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IN TBE CIRC0IT C00RT 0F C00K C00NTY

CRININAL BIvISI0N

PE0PLE 0F TBE STATE 0F ILLIN0IS )
) Case No: 14CR4169
)
v. )
) Fileu By Befenuant:
Lavon }ohnson )
Befenuant, ) Notion to Bismiss
)

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Befenuant moves this Bonoiable Couit to uismiss the infoimation penuing against
Befenuant. In suppoit of such motion Befenuant Piesents the following:
2;:<8;= >;909
Befenuant iesiues in Little Rock, Aikansas. Befenuant was issueu a concealeu hanu-gun
license by the State of Aikansas License Numbei 2u8Su2S. Befenuants iight to possess a
fiieaim was not uenieu by any couit oi any civil uisability imposeu by law. In Febiuaiy of
2u14 Befenuant puichaseu a giey hounu bus ticket in Aikansas anu pioceeueu to Nichigan
by bus. Befenuant aiiiveu in Chicago anu was switching to a uieyhounu bus heauing to
Nichigan. While switching busses Befenuant was ianuomly seaicheu by secuiity in the
Chicago Station. The Secuiity uiscoveieu two fiieaims in Befenuant's caiiy on baggage.
Such Fiieaims weie encaseu anu closeu within fiieaim stoiage cases. Theie was
"allegeuly" one iounu of live ammunition in the chambei of each fiieaim, to which the
Befenuant uenies.
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Befenuant is cuiiently being piosecuteu foi allegeu violations of the following Statutes:
1. 72u ILCS S24-l (a) (4)
2. 720 ACT 5 SECTION 24-1.6 (A) (1)/(3) (C).
LEGAL BASIS FOR MOTION
The Seconu Amenument iight to beai aims applies to the states. NcBonalu v. City of
Chicago, Ill., --- 0.S. ----, 1Su S.Ct. Su2u, Su26, 177 L.Eu.2u 894 (2u1u). Subsections 24-
1(a)(4) anu 24-1(a)(1u) uo not apply to oi affect any peison caiiying a concealeu pistol,
ievolvei, oi hanugun if the peison has been issueu a cuiiently valiu license unuei the Fiieaim
Concealeu Caiiy Act at the time of the commission of the offense. 72u ILCS S24-2.
Befenuant is a non-iesiuent of the State of Illinois anu must apply as a non-iesiuent
applicant unuei 4Su ILCS 664u in oiuei to obtain a valiu license unuei the Fiieaim Concealeu
Caiiy Act. Bowevei, "only iesiuents of states oi teiiitoiies of the 0niteu States that have laws
ielateu to fiieaim owneiship, possession, anu caiiying, that aie substantially similai to the
iequiiements to obtain a license unuei the Fiieaim Concealeu Caiiy Act aie eligible."
https:ccl4illinois.comccwPublicFaq.aspx. "Substantially Similai" means the compaiable
state iegulates who may caiiy fiieaims, concealeu oi otheiwise, in public; piohibits all who
have involuntaiy mental health aumissions, anu those with voluntaiy aumissions within the
past S yeais, fiom caiiying fiieaims, concealeu oi otheiwise, in public; iepoits uenieu peisons
to NICS; anu paiticipates in iepoiting peisons authoiizeu to caiiy fiieaims, concealeu oi
otheiwise, in public thiough Nlets. Cuiiently, the only states consiueieu to be substantially
similai aie Bawaii, New Nexico, South Caiolina anu viiginia." Iu.
S
Aikansas iesiuents aie uenieu fiom obtaining Illinois concealeu caiiy licenses uue
to the State's failuie to iepoit its licenseu Citizens to a national law enfoicement uatabase oi
iegistiy. See Exhibit A.
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Aiticle Iv, 2, of the Constitution pioviues that the "Citizens of each State shall be
entitleu to all Piivileges anu Immunities of Citizens in the seveial States." When a
challengeu iestiiction uepiives noniesiuents of a piivilege oi immunity piotecteu by this
Clause, it is invaliu unless "(i) theie is a substantial ieason foi the uiffeience in tieatment;
anu (ii) the uisciimination piacticeu against noniesiuents beais a substantial ielationship
to the State's objective." !"#$"#% '( )*+#,-.$$, 489 0.S. S46, SS2, 1u9 S. Ct. 1294, 1299, 1uS
L. Eu. 2u SS9 (1989).
"The piivileges anu immunities of citizens of the 0niteu States aie those which aiise
out of the natuie anu essential chaiactei of the National goveinment, the piovisions of its
Constitution, oi its laws anu tieaties maue in puisuance theieof; anu it is these which aie
placeu unuei the piotection of Congiess by this clause of the fouiteenth amenument."
/0"12*-.#34+1,. 5",.,, 8S 0.S. S6, S7, 21 L. Eu. S94 (1872). In fact, Piivileges anu
immunities which owe theii existence to feueial goveinment, its national chaiactei, its
constitution oi its laws, aie piotecteu by the piivileges of immunities clause of the Feueial
Constitution. 6.+70. '( 8"9#.$:., S9u Ill. 499, 61 N.E.2u S61 (194S) Ceitainly, the Seconu
Amenument iight to beai aims is one of the most funuamental of those piivileges piotecteu
by the Clause because it uiiectly aiises out of the piovision of oui 0niteu State's
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Constitution. Accoiuingly, the piohibition on non-iesiuents fiom beaiing weapons outsiue
the home anu while tiaveling thioughout the State of Illinois buiuens one of those
funuamental piivileges anu immunities piotecteu by the Clause.
Befenuant asseits that theie is no substantial ieason foi the uiffeience in tieatment
anu that the uisciimination piacticeu against Befenuant uoes not beai any substantial
ielationship to the State's objective." !"#$"#% '( )*+#,-.$$, 489 0.S. S46, SS2, 1u9 S. Ct.
1294, 1299, 1uS L. Eu. 2u SS9 (1989).
The State of Aikansas meets all of Illinois's iequiiements except foi Repoiting
Peisons Authoiizeu to Caiiy Fiieaims thiough Nlets- National Law Enfoicement
Telecommunications System. A Failuie to iepoit license holueis to a national iegistiy is
not a substantial ieason foi the uiffeience in tieatment, noi is theie a ielationship to the
States objective oi piopei basis foi issuing a blanket ban on the iight of ceitain non-
iesiuent's to beai aims outsiue the home. Theie aie othei least iestiictive means available.
"We cannot escape the ieality that, in this case, we aie uealing not with a ieasonable
iegulation but with a compiehensive ban." 6.+70. '( ;21<0"#, 2u1S IL 112116
Accoiuingly, 72u ILCS S24-l (a) (4) anu 72u act S section 24-1.6 (a) (1)(S) (c)
violate the piivileges anu immunities clause anu theiefoie violate uefenuants iight to beai
aims.
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Befenuant has a Constitutional iight to beai aims outsiue the home. 6.+70. '(
;21<0"#, 2u1S IL 112116. Befenuant also has a constitutional iight to inteistate tiavel oi
fieeuom of movement. 5"0<="$+ '( >"1-<.# )+##.,, 4SS 0.S. 1, 98 S. Ct. 9u6, SS L. Eu. 2u 6S
(1978). Accoiuingly, Befenuant has the constitutional iight to beai aims within the Su states
S
while tiaveling thiough inteistate commeice oi otheiwise exeicising his fieeuom of
movement. This constitutional iight to inteistate tiavel is viitually unqualifieu. 5"0<="$+ '(
>"1-<.# )+##.,, 4SS 0.S. 1, 98 S. Ct. 9u6, SS L. Eu. 2u 6S (1978).
"State law implicates the iight to tiavel anu tiiggeis stiict sciutiny when (1) its piimaiy
objective is to impeue inteistate tiavel, (2) when it actually ueteis inteistate tiavel, oi (S)
when it uses any classification that penalizes the iight to tiavel. /.. /+-+?8+7.@A 476 0.S. at
9uS, 1u6 S.Ct. 2S17." 4<:B, '( 6.-.#,, 1u F. Supp. 2u 1uuS, 1uu7 (N.B. Ill. 1998).
0ut of state iesiuents must obtain an Illinois Concealeu Caiiy License to lawfully caiiy a
concealeu fiieaim in Illinois. The State of Illinois has banneu Resiuents fiom Aikansas anu
othei states fiom obtaining Illinois Concealeu Caiiy Licenses anu fiom tiaveling thiough
inteistate commeice while exeicising the seconu amenument iight to beai aims. Resiuents of
foibiuuen states seeking to tiavel thiough inteistate commeice aie ueteiieu fiom passing
thiough the State of Illinois while caiiying a fiieaim using channels of inteistate commeice.
Accoiuingly, the laws piimaiy objective is to impeue inteistate tiavel, actually ueteis anu
uenies lawful inteistate tiavel, anu it uses a classification that penalizes the iight to tiavel by
assessing ceitain non-iesiuents fees foi applications foi concealeu caiiy licenses in oiuei to
lawfully pass thiough the State while beaiing aims.
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The Seconu Amenument iight to Beai aims applies to the States. NcBonalu v. City of
Chicago, Ill., --- 0.S. ----, 1Su S.Ct. Su2u, Su26, 177 L.Eu.2u 894 (2u1u). 72u ILCS S24-l (a)
(4) anu 72u ACT S SECTI0N 24-1.6 (A) (1)(S) (C) violates the Seconu Amenument in that the
blanket ban on concealeu caiiy by non-iesiuent's fiom ceitain states is not the least iestiictive
means necessaiy to enfoice the compelling goveinment inteiest which may be asseiteu by the
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State. /.. 6.+70. '( ;21<0"#A CDEF G8 EECEEH( It is a complete ban anu thus fails to satisfy the
constitutional iequiiements when the State chooses to iegulate this specific funuamental anu
ueeply iooteu histoiical iight. This iight is pioviueu to all citizens of the 0niteu States of
Ameiica, not just those fiom Illinois.
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"Tianspoitation alone acioss state lines is "commeice" within constitutional
contiol of the national goveinment anu subject to the iegulatoiy powei of Congiess. I(8(J(!(
'( K"<$L0"--, Su6 0.S. 6u1, S9 S. Ct. 668, 8S L. Eu. 1u14 (19S9). A state may iegulate use of its
highways so long as no unuue buiuen is imposeu on inteistate commeice 80+M% ;( K#M
J++=<$2 5+( '( N++%, S44 0.S. 1S7, 7S S. Ct. 2u4, 97 L. Eu. 168 (19S2). The blanket ban on non-
iesiuent's using the State's highways while tianspoiting a concealeu weapon oi otheiwise
the tianspoitation acioss state lines of concealeu weapons inteifeies with inteistate
commeice, is a substantial buiuen imposeu on inteistate commeice, anu violative of the
0niteu State Constitution.
Complete uenial of an Illinois Concealeu Caiiy License to a non-iesiuent fiom
Aikansas anu othei piohibiteu states iesults in such a substantial buiuen on inteistate
commeice because it foices those inuiviuual's to avoiu the State of Illinois while tiaveling
upon the highways oi to foigoe theii seconu amenument iight to beai aims in oiuei to have
access to the highways in the State of Illinois.
It also foices piivate peisons whom aie tianspoiting theii goous while being
aimeu thiough inteistate commeice to uiveit to anothei state oi otheiwise not be aimeu
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while tiaveling with theii goous thiough the State of Illinois. Accoiuing, such iegulation
violates the 0niteu States Constitution
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"The piopoitionate penalties clause piohibits imposing uiffeient penalties foi
offenses involving iuentical elements. |Citations 0mitteuj. A piopoitionate penalties
violation, unuei the iuentical elements test, occuis when two offenses have iuentical
elements but uispaiate sentences. |Citations 0mitteuj. 0nly the statute with the gieatei
penalty will be founu to violate the piopoitionate penalties clause. |Citations 0mitteuj." See
6.+70. '( N#<2*-, 2u1S IL App (Su) 1uuS22, 992 N.E.2u 622, 628. "**the iuentical elements
test has nevei iequiieu that the two offenses be equally specific." 6.+70. '( 50.O+$,, 2u12 IL
1u7821, 968 N.E.2u 1u46, 1uSS
Befenuant is accuseu of committing the offense of aggiavateu unlawful use of a
weapon in that he oi she knowingly caiiieu on oi about his oi hei peison oi in any vehicle
oi concealeu on oi about his oi hei peison except when on his oi hei lanu oi in his oi hei
aboue, legal uwelling, oi fixeu place of business, oi on the lanu oi in the legal uwelling of
anothei peison as an invitee with that peison's peimission, any pistol, ievolvei, stun gun
oi tasei oi othei fiieaim; anu that while possessing the fiieaim he has not been issueu a
cuiiently valiu Fiieaim 0wnei's Iuentification Caiu oi cuiiently valiu license unuei the
Fiieaim Concealeu Caiiy Act. 72u ACT S SECTI0N 24-1.6 24-1.6(a) (1)(S) (C)


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72u ILCS S24-1(a)(4) pioviues that "A peison commits the offense of unlawful use
of weapons when he knowingly Caiiies oi possesses in any vehicle oi concealeu on oi
about his peison except when on his lanu oi in his own aboue, legal uwelling, oi fixeu place
of business, oi on the lanu oi in the legal uwelling of anothei peison as an invitee with that
peison's peimission, any pistol, ievolvei, stun gun oi tasei oi othei fiieaim, without a
cuiiently valiu license unuei the Fiieaim Concealeu Caiiy Act oi F0IB CARB. See 72u ILCS
S24-1 (a)(4).
A peison convicteu of a violation of subsection 24-1(a)(4) is subject to a penalty of a
Class A misuemeanoi. 72u ILCS S24-1. While a peison unuei 24-1.6(A)(1)(S)(C) foi
Aggiavateu unlawful use of a weapon is subject to a penalty of a Class 4 felony. 72u ILCS
S24-1.6. Accoiuingly, the two offenses have iuentical elements but uispaiate sentences
anu accoiuingly, violate the piopoitionate penalties clause of the Illinois State Constitution.
0nuei Illinois Law, because only the statute with the gieatei penalty will be founu to
violate the piopoitionate penalties clause the couit is iequiieu to uismiss the seconu count
in the infoimation against Befenuant as a mattei of law. Bowevei, such Statutes also violate
the Bue Piocess Clause of the 0niteu States Constitution.
The puipose of the faii notice iequiiement is to enable the oiuinaiy citizen to
confoim his oi hei conuuct to the law. "No one may be iequiieu at peiil of life, libeity oi
piopeity to speculate as to the meaning of penal statutes." Lanzetta v. New }eisey, Su6 0.S.
4S1, 4SS, S9 S.Ct. 618, 8S L.Eu. 888 (19S9). City of Chicago v. Noiales, S27 0.S. 41, S8, 119
S. Ct. 1849, 186u, 144 L. Eu. 2u 67 (1999). Beie no ieasonable peison can guess as to what
the statutes mean. A ieasonable peison will question, "Boes the Statute mean I will be
Chaigeu with a class 4 felony if I caiiy a weapon without a license oi uoes it mean I will be
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chaigeu with a Class A misuemeanoi." Fuitheimoie, the pioblem with placing an inuiviuual
in such a position is that it allows foi aibitiaiy anu uisciiminatoiy enfoicement in violation
of the Bue Piocess Clause anu uoes not allow foi the peison to have ieasonable notice of
what will happen to him as a iesult of his conuuct. Accoiuingly, both Statutes aie
unconstitutional anu must be stiicken. Befenuant asseits that it is not within the poweis of
the juuiciaiy to ueciue which statute shoulu stanu, the Class 4 oi Class A. Stiiking only the
statute with the gieatei penalty will be oveistepping the sepaiation of poweis iequiieu by
the Constitution because it woulu moie akin to passing legislation. The Couit is not in a
position to ueciue which sentence congiess woulu let stanu, but must stiike both anu let
congiess ueciue by coiiecting the issue thiough new legislation.

Wheiefoie, Befenuant iequests that all counts against Befenuant be uismisseu anu
that such statutes be helu unconstitutional.




By:____________________________
Ilia 0shaiovich, Attoiney at Law
224 South Nilwaukee Ave, Suite u
Wheeling IL 6uu9u
Telephone:(847) 264-u4SS
Facsimile: (224)-22S-8u79