete statute. In 1977, the legislature amended subsection 1 to change the language from a term of imprisonment to a level of offense, stating that a person going armed with a concealed weapon is "guilty of a Class A misdemeanor." § 37, ch. 173, Laws of 1977. In 1979, the legislature repealed subsection 2 and renumbered Wis. Stat. § 941.23(1) to be simply Wis. Stat. § 941.23, the present statute. See §§ 843g, 843j, ch. 221, Laws of 1979. 5 No. 01-0350-CR approved by a wide margin in the state legislature both times it arose for consideration.5 Wisconsin Legislature, Bulletin of the Proceedings of the 1995-96 Assemb. Sess., at 394-95; Bulletin of the Proceedings of the Wisconsin Legislature, 199798 Assemb. Sess., at 316-17; Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 250 n.10. amendment passed with 74% When put before the voters, the voting in favor of the amendment. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 250 n.10. That is not to say, however, that this amendment passed into law without notice. In fact, some controversy proposed measure and its implications. surrounded the See, e.g., Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. 249 (citing numerous news articles and editorials with a variety of positions on the proposed amendment); Christopher R. McFadden, The Wisconsin Bear Arms Amendment and the Case Against an Absolute Prohibition on Carrying Concealed Weapons, 19 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 709 (1999). 5 Under Article XII, Section 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution, a proposed constitutional amendment must be considered and approved by two successive legislatures before it is presented to the public for referendum approval. Wisconsin Briefs, Constitutional Amendments to be Considered by the Wisconsin Voters, November 3, 1998, LRB-98-WB-10, at 1 (September 1998). The proposed right to bear arms amendment received "first consideration" during the 1995-96 session of the legislature and "second consideration" during the 1997-98 legislature. See Bulletin of the Proceedings of the Wisconsin Legislature, 1995-96 Assemb. Sess., at 394-95; Bulletin of the Proceedings of the Wisconsin Legislature, 1997-98 Assemb. Sess., at 316-17. 6 No. 01-0350-CR III ¶10 this We first address the standards of review applicable in case. question The of constitutionality that law of reviews this court a statute de presents novo, a without deference to the decisions of the circuit court or the court of appeals.6 Aicher v. Wis. Patients Comp. Fund, 2000 WI 98, ¶18, 237 Wis. 2d 99, 613 N.W.2d 849; State v. Post, 197 Wis. 2d 279, 301, 541 N.W.2d 115 (1995); Szarzynski v. YMCA, Camp Minikani, 184 Wis. 2d 875, 883-84, 517 N.W.2d 135 (1994); State v. Fisher, 211 Wis. 2d 665, Guardianships, 669, Inc. 565 v. N.W.2d 565 Ruth N.W.2d 213 (Ct. App. 1995). the constitutional E.J., 196 App. 1997); Wis. 2d 794, Prof. 801, 540 This case requires us to interpret amendment, framers' intentions. (Ct. seeking an indication of the As we have noted: The purpose of construction of a constitutional amendment is to give effect to the intent of the framers and of the people who adopted it; and it is a rule of construction applicable to all constitutions that they are to be construed so as to promote the objects for which they were framed and adopted. Kayden Indus., Inc. v. Murphy, 34 Wis. 2d 718, 729-30, 150 N.W.2d 447 (1967) (quoting Ekern v. Zimmerman, 187 Wis. 180, 184, 204 N.W. 803 (1925)) (internal citations and quotations omitted). For these purposes, this court has established that we utilize should three sources to determine a provision's meaning: 6 Regardless of whether the defendant waived the issue, this court may, in its discretion, address the important constitutional issue raised herein. 7 No. 01-0350-CR the plain meaning of the words in the context used; the constitutional debates and the practices in existence at the time of the writing of the constitution; and the earliest interpretation of the provision by the legislature as manifested in the first law passed following adoption. Thompson v. Craney, 199 Wis. 2d 674, 680, 546 N.W.2d 123 (1996) (citations omitted). ¶11 Generally, legislative enactments presumption of constitutionality. are entitled to a Aicher, 237 Wis. 2d 99, ¶18; Thompson, 199 Wis. 2d at 680; Davis v. Grover, 166 Wis. 2d 501, 520, 480 N.W.2d 460 (1992); State ex rel. Hammermill Paper Co. v. La Plante, 58 Wis. 2d 32, 46, 205 N.W.2d 784 (1973) ("This court has often affirmed constitutionality acts."); Ruth that E.J., the well-established attaches 196 itself Wis. 2d at to presumption all 801. of legislative This court has repeatedly held that it "indulges every presumption to sustain the law if at all possible, and if any doubt exists about a statute's constitutionality, we must resolve that doubt in favor of constitutionality." Aicher, 237 Wis. 2d 99, ¶18 (internal citation also omitted); see Post, 197 Wis. 2d at 301. A petitioner seeking to prove a statute unconstitutional faces a heavy burden. State v. Interstate Blood Wis. 2d 482, 488-89, 222 N.W.2d 912 (1974). strong presumption, constitutionality of unconstitutional it falls a statute beyond a to to the Inc., 65 In the face of a party prove reasonable Bank, that doubt. challenging the statute Aicher, the is 237 Wis. 2d 99, ¶19; Brandmiller v. Arreola, 199 Wis. 2d 528, 536, 544 N.W.2d 894 (1996); Thompson, 199 Wis. 2d at 680; Fisher, 211 8 No. Wis. 2d at 669. This court has noted: 01-0350-CR "It is insufficient to merely establish doubt as to an act's constitutionality nor is it sufficient to establish the act is probably constitutional." Quinn v. Town of N.W.2d 149 (1985). Dodgeville, Wis. 2d 570, 577, 364 If any doubt remains, this court must uphold the statute as constitutional. ¶12 122 Id. Cole argues that the presumption of constitutionality is inapplicable in this case because the CCW statute predates the constitutional amendment. We disagree. The purpose of the presumption of constitutionality does not appear to have any relation to whether constitutional the statute provision. As predates this court or postdates has held: the "The presumption of statutory constitutionality is the product of our recognition that the judiciary is not positioned to make the economic, social, and political decisions that fall within the province of Whether a the legislature." statute predates Aicher, or 237 postdates Wis. 2d 99, a ¶20. constitutional amendment, the legislature is still the more appropriate body for those considerations, and the judiciary rightly presumes the legislature makes such an assessment. ¶13 Rare exceptions to the presumption have been found, particularly where a statute infringes upon First rights or the process of enactment is suspect. Amendment See State v. Weidner, 2000 WI 52, ¶7, 235 Wis. 2d 306, 611 N.W.2d 684; City of Oak Creek v. DNR, 185 Wis. 2d 424, 437, 518 N.W.2d 276 (Ct. App. 1994) presumption ("Although of a statute constitutionality, 9 generally an enjoys exception to a the strong rule No. 01-0350-CR occurs when the behavior of the legislature allegedly violates a law mandating the form (citation omitted)).7 in which bills must be enacted." Even in cases such as Davis, though, where the court was concerned about the procedures of the legislature, the court noted: "If such legislation is passed after full consideration . . . that will be the proper time to engage in the presumption of constitutionality." Davis, 166 Wis. 2d at 524 (internal citation and supplied emphasis omitted). ¶14 Cole cites to Kayden Industries and Schmeling v. Phelps to support his argument that because the amendment came into being after the statute, it should not be entitled to a presumption of constitutionality. We find both of these cases inapposite on this particular point. Kayden has to do with the result As noted by the State, when a new constitutional amendment is inconsistent with prior statutes and common law. See Kayden, 34 Wis. 2d at 731. statute. whether Id. or not The effect is to repeal the This result, however, has nothing to do with a party challenging constitutionality of a statute is relieved of the burden of overcoming a presumption of constitutionality. not the statute The main issue in this case is whether or is, in fact, 7 inconsistent with the See also Davis v. Grover, 166 Wis. 2d 501, 520-21, 480 N.W.2d 460 (1992), in which this court found a presumption of constitutionality appropriate where legislature could be presumed to have "intelligently participate[d] in considering" the relevant bill (citations omitted). In that case, the court was concerned about violation of the procedural requirements of Wisconsin Constitution Article IV, Section 18. Id. at 522. 10 No. constitutional amendment. Kayden would be inconsistency Regarding to and Cole's 01-0350-CR To accept Cole's interpretation of skip over actually the create employment of process of the opposite Schmeling, we determining presumption. agree with the State's assertion that chronology did not dictate the result in that case. In Schmeling v. Phelps, 212 Wis. 2d 898, 909, 569 N.W.2d 784 (Ct. App. 1997), the court of appeals found that where there is a conflict between the language of a statute and the language of the constitution prevails. constitution, the language of the The court of appeals stated: The constitution or a constitutional amendment is of the highest dignity and prevails over legislative acts and court rule to the contrary. Ordinary acts of the legislature, whether adopted before or after the date of the constitution, cannot be given effect if to do so would contravene a substantive provision in the constitution. Id. at 908-09 (emphasis (internal added). Schmeling. The quotations presumption and citations was never issue in As in Kayden, the issue in Schmeling was the proper interpretation when a conflict exists, not ascertaining if there is a conflict at all. Follette an omitted) v. Board of Supervisors of the method of Similarly, in La Milwaukee County, 109 Wis. 2d 621, 629, 327 N.W.2d 161 (Ct. App. 1982), the court of appeals found provision and that where directly statutes predated conflicted with a constitutional the constitutional provision, the constitution prevailed over the statutes. If a conflict exists, it is clear that the constitutional amendment prevails over the inconsistent 11 statute, but before that No. 01-0350-CR determination is made, as in this case, Cole has provided no reason to reject the presumption of constitutionality in this context. ¶15 Cole also cites City of Princeton v. Buckner, 377 S.E.2d 139 (W. Va. 1988), for the proposition that other states have rejected contexts. a presumption of constitutionality in similar In Buckner, 377 S.E.2d at 144, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia held: "A constitutional amendment will supersede any inconsistent portions of antecedent constitutional or statutory provisions, as 'the latest expression of the will of the people.'" (internal citations omitted). to be similar to Schmeling and Kayden. We find Buckner Buckner does not discuss the presumption of constitutionality; rather, it describes the effects if inconsistency exists, a very different question. The application of a presumption of constitutionality does not mean a statute will always survive judicial scrutiny. Even if a statute is presumed constitutional, it will fall if found to be inconsistent with the mandates of the constitution. However, such a conclusion results from overcoming the presumption of constitutionality, not from refusing to apply it. ¶16 While we have found the cases cited above to be unhelpful, at least one other state has dealt with this type of situation in presumption the of context of gun constitutionality. control In laws State and v. applied Comeau, a 448 N.W.2d 595 (Neb. 1989), the Supreme Court of Nebraska recognized a presumption of constitutionality even where the statute at issue predated the constitutional amendment granting the right 12 No. to bear arms. 01-0350-CR Nebraska's "Right to Bear Arms" amendment was adopted at the general election in 1988. Id. at 596. The gun control statutes at issue in the case were all in effect prior to that, statute yet is the court presumed to stated: be "It is fundamental constitutional, and the that burden a of establishing unconstitutionality is on the party attacking its validity." Id. That court constitutionality of the statutes. ¶17 This court has went on to uphold the Id. at 600. consistently used broad describing the presumption of constitutionality. language in Also, we have reaffirmed time and again the general rule that a presumption exists. For example, in Wisconsin precedent, stated: constitutional, and every (internal quoting presumption be indulged to Hammermill, 58 Wis. 2d at Ruth E.J., 196 Wis. 2d at 801, the court of appeals stated: "We all statutes omitted) must In presume quotations court, "All legislative acts are presumed sustain the law if at all possible." 47 this Hammermill, are (emphasis constitutional . . . " citation omitted) (emphasis added). specifically held: added). (internal Further, this court has "All statutes passed and retained by the legislature should be held valid unless the earlier statute is completely repugnant Zawistowski, 95 to the later Wis. 2d 250, 264, enactment." 290 State N.W.2d 303 v. (1980) (emphasis added). It is doubtful, if not inconceivable, that persistent such use unintentional. of It has broadly been inclusive firmly language established has been that "the legislature is presumed to act with full knowledge of existing 13 No. laws." 01-0350-CR State v. Roling, 191 Wis. 2d 754, 762, 530 N.W.2d 434 (Ct. App. 1995). Consequently, we find, as the circuit court did, that the legislature here did not act in a vacuum, but with knowledge of the many existing gun control laws, including the concealed weapons statute.8 ¶18 Given the above analysis demonstrating the general rule favoring application of the presumption and, in addition, finding no valid reason to reject the presumption in this context, we hold that it is appropriate to apply a presumption of constitutionality in this case. As we have noted: We as a court are not concerned with the merits of the legislation under attack. We are not concerned with the wisdom of what the legislature has done. We are judicially concerned only when the statute clearly contravenes some constitutional provision. Hammermill, 58 Wis. 2d at 47 (internal quotations omitted). We again noted in Aicher, 237 Wis. 2d 99, ¶20, that the duty of the court is only to determine whether a statute "clearly and beyond doubt" offends constitutional protections. constitutionality promotes due deference The presumption of to acts of the legislature. ¶19 Cole next argues that this court should apply strict scrutiny, or at least intermediate scrutiny, in determining the constitutionality of Wis. Stat. § 941.23, because the right to 8 Actually, many of these laws provided fodder for the debate over the proposed amendment. See Jeffrey Monks, Comment, The End of Gun Control or Protection Against Tyranny?: The Impact of the New Wisconsin Constitutional Right to Bear Arms on State Gun Control Laws, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. 249, 249-50 n.3-6, 89. 14 No. bear arms is a fundamental constitutional right. questions to bear is 01-0350-CR whether the right arms The State fundamental and asserts that because of the compelling public health and safety reasons for appropriate. the CCW statute, a reasonableness standard is The State notes the reasonableness standard is what most other states have used. ¶20 We find that the state constitutional right to bear arms is fundamental. It is indeed a rare occurrence for the state constitution's Declaration of Rights to be amended. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at See 249. Article I, Section 25 explicitly grants a right to bear arms. Further, there is evidence in the legislative history of the amendment that it individual" right. was intended to grant a "fundamental See Memorandum from Shaun Haas, Senior Staff Attorney, Wis. Legislative Council, Analysis of 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 53 and 1995 Senate Joint Resolution 7, Relating to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (First Consideration) to Wisconsin State Legislators, at Representative David Travis 6 1995) (hereinafter (Oct. 11, and Interested 1995 LCS Memorandum). ¶21 Nevertheless, we do not agree with Cole's position that strict scrutiny or intermediate scrutiny is required in this case. This court has previously recognized that it need not apply strict scrutiny every time a governmental burden upon fundamental rights is implicated. 541. Brandmiller, 199 Wis. 2d at In Brandmiller, this court used an intermediate level of scrutiny, rather than strict 15 scrutiny, to examine the No. constitutionality "cruising" on of municipal certain city ordinances streets, 01-0350-CR that despite prohibited the possible implications upon the fundamental constitution right of travel. Id. at 537-42. We find the precedents of other states, favoring a "reasonable" test, to be persuasive in the context of the right to bear arms. ¶22 to Generally, when other courts have evaluated challenges the validity of gun control statues under state constitutional provisions, the test has been whether the statute constitutes a "reasonable regulation" in light of the state's police powers. See, People e.g., v. Swint, 572 N.W.2d 666 (Mich. Ct. App. 1997); State v. Ricehill, 415 N.W.2d 481 (N.D. 1987). "Police power" is an inherent authority of state governments. Reginald D. v. State, 193 Wis. 2d 299, 308, 533 N.W.2d 181 (1995); Interstate Blood Bank, 65 Wis. 2d at 490; Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 259 n.69. It covers "all matters having a reasonable relation protection of the public health, safety, or welfare." Milk Prods. Co. v. Emery, 178 that have Wis. 147, 153, to the Carnation 189 N.W. 564 (1922). ¶23 Even courts found such a fundamental have used a reasonableness standard. Arnold v. Cleveland, 616 N.E.2d 163 (Ohio 1993). right to be See, e.g., If this court were to utilize a strict scrutiny standard, Wisconsin would be the only state to do so. Wis. L. Rev. at 291. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 We decline such an invitation, because we agree with the courts of various other states that the proper 16 No. question is whether the police power. statute is As noted by Monks: a reasonable 01-0350-CR exercise of "This standard of review is relatively deferential and generally distinct from the type of review that receive." challenges Id. at 259. under other constitutional rights We are persuaded that this standard is appropriate because the interests of public safety involved here are compelling. See id. at 259 n.69-70 (and cases cited therein). ¶24 Cole acknowledges that the right to bear arms is not absolute. Cole has conceded that some regulation is appropriate, but insists that the prohibition of all concealed weapons extends too constitutional right. Section far and impermissibly infringes the In the process of drafting Article I, 25, the legislature was made aware that "no current state constitutional provision guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms has been found to create an absolute right." LCS Memorandum, at 13. the absence of such Further, it has been noted: specific authorization [for 1995 "[E]ven in legislative control], the judiciary has long recognized that the exigencies of society require limits on the scope of the arms right. Michael D. Ridberg, The Impact of State Constitutional Right to Bear Arms Provisions on State Gun Control Legislation, 38 U. Chi. L. Rev. 185, 187 (1970). ¶25 There are few, if any, absolute rights. recognized long ago: "Indeed, most of the As this court legislative acts which fill our statute books detract in some measure from the absolute freedom of the individual to act wholly at the dictate 17 No. 01-0350-CR of his will, and yet are of either decided or fully recognized constitutionality." Zillmer v. Kreutzberg, 114 Wis. 530, 533, 90 N.W. 1098 (1902). Further, [t]he very existence of government renders imperative a power to restrain the individual to some extent. This is called the "police power" . . . . It may be described, though not defined, as the power of the government to regulate conduct and property of some for safety and property of all. Id. at 536-37. using police statute Moreover, this authority to enact legislation power which has been concerns the people . . . ." Id. at 154. in Wis. 2d at Fisher, 211 held to whole "embrace or any every part law of or the As noted by the court of appeals 672, even fundamental rights are subject to reasonable regulation to protect legitimate public interests. The Nebraska Supreme Court agreed: "There are very few rights which are absolute, and this is of necessity. In every phase of everyday experience, there are extremes beyond which some restraint or regulation is necessary for the common good." Comeau, 448 N.W.2d at 597. ¶26 right, as Although Article I, Section 25 creates a fundamental the above analysis shows, subject to reasonable restriction. such a right is still As such, we find the correct test to be whether or not the restriction upon the carrying of concealed weapons is a reasonable exercise of the State's inherent police powers. Such a test should not be mistaken for a rational basis test. The explicit grant of a fundamental right to bear arms clearly requires something more, because the right must not be allowed to become illusory. 18 See State v. No. 01-0350-CR Reid, 1 Ala. 612 (1840); Benjamin v. Bailey, 662 A.2d 1226, 1234 (Conn. 1995); State v. Ricehill, 415 N.W.2d 481, 483 (N.D. 1987); State v. McAdams, 714 P.2d 1236, 1237 (Wyo. 1986). Monks has described the difference: When a state has a right to bear arms amendment, the test generally changes from "Is it a 'reasonable' means of promoting the public welfare?" to "Is it a 'reasonable' limitation on the right to bear arms?" Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 275 n.147; see also Benjamin, 662 A.2d at 1234 ("The constitutional right to bear arms would be illusory, of course, if it could be abrogated entirely on the basis of a mere rational reason for restricting legislation."). ¶27 As we have noted, numerous other jurisdictions have See, e.g., People v. Atencio, applied a reasonableness test. 878 P.2d 147, 149-50 (Colo. Ct. App. 1994); Rawlings v. Illinois Dep't of Law Enforcement, 391 N.E.2d 758, 762-63 (Ill. App. Ct. 1979); Ricehill, 415 N.W.2d at 483; State v. Boyce, 658 P.2d 577, 579 (Or. Ct. App. 1983); McAdams, 714 P.2d at 1237. agree that the reasonableness test is appropriate. We Under circumstances such as those in this case, the reasonableness test focuses on the balance of the interests at stake, rather than merely on whether any conceivable rationale exists under which the legislature may have concluded the law could promote the public welfare. See State v. Hamdan, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ¶¶40- 41, 45 (describing application of the reasonableness standard and various other cases applying the standard); Ridberg, Impact of Right to Bear Arms Provisions, 38 U. Chi. L. Rev. at 202-03 19 No. ("The scope of permissible regulation in states 01-0350-CR with arms provisions is dependent upon a balancing of the public benefit to be derived from the regulation against the degree to which it frustrates the purpose of the provision.").9 IV ¶28 Having laid out the appropriate standards analysis, we move now to application of the test. same task many other state courts have already for our We face the taken on to determine whether, in balancing the authority of the state to enact legislation for the health, safety and welfare of the public as implemented here through the CCW statute against the right to bear unreasonably arms, the legislature impinged the constitutional See, e.g., Dano v. Collins, 802 P.2d has gone right too to far bear and arms. 1021 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1991) (concluding that the prohibition of concealed weapons does not frustrate that state's constitutional right to bear arms). We conclude that the CCW statute is a reasonable regulation on the time, place, and manner in which the right to bear arms may be exercised. It does not unreasonably infringe upon a citizen's ability to exercise the right. 9 Michael D. Ridberg, The Impact of State Constitutional Right to Bear Arms Provisions on State Gun Control Legislation, 38 U. Chi. L. Rev. 185, 187-88 (1970), also notes, regarding the test to apply, that "[t]he range of legislation permissible under the police power is restricted by the notion of reasonableness; both the goals of legislation and the means chosen to achieve those goals must be reasonable in light of the public welfare." 20 No. ¶29 01-0350-CR First, based on the text of the constitution and the legislative history of the amendment, we note our agreement with both parties Constitution right.10 that grants Article an I, Section individual, 25 rather of than the a Wisconsin collective, As already noted, we accept the proposition that the right to bear arms amendment recognized a fundamental right. 10 See Memorandum from Shaun Haas, Senior Staff Attorney, Explanation of 1997 Assembly Joint Resolution 11, Relating to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (Second Consideration) to Interested Legislators, at 2 (January 22, 1997). The 1997 Memorandum to legislators explained the importance of a change that had been made in the language of the proposed constitutional amendment, stating: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 substituted the phrase "The people" for the phrase "Every individual" in order to avoid a possible construction of the constitutional amendment that would preclude the Legislature, in the exercise of its inherent police power to enact laws that limit or infringe upon the right to keep and bear arms, from restricting the possession and use of arms by certain individuals (e.g., convicted felons) in the interest of protecting the health, safety or welfare of the public. Id. Monks provides two additional reasons for this conclusion: . . . [I]n the cases where "the people" was construed as meaning only an aggregate, the court also relied on other words in the amendment to reach this conclusion, such as references to a "militia" or to the "common defense." No such reference is found in the Wisconsin amendment. Rather the enumerated purposes found in the amendment, such as "hunting" and "recreation" suggest that an individual right was intended. Third, and perhaps most important, a right is conferred to "the people" in two other places in the Declaration of Rights. Both the amendment guaranteeing protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and the right to assemble and petition 21 No. ¶30 statute A "facial" means that challenge the to the "challenger 01-0350-CR constitutionality must establish, of a beyond a reasonable doubt, that there are no possible applications or interpretations of the statute which would be constitutional." State v. Wanta, 224 Wis. 2d 679, 690, 592 N.W.2d 645 (Ct. App. 1999). Cole asserts that the CCW unconstitutional for two reasons: statute is facially 1) because the amendment and the statute are incompatible, the amendment effectively repeals the statutory restriction; and 2) the statute is too broad and not narrowly tailored to serve its purpose and as such is an unconstitutional assertion of the state's police power severely infringes citizens' fundamental right to bear arms. that We find that both claims fail. ¶31 In interpreting a constitutional provision, we first turn to the plain meaning of the amendment in context. Cole argues that the plain language of the amendment is unambiguous and clearly incompatible with the broad prohibition carrying concealed weapons in Wis. Stat. § 941.23. argues, the statute is effectively repealed. upon As such, he However, both parties in this case have "read in" exceptions to the text of use "the people" rather than "person" or "individual." As both of these amendments convey individual rights, this suggests that the right to bear arms does as well. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 268-69. 22 No. the amendment.11 01-0350-CR Again, Cole does not argue that the right to bear arms is absolute. Because the parties agree, as do we, that the right is necessarily and appropriately limited to some extent by the state's inherent police powers, we cannot agree that the plain language of the constitutional amendment and the statute are incompatible. Whether the restriction is too broad to be "reasonable" is another question, but we do not find any indication in the plain language of the amendment that the CCW statute was effectively repealed. ¶32 in many Cole points out that the right to bear arms amendments states legislative explicitly restriction, some leave even open the possibility specifically restrictions upon carrying concealed weapons. singling of out See, e.g., Colo. Const. art. II, § 13 (2002); Fla. Const. art. I, § 8(a) (2002); Ill. Const. art. I, § 22 (2000). We are not persuaded that the absence of such language in Article I, Section 25 prevents such restrictions in inherent the amendment in Wisconsin. State's actually As discussed, authority. contained an An explicit police early powers draft of the reservation of the State's right to regulate the manner of bearing arms. LCS Memorandum, at 3. grant of authority are See 1995 As noted at that time, such an explicit "amounts merely to a recognition of the state's inherent police power to protect the health, safety and 11 At oral argument, Chief Justice Abrahamson noted that although Cole requests the court to decide based only on the plain language of the amendment, both sides actually read the text of the amendment to have implied exceptions. 23 No. welfare of the Legislative public." Council Id. Staff at (LCS) 7 (emphasis concluded that 01-0350-CR added). such The police powers could be exercised regardless of express authority. at 7, 10. We agree. Id. As one article stated, these express qualifications "may be aptly characterized as manifestations of 'superabundant caution.'" Ridberg, Impact of Right to Bear Arms Provisions, 38 U. Chi. L. Rev. at 189. ¶33 Other states have found that CCW statutes can coexist with a constitutional right to bear arms, holding the laws to be reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. In McAdams, 714 P.2d at 1236-37, for example, a Wyoming defendant raised a plain language argument much like the one presented by Cole. The Wyoming Constitution, Article I, Section 24 provides: "The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied." See McAdams, 714 P.2d at 1236 (quoting Wyo. Const. art. I, § 24). Section 6-8-104(a) of the Wyoming Statutes states, in relevant part, that "[a] person who wears or carries Statutes). concealed Id. misdemeanor." a deadly (quoting weapon § 6-8-104(a) is guilty of the of a Wyoming McAdams was pulled over and during the course of the stop, officers noticed she had a knife in a sheath in the breast pocket of her jacket. Id. McAdams claimed that the "plain language of Article I, Section 24 of the Wyoming Constitution leaves no room for restricting the manner of bearing arms." at 1237. and Id. The Supreme Court of Wyoming rejected this argument upheld restriction. the regulation as Id. at 1238. 24 a valid time and manner No. ¶34 01-0350-CR The McAdams case also supports the conclusion that the CCW statute is sufficiently narrow. As we have discussed, the CCW statute must be "reasonable" restriction upon the right to bear arms in order to pass constitutional muster. us to balance the interests involved. aptly noted: This requires In McAdams, the court "The police power cannot . . . be invoked in such a manner that amounts to the destruction of the right to bear arms." Id. at 1237. In balancing the individual's constitutional right against the interest of society in enacting laws to "ensure some semblance of order," the court found that the concealed weapons statute did impose a limitation upon the right to bear arms, but that it constituted a reasonable Id. at restraint in light of the objectives of the statute. 1237-38. Similarly, in Dano, 802 P.2d at 1022, the Arizona Court of Appeals found that the constitutional right to bear arms is not unlimited and that "[t]he right to bear arms in self-defense is not impaired by requiring individuals to carry weapons openly." Article Constitution provides: bear arms impaired, in II, Section 26 of the Arizona "The right of the individual citizen to defense of himself but nothing in this or the section State shall be shall not be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men." Ariz. Const. art. II, § 26 (2000). Note that neither the Wyoming nor Arizona Constitution has explicit an grant of authority to restrict concealed weapons, yet courts in both states found restrictions to be a valid exercise of police power. 25 No. ¶35 01-0350-CR Our examination of the plain language of Article I, Section 25 and similar provisions in other states supports our conclusion that the CCW statute is not effectively repealed by the right to bear arms amendment and that such a prohibition is a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction upon the right. ¶36 We amendment. arms next examine the legislative history of The drafting records related to the right to bear amendment are informative. The amendment consideration of the legislature in 1995. Resolution 27. passed Joint first 1995 Enrolled Joint In 1997, the second consideration was approved and the amendment moved to the voters for ratification. Assembly the Resolution 11. During this process, 1997 the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) and the Legislative Council Staff (LCS) authored several analyses related to the amendment to assist the legislature.12 The 1995 LCS Memorandum, written 12 The Legislative Reference Bureau is deeply involved in the legislative drafting process, as LRB attorneys draft all bills and resolutions that are introduced into the legislature. See Wisconsin Briefs, Guide to Researching Wisconsin Legislation, LRB-98-WB-8, at 1 (August 1998). The LRB also maintains a library collection with publications and records specifically intended to assist with researching legislative history. See id. The Legislative Council Staff also assists the legislature. LCS is a nonpartisan legislative service agency of the state legislature. See Joint Legislative Council, Legislative Council Staff, at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/staff_list.htm (last visited Mar. 9, 2003). LCS is responsible for a variety of research services, including responding to requests for research and information from members of the legislature, legislative staff, other governmental agencies, and other state legislatures. Id. 26 No. for a particular representative and any 01-0350-CR "interested legislators," extensively analyzed the proposed constitutional amendment, including a summary of amendments and relevant case law from other states. 1995 LCS Memorandum. As we have already noted, LCS concluded that an amendment explicitly retaining for the legislature the right to regulate the manner of bearing arms was redundant. Id. at 7. The LCS memo stated: "That is, regardless of this express authority to enact laws, the police power of the state, which is vested in the Legislature, could be exercised to limit both the constitutional right to keep arms and the right to bear arms." This memo also noted that Id. courts in Nebraska, North Dakota, and Ohio had all found the right to bear arms to be subject to reasonable regulation because important public safety interests were involved. 7-10. Id. at The provision of the amendment regarding "manner" was eventually taken out. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 275-76 (describing changes made during the amendment process). The conclusion of the 1995 LCS Memorandum is of particular interest: While the research done by these agencies is not necessarily dispositive in determining legislative intent, their analyses at the time of drafting certainly provides the court with valuable information about the knowledge available to legislators. Further, the legal expertise of these agencies entitles their analysis to some consideration by this court. In this case, for example, both agencies provided extensive research to legislators during the drafting process. They examined the laws of other states and explained the potential effects of particular language. See, e.g., 1995 LCS Memorandum. 27 No. 01-0350-CR Because the inherent authority of the state to protect its citizens through the proper exercise of its police power, it is unlikely that any of the current laws regulating or restricting either the possession or carrying of firearms is in serious jeopardy of being invalidated as an infringement of the proposed constitutional right. A review of court decisions in other states with constitutional provisions securing the right to keep and bear arms discloses that courts are very willing to uphold reasonable firearms restrictions. 1995 LCS Memorandum at 13-14. Clearly, the legislature knew gun control laws existed and this memo shows that they also had reason to believe the passage of Article I, Section 25 would not impact the status of those laws.13 ¶37 and A drafting memo by the LRB, authored by Jefren Olsen attached proposition to the that 1995 the LCS Memorandum, legislature also intended supports gun the control legislation, including the concealed weapons law, to survive the new constitutional right to bear arms. This memo stated: "Another example of a restriction that is generally held to be reasonable is the prohibition on carrying concealed weapons." Drafter's Note, LRB-4287/ldn at 3, reprinted as attachment to 1995 LCS Memorandum. ¶38 A 1997 LCS memo reiterates the assertions of these previous memos. Shaun Haas, Wisconsin Legislative Council Staff Memorandum, Explanation of 1997 Assembly Joint Resolution 11, 13 Regarding the authority of this "Because this memorandum (LCS) was read is part of the amendment's official conclusions in it should be considered legislative intent." Monks, The End of L. Rev. at 280 (2001). 28 document, Monks noted: by many legislators and drafting record, the a strong indicator of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. No. Relating to the Consideration) Right (January to 22, Keep and Bear 1997). In 1998, 01-0350-CR Arms the (Second LRB again analyzed the proposed amendment shortly before it went before the public for a vote. See Wisconsin Briefs, Constitutional Amendments to be Considered by the Wisconsin Voters, November 3, 1998, LRB-98-WB-10 (September 1998). Interestingly, in describing the points of view during the debate of the proposal, the LRB noted that proponents of the amendment asserted that case law from other states showed that amendment would not hinder gun control. the constitutional Id. at 4. Rather, it was opponents of the proposal that asserted that the measure would remove all reasonable regulation on guns. ¶39 Our established constitutional Id. analysis includes an examination of the practices in effect at the time the amendment was passed. Following the lead of the legislature, we have looked to the practices and interpretations of other states. Like proponents of the amendment, we are now convinced that the amendment does not affect the reasonable regulation of guns. The legislative history clearly suggests that the legislature did not intend to repeal reasonable gun laws such as the CCW statute. bear In examining the potential effects of the new right to arms, Memorandum reference one article reviewing to cases concealed weapon. the noted law allowing 1995 LCS of the other extensive states, prohibitions upon 1995 LCS lacked any carrying a McFadden, Wisconsin Bear Arms Amendment, 19 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. at 724-25. the that Memorandum The article stated that although concluded 29 that prohibitions such as No. those restricting carrying concealed weapons have 01-0350-CR been found reasonable, it stated no case law to support the assertion. at 725. Id. While it is true that the 1995 LCS Memorandum dealt with case law analyzing other types of restrictions, we find LCS's examination of the general applicable correct and applicable to the CCW statute. standards to be Article I, Section 25 had potential implications on a wide variety of gun control laws, not just the CCW statute. specifically People v. to People Brown, v. 235 The 1995 LCS Memorandum cites 544 Blue, N.W. 245 P.2d (Mich. 385 1931); (Colo. 1975); Ricehill, 415 N.W.2d 481 (N.D. 1987); Comeau, 448 N.W.2d 595 (Neb. 1989); and Arnold, 616 N.E.2d 163 (Ohio 1993). 7-11. See 1995 LCS Memorandum at These cases all conclude that "reasonable" restrictions upon the right to bear arms may be upheld. article pointed out: See id. As another "The principles involved in [right to bear arms] cases are often broad enough to transcend specific words." Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 286. ¶40 Further, as our discussion has made clear, our own review of relevant case law from other states shows that CCW statutes like ours have been upheld in constitutional protections similar to ours. 1021; McAdams, 714 P.2d 1236. Cole states with See Dano, 802 P.2d argues that this court should follow Buckner, 377 S.E.2d at 140, 144-145, where the West Virginia prohibition without a amendment. on Supreme carrying license, Court of certain violated the Appeals types state's concluded of that dangerous weapons right to bear a arms Buckner is distinguishable from the case at hand, 30 No. 01-0350-CR because the statute at issue there was more broad in that it prohibited all carrying of a weapon, concealed or unconcealed, if one did not have a license. See id. at 144-145; see also, Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. at 286 (noting that Buckner involves "a type of statute that Wisconsin does not have"). Even in Buckner, however, the court maintained that the right to bear arms is not absolute and is subject to reasonable regulation. Court of Id. at 145-46. Appeals in We may well differ with the Supreme West Virginia as to the scope of "reasonable" regulation, but our analyses are similar. ¶41 In contrast to the holding in Buckner, a court of appeals in Ohio has recently affirmed the validity of an Ohio prohibition on carrying concealed weapons. See State v. Ferguson, No. 14-02-14, 2003 WL 548360 (Ohio Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2003). In rejecting the defendant's claim that the concealed weapons statute was unconstitutional, the court noted that the Supreme Court constitutional. of Ohio has Id. at *2. upheld Ohio's CCW statute as The court, citing precedents of the Ohio Supreme Court, stated: The [CCW] statute does not operate as a prohibition against carrying weapons, but as a regulation of the manner of carrying them. This gist of the offense is the concealment. The constitution contains no prohibition against the legislature making such police regulations as may be necessary for the welfare of the public at large as to the manner in which arms shall be borne. Id. (internal quotations omitted). We find this case to be more analogous than the Buckner case to the matter at hand. 31 We are No. 01-0350-CR persuaded that the courts upholding concealed weapons statutes as reasonable restrictions upon a constitutional right to bear arms have properly balanced the interests of the individual and society. Also, given that our legislature was provided in-depth analysis of the general practices in other states, we conclude the legislative intent in creating Article I, Section 25 was not to repeal or invalidate existing gun control legislation, is consider including Wis. Stat. § 941.23. ¶42 The construing a final source constitutional this court amendment is to the first in related legislation passed after the amendment was ratified. In this case, the main statute of interest was passed long before the constitutional amendment was drafted. However, there is some legislative action that is of interest in our inquiry. As the amendment went through the drafting process to the present time, efforts have been made to pass laws creating a licensing system for the carrying of concealed weapons. that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 be amended. 675. It has been proposed 2001 S.B. 357; 2001 A.B. However, such proposals have not yet been successfully passed into law. The attempts, though, suggest that the legislature believes the concealed weapons law is still intact. Were the right to bear arms intended to repeal the CCW statute, as Cole suggests, citizens would already have the right under the amendment to carry concealed weapons. ¶43 This court has not been forced to look far to find support for its conclusion that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 is facially valid. As our foregoing discussion makes clear, other states 32 No. have shown a great willingness to uphold 01-0350-CR "reasonable" restrictions upon the constitutional right to bear arms. We believe in the reason is the compelling state interest protecting the public from the hazards involved with certain types of prohibition weapons, of such carrying as guns. concealed One weapons article is but noted the one of a variety of laws restricting the place and manner in which arms may be little carried, effect weapons." and on concluded widespread that such availability prohibitions and "have ownership of Ridberg, Impact of Right to Bear Arms Provisions, 38 U. Chi. L. Rev. at 203-04. As such, the author concluded that it is unlikely that such laws would "frustrate the deterrence of oppression purpose." Id. at 204. be did argued, as Cole here, The article noted that it may that such infringe upon the right of self-defense. laws impermissibly However, there is a balance of interests that must be done, and in this situation, the public safety interests win out. [I]t might be argued that these laws impede the purpose of self-defense if they deny an individual the right to carry a weapon when he is most likely to be attacked. This argument is countered by two considerations: the danger of widespread presence of weapons in public places and police protection against attack in these places. Thus, in view of the benefit to be derived from these laws, place and manner regulations which do not restrict possession in homes or businesses do not seem to subvert unduly the selfdefense purpose. Id. We agree with this analysis. Many other states have noted the important safety interests protected by gun control laws. As we have noted, courts have found such laws to be reasonable 33 No. 01-0350-CR time, place, and manner restrictions upon constitutional rights to bear arms. The CCW statute in particular serves an important public safety purpose: At common law or by very early statute in England, people were prohibited from going armed that they might not terrorize the King's subjects. That was never the law in this country, but from an early date, with the invention of small arms, statutes were enacted condemning the practice of carrying a deadly weapon concealed on or about the person. The reason for these statutes, it has been said, is "because persons becoming suddenly angered and having such a weapon in their pocket, would be likely to use it, which in their sober moments they would not have done, and which could not have been done had the weapon been upon their person." Williams v. Commonwealth, 261 (internal citations omitted). noted similar reasoning: S.W.2d 807, 807-08 (Ky. 1953) The Arizona Court of Appeals has "[T]he statute has a reasonable purpose it protects the public by preventing an individual from having on hand a deadly weapon of which the public is unaware, and which an individual may use in a sudden heat of passion." Dano, 802 P.2d at 1023. these dangers. The passage of years has not eliminated If anything, the advances in weapons technology have made such dangers all the more prevalent. ¶44 voters. Finally, we mention the intent of the Wisconsin While this court cannot read the minds of Wisconsin citizens at the time they vote, since it is the voters that adopt the language of the constitution, indications of the will of the people are valuable. In the case of the right to bear arms amendment, public opinion polls at the time provide some interesting insights. Two statewide polls indicated that almost 34 No. 01-0350-CR eighty percent of Wisconsinites opposed legalizing carrying of concealed weapons. Rev. at 284. Monks, The End of Gun Control, 2001 Wis. L. Given that the right to bear arms amendment was approved by a wide margin, the results of the poll at least support our view that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 and Article I, Section 25 were intended addition to a solidify our to be compatible. presumption opinion of that Such indications, constitutionality, the CCW statute that the him. He in suffice is to facially constitutional. V ¶45 Cole unconstitutional has "as also claimed applied" to CCW statute claims that is the statute impermissibly abrogates the right of an individual to bear arms while riding in a vehicle. ¶46 This claim must fail. First, we find that Cole has waived the opportunity to challenge the applied." In State v. Trochinski, 2002 WI 56, ¶34 n.15, 253 Wis. 2d 38, 644 constitutionality N.W.2d 891, this of Wis. Stat. § 941.23 court held that "as although a "facial" constitutional challenge was a matter of subject matter jurisdiction and could not be waived, an "as applied" challenge was a non-jurisdictional defect that could be waived. There, the defendant waived an "as applied" constitutional challenge by pleading no contest. Id. Here, Cole pled guilty to all charges against him and did not raise any constitutional challenge until his motion for postconviction relief. ¶47 In addition, Cole argues a hypothetical rather than an application of the facts at hand. 35 Generally, a person cannot No. 01-0350-CR challenge the constitutionality of a statute on the grounds that it may be unconstitutional as applied to others. See State v. Thiel, 183 Wis. 2d 505, 520, 515 N.W.2d 847 (1994) (citations omitted) (finding an exception to this general rule in the First Amendment context). Cole asserts that the CCW statute renders the right to bear arms useless in the context of transporting a weapon in a vehicle. He argues that, according to Wisconsin precedent, because weapons must be out of reach in the trunk and unloaded, a person is left with no meaningful way to exercise the right to bear arms for self-defense in that context. He asserts that such extensive restrictions act to deny a citizen any way to exercise the right to security and self-defense while riding in an automobile. facts of this case. restrictions vehicle, that because constitutional However, such claims go far beyond the We see no need to examine the assortment of may apply under right to to transporting the facts bear arms of has a weapon in a this case, the clearly not been infringed. ¶48 Cole claims that he was carrying the weapons because he had been "the victim of a brutal beating when he was younger and he did not feel safe in the neighborhood." 3.) He did not assert that he had the weapons in the car in response to any specific or imminent threat. the (Pet'r Br. at legitimacy of Cole's reason for We do not dispute carrying the weapon. However interesting the debate about the right to self-defense by possession of a weapon in a vehicle may be, such concerns are not implicated by the facts of this case. 36 In State v. Nollie, No. 01-0350-CR 2002 WI 4, 249 Wis. 2d 538, 638 N.W.2d 280, a case arising after the passage of the right to bear arms amendment, this court confirmed that a person under the CCW statute. may claim self-defense Id., ¶¶18-19, 24, 26. when charged However, in that case, we found that the unsubstantiated threat of four young men nearby, being loud and profane in a "high crime" area, was not "imminent and specific enough" for the defendant to invoke selfdefense. Id., ¶¶23-25. The same problem arises in this case. Cole has presented no evidence of any threat at or near the time he was arrested. ¶49 In the case at hand, police seized two loaded weapons from the interior of a vehicle, one inside the glove compartment and the other stashed under the front seat of the vehicle. clearly were, by any definition, concealed. In Both Dundon, 226 Wis. 2d at 662, this court defined "concealed" as "hidden from ordinary observation," completely hidden and from noted view that to be a weapon need considered not be concealed. Whatever the outer reaches of application of the CCW statute might be in light of the new constitutional amendment, this fact scenario does not fall within them. The right to bear arms is clearly not rendered illusory by prohibiting an individual from keeping a loaded weapon hidden either in the glove compartment or under the front seat in a vehicle. The reasons supporting "facial" validity of the statute apply with equal force to the specific facts of this case. reasonable restrictions. Public safety concerns support In West Virginia Division of Natural Resources v. Cline, 488 S.E.2d 376, 382-83 (W. Va. 1997), the 37 No. 01-0350-CR Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia upheld a restriction on the transport of loaded weapons as a reasonable regulation of the manner in which weapons could be transported. court noted particularly the possibility of There the accidents. Id. Such dangers certainly support restrictions on loaded weapons. Cole had two loaded weapons within reach and completely hidden from the view of others. the CCW statute may Under these specific circumstances, be enforced without impeding the constitutional right to bear arms.14 VI ¶50 Because we conclude that the CCW statute is a reasonable exercise of the state's inherent police powers, we find that the CCW statute is not unconstitutional either on its face or as applied to Cole. By the Court. The decision of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court is affirmed. 14 While Cole's "as applied" argument fails, we note that the scope of the application of the CCW statute has been appropriately raised in the companion to this case, also released today. See State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ___ N.W.2d ___. 38 No. ¶51 SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, CHIEF JUSTICE 01-0350-CR.ssa (concurring). I join Justice Prosser's concurrence except that part of his concurrence in which he states that he "strongly support[s] much of the majority opinion."15 I have reservations about parts of the majority opinion. ¶52 For example, it does not make sense to me that the majority opinion gives a statute that predates a constitutional amendment the presumption of constitutionality under the laterenacted amendment.16 constitutional constitutionality legislature is intends based to on enact the The presumption reasonable laws that are belief valid of that under a the Constitution at the time they are enacted, not the unreasonable assumption that constitutional a legislature amendments and can draft anticipate all constitutionally future immortal statutes. ¶53 Furthermore, difference between opinion's "reasonable exercise of police reasonably interest.18 and I am not rational basis exercise power rationally persuaded of must police always related test to be a that there and the power" is majority test.17 reasonable, legitimate any that The is government The concealed weapons statute is constitutional if 15 Justice Prosser's concurrence, ¶60. 16 See majority op., ¶¶12, 17. 17 See majority op., ¶26. 18 See Noranda Exploration, Inc. v. Ostrom, 113 Wis. 2d 612, 626, 335 N.W.2d 596 (1983). 1 No. 01-0350-CR.ssa it represents a reasonable exercise of the State's police power and does not eviscerate the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.19 ¶54 For the reasons set forth, I write separately. 19 See State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, ¶115, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ___ N.W.2d ___ (Abrahamson, C.J., dissenting), for further explanation of my views about the appropriate test to be applied. 2 No. ¶55 N. strongly PATRICK disagree CROOKS, with J. the 01-0350-CR.npc While (concurring). majority's conclusion I that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 is constitutional, for the reasons set forth in my dissent in State v. Hamdan, 2003 WI 113, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ____N.W.2d ___, I agree that Phillip Cole's conviction should be upheld. Because of Cole's waiver of the constitutional claim he now makes, I agree with the majority's mandate affirming Cole's conviction. ¶56 On May 12, 2000, Cole entered a plea of guilty to charges of carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) in violation of Wis. Stat. § 941.23 and to possession of violation of Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(e). sentenced Cole to 60 days on the THC (marijuana) in Judge Maxine A. White CCW charge and 15 days (concurrent) on the possession charge. ¶57 Four and one-half months later, on September 29, 2000, Cole filed a motion to vacate his conviction on the CCW charge. For the first time he raised the issue of the constitutionality of the CCW statute, claiming that his right to bear arms, found in Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution, was violated by that statute. ¶58 He was too late! His objection was not made prior to his guilty plea, and therefore was not in any way preserved for subsequent review. Wisconsin law has long been clear that a guilty plea, which is knowingly and voluntarily made, waives all non-jurisdictional defects and defenses, violations of constitutional rights. 1 including alleged See State v. Bangert, 131 No. 01-0350-CR.npc Wis. 2d 246, 389 N.W.2d 12 (1986); State v. Minniecheske, 127 Wis. 2d 234, 378 N.W.2d 283 (1985); State v. Damaske, 212 Wis. 2d 169, 567 N.W.2d 905 (Ct. App. 1997), review denied 212 Wis. 2d 689, 569 N.W.2d 590. ¶59 claim Since Cole, by his guilty plea, waived his right to that Wis. Stat. § 941.23 (CCW statute) unconstitutional, his conviction must be affirmed. his waiver, I respectfully concur in the mandate. 2 is Because of No. ¶60 DAVID T. PROSSER, J. 01-0350.dtp This (concurring). case represents the court's initial effort to interpret Article I, Section 25 of the Wisconsin Constitution. The majority opinion holds that the new provision grants a fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms. The majority states several times that the right is "fundamental," majority op., ¶¶20, 26, 29, and it expresses agreement with the parties "that Article I, Section 25 . . . grants an individual, rather than a collective, right." Id., ¶29. opinion, Although I strongly support much of the majority I write separately to explain why the amendment in the deserves a more nuanced interpretation. ¶61 Article I, legislative session. Section 25 originated The amendment was one of several reactions to municipal initiatives to ban handguns.20 April 1993 voters 1995 in Madison narrowly For instance, in defeated an advisory referendum to ban handguns21 championed by Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.22 When the referendum failed, the Madison City Council began work on several ordinances that were more restrictive on 20 Christopher R. McFadden, The Wisconsin Bear Arms Amendment and the Case Against an Absolute Prohibition on Carrying Concealed Weapons, 19 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 709, 713-16 (1999). 21 James Rowen, Madison Victory at Supporters, Mil. J., Apr. 8, 1993, at B5. Polls Bolsters Gun All cited newspaper clippings are from the state editions of Milwaukee newspapers on file at the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, Madison, Wisconsin. 22 Id.; Daniel Bice, Fendry Vows War on Gun Ordinances, Mil. Sentinel, Dec. 8, 1994, at 6B. 1 No. firearms than state law.23 Council on December 7, 01-0350.dtp These ordinances were adopted by the 1994.24 Mayor Soglin cast the tie- breaking vote on two of the four ordinances.25 ¶62 Milwaukee and Kenosha26 placed gun control referenda on the November 1994 election ballot.27 advisory; they were mandatory.28 These referenda were not The Milwaukee referendum asked voters whether all handguns with barrels less than 10 inches should be banned in Milwaukee.29 Commenting on the Milwaukee referendum, the Los Angeles Times reported that "no U.S. city has ever adopted such a strict gun-control measure. Chicago and Washington, D.C., outlaw the sale of handguns, but neither has tried to eliminate the residents already own."30 hundreds of thousands of pistols The article went on: 23 Joel Broadway, City Officials Propose Ban on Assault Weapons, Wis. State J., Apr. 19, 1994, at 1A; Joel Broadway, City Council to Vote Tonight on Gun Control Proposals, Wis. State J., Dec. 6, 1994, at 1A. 24 Joel Broadway, Gun Ban, Wis. State J., Dec. 7, 1994, at 1A; Bice, Fendry Vows War on Gun Ordinances, Mil. Sentinel, Dec. 8, 1994, at 6B. 25 Id. 26 The Kenosha referendum question read: "Shall the possession of handguns be banned in the city subject to certain enumerated exceptions?" Tom Held, Handgun Ban Shot Down, Mil. Sentinel, Nov. 9, 1994, at 1A. 27 Tom Held, NRA Contributed $133,449 to Fight City Handgun Ban, Mil. Sentinel, Nov. 1, 1994, at 1A. 28 Id. 29 Id. 30 Stephen Braun, Vote Puts Milwaukee Under the Gun, Cap. Times, Nov. 2, 1994, at 3A. [reprinted from Los Angeles Times article]. 2 No. 01-0350.dtp Under the handgun ban proposal, nearly 300 federally licensed gun dealers (there are no gun shops in Milwaukee most dealers sell out of their homes) would be restricted to selling only shotguns, rifles and the few pistols that have barrels longer than 10 inches. Residents who own handguns would be urged to turn them over to city police, who would catalog and then destroy the weapons. When handguns turn up during arrests, traffic stops and other police contacts, residents could face misdemeanor convictions punishable by $100 fines and $200 for repeated convictions. All firearms would be confiscated. Stephen Braun, Vote Puts Milwaukee Under the Gun, Cap. Times, Nov. 2, 1994, at 3A. ¶63 Both referenda were defeated.31 However, the effect of the initiatives in Madison, Milwaukee, and Kenosha was to spur the newly elected legislature to consider legislation preempting local firearms ordinances that went beyond state law.32 ¶64 would Representative introduce DuWayne legislation to Johnsrud preempt announced that municipalities he from enacting gun control ordinances that were stricter than state law. Representative Johnsrud stated: "Cities like Madison are creating a patchwork of regulations across the state. . . . I want to make sure that individuals have the law-given ability to own a firearm if they feel it is necessary."33 Johnsrud 31 Tom Held, Handgun Ban Shot Down, Mil. Sentinel, Nov. 9, 1994, at 1A. 32 Jack Norman, Pro-gun Forces Aim for State Ban on Bans, Mil. J., Nov. 10, 1994, at B1; Daniel Bice, Fendry Vows War on Gun Ordinances, Mil. Sentinel, Dec. 8, 1994, at 6B; David Callender, City's Gun Laws May Fall, Cap. Times, Dec. 9. 1994, at 1A. 33 Gun Rule Shootout, Cap. Times, Dec. 16, 1994, at 10A. 3 No. 01-0350.dtp introduced 1995 Assembly Bill 69 on January 30, 1995. After intense controversy and debate, it became 1995 Wis. Act. 72 in November 1995. ¶65 In Cf. Wis. Stat. § 66.0409 (2001-02). the meantime, Senator David Zien introduced a constitutional amendment to keep and bear arms. 1995 Senate Joint Resolution 7 (introduced February 14, 1995). Senator Zien explained that "pressure on forces."34 the measure law-abiding had been gun-owning introduced citizens" because by of "anti-gun "People from all over the state have come to me, concerned about attempts to limit their right to own a gun," Zien said in a statement.35 should not be forced to He added that "law-abiding citizens" give up their "ability to defend" themselves, their families, and their property.36 ¶66 On September 1, 1995, Assembly Majority Leader Scott R. Jensen introduced an identical constitutional amendment in the Assembly. half of the 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 53. members of the Assembly co-authored amendment, and they were joined by 16 senators. More than Jensen's This was the joint resolution that ultimately passed. ¶67 The Zien/Jensen constitutional amendment, as originally proposed, read as follows: Every individual, except an individual restricted in accordance with federal law, has the right to keep and bear arms for any lawful purpose including for security or defense, for hunting and for recreational 34 Steve Walters, Zien Seeks Guarantees Guns, Mil. Sentinel, Jan. 20, 1995, at 4A. 35 Id. 36 Id. 4 on Ownership of No. 01-0350.dtp use, but the manner of bearing arms may be regulated as authorized by the legislature by law. 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 53. ¶68 Representative Jensen's joint resolution was referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law, which conducted a public hearing on it only six days after its introduction.37 On October 19, 1995, the Committee introduced two amendments to the resolution.38 On November 29 the Committee adopted the two amendments and recommended the joint resolution for passage.39 Incorporating the two amendments into the text, the proposed constitutional amendment at this point read: "Every individual has the right to keep and bear arms for any lawful purpose, including for security or defense, for hunting and recreational use."40 ¶69 When the joint resolution came out of the Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law, it was referred to a second committee, the Corrections.41 proposal involve debate. Assembly This was that has been the Committee expenditure unusual. recommended of on money Criminal Normally for is a passage put on Justice a and legislative and does not calendar for In this case, the Committee on Criminal Justice and 37 Assembly Bulletin of the Proceedings of Legislature, 1995 A.J.R. 53, 1995-96 Sess., 394. 38 Wisconsin Id. 39 the Id. 40 Id.; Sharon Thelmer, Gun State J., Jan. 22, 1996, at 1A. 41 Legislation Considered, Assembly Bulletin of the Proceedings of Legislature, 1995 A.J.R. 53, 1995-96 Sess., 394. 5 the Wis. Wisconsin No. 01-0350.dtp Corrections received the resolution and held it until February 15, 1996, when it was given a public hearing.42 a representative of the Department testified against the amendment.43 Attorney General James Doyle who of At this hearing, Justice, Andrew Cohn, Cohn echoed the views of had previously amendment "an extremely radical proposal."44 called the Doyle alleged that the amendment as worded could nullify laws prohibiting concealed weapons and possession of machine guns and sawed-off shotguns.45 ¶70 On March 22, 1996, the Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections approved a substitute amendment,46 which revised the proposed text of the constitutional amendment to read as follows: "The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation and any other lawful purpose." ¶71 This text was approved by the Assembly on March 26, approved by the Senate on May 8, approved by the legislature at its next 42 session, and ultimately ratified by the people of Id. 43 Record of Committee Proceedings: Public Hearing on A.J.R. 53 Before the Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections, 1995-96 Leg. Sess. (Wis., Feb. 15, 1996) 1. 44 Sharon Thelmer, Gun Legislation Considered, Wis. State J., Jan. 22, 1996, at 1A. 45 Id. 46 Assembly Bulletin of the Proceedings of Legislature, 1995 A.J.R. 53, 1995-96 Sess., 394. 6 the Wisconsin No. Wisconsin. During the first debate in the 01-0350.dtp Assembly, the amendment was referred to as "the Soglin amendment."47 ¶72 The majority opinion overlooks most of the historical background as well as amendment's approval. the legislative dynamics in the It confines discussion of the critical change in text to a footnote. Majority op., ¶29 n.10. In fact, for the proposition that the amendment "was intended to grant a 'fundamental individual' right," the majority opinion relies on a 1995 memorandum issued by the Legislative Council before any amendments to the Assembly Joint Resolution were introduced. Majority op., ¶20 (citing Shaun Haas, Senior Staff Attorney, Wis. Legislative Council, Analysis of 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 53 and 1995 Senate Joint Resolution 7, Relating to the right to Wisconsin Keep State and Bear Arms Representative (First David Legislators, at 6 (Oct. 11, 1995)). Consideration) Travis and to Interested In reality, the various amendments altering 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 53 appear to be a direct response to concerns raised in the Shaun Haas Legislative Council memorandum. ¶73 Footnote 10 of the majority opinion quotes from a 1997 Legislative Council Memorandum containing Shaun Haas's explanation of the textual change: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 substituted the phrase "The people" for the phrase "Every individual" in order to avoid a possible construction of the constitutional amendment that would preclude the 47 Daniel Bice, Assembly Backs Amendment Affirming Right to Own Guns, Mil. J. Sentinel, Mar. 27, 1996, at 7B; Daniel Bice, Assembly Supports Right to Bear Arms, Wis. State J., Mar. 27, 1996, at 3B. 7 No. 01-0350.dtp Legislature, in the exercise of its inherent police power to enact laws that limit or infringe upon the right to keep and bear arms, from restricting the possession and use of arms by certain individuals (e.g., convicted felons) in the interest of protecting the health, safety or welfare of the public. Majority Senior op., Staff Resolution ¶29 n.10 Attorney, 11, Relating (quoting Memorandum Explanation to the of Right from 1997 to Keep Shaun Haas, Assembly Joint and Bear Arms (Second Consideration) to Interested Legislators, at 2 (January 22, 1997)).48 ¶74 Having quoted this Legislative Council analysis, the majority opinion disregards its importance. If the change in constitutional text was intended to permit restriction of the possession and use of firearms by certain individuals actually, substantial classifications of individuals the amendment cannot be described as creating a "fundamental" right. Convicted felons are not the only persons restricted or prohibited from possessing or using firearms. 948.60(2). to the See Wis. Stat. §§ 29.304, 941.29, The same 1995 legislature that gave initial approval constitutional amendment also passed legislation prohibiting a person from possessing a firearm if he or she is subject to a domestic abuse, child abuse, or harassment injunction.49 48 Shaun Haas wrote the exact same words in a March 25, 1996, memorandum to Representative Robert G. Goetsch and other interested legislators, explaining Assembly Substitute Amendment 1. 49 See 813.125. 1995 Wis. Act 71; 8 Wis. Stat. §§ 813.12, 813.122, No. ¶75 01-0350.dtp In his law review comment on the right to bear arms amendment, Jeffrey Monks recognized change in constitutional text. and discussed the final He wrote: In right to bear arms amendments, the use of the phrase "the people" to describe those to whom the right has been conferred has sometimes been interpreted as indicating a collective rather than an individual right because "people" refers to an aggregate of citizens. Particularly because the Second Amendment, which is generally interpreted as granting a collective right, also uses the phrase "the people" in its language, one could argue this choice of language implies a similar interpretation for the Wisconsin amendment. Furthermore, the language of the proposed amendment originally included "every individual" and was changed to "the people" later. In a memorandum commenting on the amendment's original language, the [Legislative Council Staff] concluded that the purpose of the amendment was to create an individual right based partially on the fact that the term "individual" had been chosen. The fact that "individual" is no longer used undercuts this conclusion. If interpreted as a collective right, the amendment's effect as a limit on gun control legislation would be severely curtailed, as gun control laws are generally directed at individuals. Jeffrey Monks, Comment, The End of Gun Control or Protection Against Tyranny?: The Impact of the New Wisconsin Constitutional Right to Bear Arms on State Gun Control Laws, 2001 Wis. L. Rev. 249, 268. Curiously, the majority opinion does not report this passage. Instead, it quotes later passages that explain away any significance to the textual change. attempt to Majority op., ¶29 n.10 (quoting Monks, supra, at 268-69). ¶76 In retrospect, there are at least two reasons why the legislature changed the text of "Every individual" to "The people." 9 the proposed amendment from No. ¶77 01-0350.dtp First, although the legislature wanted to establish a right that would benefit hundreds of thousands of individual gun owners, it wanted to deemphasize the "individual" nature of this right. The original amendment provided that "Every individual, except an individual restricted in accordance with federal law, has the right to keep and bear arms . . . but the manner of bearing arms may be regulated . . . ." (Emphasis added.) This draft could have been read to limit the police power to regulate firearms, permitting the legislature to regulate the manner of bearing arms ownership law." or but denying possession, it authority except "in to restrict accordance with firearms federal By removing this limiting clutter from the draft, the legislature removed any impediment to a reasonable exercise of the police power. By shifting the right from "Every individual" to the amendment underlined "The police people," power individuals in and Wisconsin may classifications the reasonably of people fact that the restrict specific (e.g., domestic abusers, minors) in ways that it may not restrict the people as a whole.50 ¶78 Second, the legislature wanted to underscore that the people have a right to reasonably regulated gun ownership that cannot be denied to them en masse by state legislation or local ordinance. 50 Christopher McFadden correctly concluded that the amendment "evinces a hostility to inflexible, blanket gun control laws. While citizens may have agreed that less restrictive limitations on bearing arms were necessary and perhaps even desirable, they adamantly opposed total prohibitions." McFadden, supra, at 716. 10 No. ¶79 The constitutional right to keep and 01-0350.dtp bear arms in Wisconsin is an important right and a valuable right, and it must be protected. But it is not a fundamental right in the same sense that freedom of speech, freedom of worship, the right to remain silent, and the right to jury trial are fundamental rights. The right is subject to reasonable regulation under the police power. Recognizing the limits to this important right up front will avoid a deluge of frivolous litigation. ¶80 I am authorized to state BRADLEY joins this concurrence. 11 that JUSTICE ANN WALSH No. 1 01-0350.dtp
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