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Wilson v. County of Cook , 2012 IL 112026 ( 2012 )


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  •                            ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
    Supreme Court
    Wilson v. County of Cook, 
    2012 IL 112026
    Caption in Supreme         MATTHEW D. WILSON et al., Appellants, v. THE COUNTY OF
    Court:                     COOK et al., Appellees.
    Docket No.                 112026
    Filed                      April 5, 2012
    Held                       A facial second amendment challenge to an assault weapons ban should
    (Note: This syllabus       not have been dismissed at the pleading stage where there were empirical
    constitutes no part of     questions, beyond the scope of the record and judicial notice, as to
    the opinion of the court   whether assault weapons, as defined, were within or beyond the
    but has been prepared      amendment’s protection.
    by the Reporter of
    Decisions for the
    convenience of the
    reader.)
    Decision Under             Appeal from the Appellate Court for the First District; heard in that court
    Review                     on appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Hon. Mary K.
    Rochford, Judge, presiding.
    Judgment                   Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
    Cause remanded.
    Counsel on   Victor D. Quilici, of River Grove, Edward Ronkowski, of Mokena, and
    Appeal       Stephen P. Halbrook, of Fairfax, Virginia, for appellants.
    Anita Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Patrick T. Driscoll, Jr., Paul
    A. Castiglione and Marilyn Fusco Schlesinger, Assistant State’s
    Attorneys, of counsel), for appellees.
    William N. Howard and Garry L. Wills, of Freeborn & Peters, of
    Chicago, for amicus curiae Certain Illinois Legislators.
    Charles Wm. Dobra, of Roselle, and Joseph M. Hickson III, of the
    Hickson Law Group, P.C., of Springfield, Massachusetts, for amicus
    curiae Commonwealth Second Amendment, Inc.
    James R. Thompson, Matthew R. Carter and Rebecca S. Bradley, of
    Winston & Strawn LLP, of Chicago, for amicus curiae The Illinois
    Firearms Manufacturers Association.
    Stephen A. Kolodziej, of Brenner, Ford, Monroe & Scott, Ltd., of
    Chicago, and Charles J. Cooper, David H. Thompson and Peter A.
    Patterson, of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, of Washington, D.C., for amicus
    curiae The National Rifle Association of America, Inc.
    James B. Vogts, of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, of Chicago, for amicus
    curiae National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.
    Benjamin Blustein and Nancy L. Maldonado, of Miner, Barnhill &
    Galland, PC, of Chicago, and Paul R.Q. Wolfson, Joshua M. Salzman,
    Laura Moranchek Hussain and Francesco Valentini, of Wilmer Cutler
    Pickering Hale & Dorr, LLP, and Jonathan E. Lowy and Daniel R. Vice,
    all of Washington, D.C., for amicus curiae Brady Center To Prevent Gun
    Violence.
    Jonathan K. Baum, Jonathan S. Feld, Bonita L. Stone, Sharyn M. Castle
    and Jessica R. Price, of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, of Chicago, for
    amici curiae Legal Community Against Violence et al.
    -2-
    Justices                  JUSTICE THEIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
    Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Freeman, Thomas, Garman, Karmeier,
    and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.
    OPINION
    ¶1        This appeal involves a challenge to the constitutionality of the Blair Holt Assault
    Weapons Ban (Cook County Ordinance No. 06-O-50 (approved Nov. 14, 2006))
    (Ordinance). Plaintiffs, Matthew D. Wilson, Troy Edhlund, and Joseph Messineo, sought a
    declaration, inter alia, that the Ordinance violates the due process and equal protection
    clauses of the United States Constitution and violates the second amendment right to bear
    arms. The circuit court of Cook County dismissed the first amended complaint, pursuant to
    section 2-615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2006)), finding that
    plaintiffs failed to state a cause of action that the Ordinance unconstitutionally infringed on
    the right to bear arms or violated principles of due process or equal protection. The appellate
    court upheld the dismissal. 
    407 Ill. App. 3d 759
    . For the following reasons, we affirm in part
    and reverse in part the judgment of the appellate court, and remand the cause to the trial court
    for further proceedings.
    ¶2                                       BACKGROUND
    ¶3                                   History of the Ordinance
    ¶4        For nearly two decades, Cook County has had various ordinances in place banning the
    possession of assault weapons. Beginning in 1993, based upon a finding of public health and
    welfare concerns caused by both assault weapons and firearms in general, the Cook County
    board of commissioners enacted the Cook County Firearms Dealer’s License and Assault
    Weapons and Ammunition Ban Ordinance (Cook County Ordinance No. 93-O-37 (approved
    Jan. 1, 1994)). The law prohibited the sale, transfer, acquisition, ownership, or possession
    of “assault weapons,” defined by a specific list of 60 rifles and pistols designated by model
    name or type, and “assault ammunition,” including any ammunition magazine having a
    capacity of more than 12 rounds of ammunition. The commissioners specifically noted in the
    prefatory clause of the ordinance that: (1) easy access to firearms and ammunition had
    become a concern of public health, safety and welfare for the citizens of Cook County; (2)
    assault weapons were 20 times more likely to be used in the commission of a crime than
    other kinds of weapons; and (3) there was “no legitimate sporting purpose for the military
    style assault weapons being used on the streets.”1
    1
    Prior to its effective date, the Ordinance was amended to remove the prohibitions relating
    to assault ammunition. Cook County Ordinance No. 93-O-46 (approved Nov. 16, 1993). The
    -3-
    ¶5       Shortly thereafter, in 1994, after a series of hearings on the subject of semiautomatic
    assault weapons over a five-year period,2 Congress enacted the Violent Crime Control and
    Law Enforcement Act, Pub. L. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796 (codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 921, 922
    (1994)), including a ban on the possession of “semiautomatic assault weapons” and “large
    capacity ammunition feeding devices” not lawfully possessed as of the date of the enactment.
    18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(30), (a)(31), 922(v), (w) (1994). The law defined a “semiautomatic
    assault weapon” in several different ways, including a specific list of banned firearms or
    “copies or duplicates” of those firearms. In addition to banning weapons by name, the law
    banned other semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns that possessed two or more specific
    characteristics that the legislature found were designed for military applications and that
    distinguished the firearms from traditional sporting weapons or those useful for self-defense.
    18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30)(A)-(D) (1994). Congress found these features were combat-designed
    features that enabled shooters to discharge high numbers of bullets rapidly in a “spray fire”
    fashion while maintaining control of the firearm, creating enhanced lethality. H.R. Rep. No.
    103-489, at 18-20 (1994), reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1820, 1826-27. The law also
    specifically exempted a list of 661 firearms by make and model that the legislature found
    were most commonly used in hunting and recreational sports. 18 U.S.C. § 921, app. A
    (1994). The Act was written to expire 10 years after its enactment, and due to a lack of
    further congressional action, the law expired in 2004.
    ¶6       Thereafter, in 2006, the County sought to fill the void left by the expiration of the federal
    assault weapons ban by amending the 1993 ordinance. Currently, the ordinance expands the
    definition of assault weapon by imposing a characteristic-based test similar to the federal ban
    and by including a nonexhaustive list of various prohibited models and copies or duplicates
    thereof. Cook County Ordinance No. 06-O-50 (approved Nov. 14, 2006). The Ordinance also
    prohibits the possession of large capacity magazines with the capacity to accept more than
    10 rounds of ammunition. 
    Id. Under its
    provisions, a person who prior to the enactment
    lawfully possessed assault weapons or large capacity magazines had 90 days from the
    effective date to surrender the weapons to the sheriff, to remove the weapons from the
    county, or to modify the weapons to render them inoperable or no longer defined as an
    assault weapon. 
    Id. Violation of
    the Ordinance is punishable by imprisonment for not more
    than six months and by a fine between $500 and $1,000. 
    Id. In 2007,
    the Ordinance was
    renamed the Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban. Cook County Ordinance No. 07-O-36
    (approved June 19, 2007).
    Ordinance was amended again in 1999 to modify sections not at issue in this appeal and was
    renamed the Cook County Deadly Weapons Control Ordinance. Cook County Ordinance No. 99-O-
    27 (approved Nov. 23, 1999).
    2
    See H.R. Rep. No. 103-489, at 12-20 (1994), reprinted in 1994 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1820, 1820-
    28.
    -4-
    ¶7                                        Procedural History
    ¶8         In September 2007, plaintiffs filed a preenforcement action seeking declaratory and
    injunctive relief against the County, the individual commissioners of the Cook County board
    of commissioners, and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, and challenging, inter alia, the
    constitutionality of the Ordinance. In their first amended complaint, plaintiffs allege that they
    are “law abiding citizens” and residents of Cook County who have properly issued firearm
    owner’s identification cards. They allege that they own various firearms, magazines, and gun
    parts which were legally purchased for self-defense in the home, for recreational purposes,
    or as part of firearm collections.
    ¶9          Of relevance to the arguments raised in this appeal, plaintiffs allege in count I that the
    Ordinance violates the due process clause of the United States Constitution because the
    definition of assault weapons is unconstitutionally vague. Plaintiffs allege that they are of
    ordinary intelligence, and that based upon the vague definitions of assault weapons in the
    Ordinance they must guess whether their firearms fall within the purview of the Ordinance,
    subjecting them to the risk of imprisonment and fines. In addition, plaintiffs allege that they
    seek to legally purchase additional firearms, parts, and accessories, but cannot because
    plaintiffs are uncertain whether they may be prohibited under the Ordinance. Plaintiffs also
    indicate that the 90-day time period in which to conform with the Ordinance has passed. In
    count IV, plaintiffs allege a violation of the individual right to bear arms as guaranteed under
    the second amendment to the United States Constitution. In count VI, plaintiffs allege a
    violation of the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution because the
    Ordinance arbitrarily classifies certain firearms. Plaintiffs attached various photographs of
    certain firearms to support their allegations.3 Thereafter, the circuit court granted the
    County’s motion to dismiss with prejudice the first amended complaint pursuant to section
    2-615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2006)), holding that the
    claims failed as a matter of law. The court found that: (1) the Ordinance was not
    unconstitutionally vague; (2) the Ordinance did not violate the second amendment because
    it constrained only infringement by the federal government and had never been incorporated
    into the fourteenth amendment; and (3) plaintiffs failed to state a cause of action for a
    violation of the equal protection clause.
    ¶ 10       The appellate court affirmed, ruling that the Supreme Court’s holding in District of
    Columbia v. Heller, 
    554 U.S. 570
    (2008), did not provide a fundamental right to bear arms
    applicable to the states and, therefore, the right to bear arms was subject to the police power
    of the state. Wilson v. Cook County, 
    394 Ill. App. 3d 534
    , 542-44 (2009). The appellate court
    additionally found that the circuit court properly denied plaintiffs’ vagueness and equal
    protection challenges. 
    Id. at 544-46.
    ¶ 11       Plaintiffs subsequently filed a petition for leave to appeal in this court. While the petition
    3
    Counts II, III, and V, which are not raised in this appeal, involved allegations that the
    Ordinance violated due process because it imposed strict liability, was overbroad in its application,
    and was an unconstitutional exercise of the police power.
    -5-
    was pending, the United States Supreme Court filed its decision in McDonald v. City of
    Chicago, 561 U.S. ___, 
    130 S. Ct. 3020
    (2010). The Supreme Court held for the first time
    that the second amendment applies to the states through the due process clause of the
    fourteenth amendment. Id. at ___, 130 S. Ct. at 3050. We entered a supervisory order
    directing the appellate court to vacate its prior judgment and to reconsider the appeal in light
    of McDonald. Wilson v. Cook County, 
    237 Ill. 2d 593
    (2010) (supervisory order). On
    remand, the appellate court again affirmed the circuit court’s dismissal of the complaint.
    Wilson v. Cook County, 
    407 Ill. App. 3d 759
    (2011). Therein, the court held, inter alia, that
    the second amendment right does not extend to assault weapons and that the Ordinance is
    substantially related to an important governmental interest. 
    Wilson, 407 Ill. App. 3d at 773
    -
    74. Specifically, relying on the decisions in People v. James, 
    94 Cal. Rptr. 3d 576
    (Cal. Ct.
    App. 2009), and Heller v. District of Columbia, 
    698 F. Supp. 2d 179
    (D.D.C. 2010), vacated
    in part, No. 10-7036, 
    2011 WL 4551558
    (D.C. Cir. Oct. 4, 2011), the court found the
    restrictions of the Ordinance are supported by the historical tradition of prohibiting the
    carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons and allow for the continued protected use of
    common firearms. 
    Wilson, 407 Ill. App. 3d at 773
    -74. The court further held that the
    definitions in the Ordinance are not vague, but have their plain and ordinary meanings, and
    that plaintiffs failed to allege any facts that would support an equal protection claim. 
    Id. at 774-75.
    ¶ 12       We subsequently granted plaintiffs’ petition for leave to appeal (Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff.
    Feb. 26, 2010)). We allowed the Commonwealth Second Amendment, the Illinois
    Conservation Police Lodge, certain Illinois legislators, the Illinois Firearms Manufacturers
    Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Rifle Association
    of America, Inc., to submit amicus curiae briefs in support of plaintiffs. We additionally
    allowed the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the Legal Community Against Gun
    Violence, the City of Chicago, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Association of
    Prosecuting Attorneys to submit amicus curiae briefs in support of the County.
    ¶ 13                                         ANALYSIS
    ¶ 14       This appeal comes before the court on the circuit court’s grant of a motion to dismiss
    pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code. A motion to dismiss under section 2-615 challenges
    the legal sufficiency of the complaint based on defects on the face of the complaint. Sheffler
    v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 
    2011 IL 110166
    , ¶ 61. “The critical inquiry in deciding a
    section 2-615 motion to dismiss is whether the allegations in the complaint, considered in
    a light most favorable to the plaintiff, are sufficient to state a cause of action upon which
    relief can be granted.” 
    Id. A cause
    of action will be dismissed on the pleadings only if it is
    clearly apparent that no set of facts can be proved that would entitle the plaintiff to relief. 
    Id. In ruling
    on such a motion, only those facts apparent from the face of the pleadings, matters
    of which the court can take judicial notice, and judicial admissions in the record may be
    considered. Pooh-Bah Enterprises, Inc. v. County of Cook, 
    232 Ill. 2d 463
    , 473 (2009). We
    review de novo an order granting a section 2-615 motion to dismiss. 
    Id. We also
    note that the
    -6-
    ultimate question of whether an ordinance is unconstitutional is a question of law, which this
    court also reviews de novo. People v. Madrigal, 
    241 Ill. 2d 463
    , 466 (2011).
    ¶ 15                                       The Ordinance
    ¶ 16      We begin with an overview of the Ordinance. Section 54-212 of the Cook County Code
    provides that “No person shall manufacture, sell, offer or display for sale, give, lend, transfer
    ownership of, acquire or possess any assault weapon or large capacity magazine.” Cook
    County Code § 54-212 (amended by Cook County Ordinance No. 06-O-50 (approved Nov.
    14, 2006)). Section 54-211 specifically defines assault weapon by the following
    characteristics:
    “(1) A semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a large capacity
    magazine[,] detachable or otherwise[,] and one or more of the following:
    (A) Only a pistol grip without a stock attached;
    (B) Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held
    by the non-trigger hand;
    (C) A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
    (D) A shroud attached to the barrel, or that partially or completely encircles
    the barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand
    without being burned, but excluding a slide that encloses the barrel; or
    (E) A muzzle brake or muzzle compensator;
    (2) A semiautomatic pistol or any semi-automatic rifle that has a fixed magazine,
    that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition;
    (3) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine
    and has one or more of the following:
    (A) Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held
    by the non-trigger hand;
    (B) A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
    (C) A shroud attached to the barrel, or that partially or completely encircles
    the barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand
    without being burned, but excluding a slide that encloses the barrel;
    (D) A muzzle brake or muzzle compensator; or
    (E) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of
    the pistol grip.
    (4) A semiautomatic shotgun that has one or more of the following:
    -7-
    (A) Only a pistol grip without a stock attached;
    (B) Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held
    by the non-trigger hand;
    (C) A folding, telescoping or thumbhole stock;
    (D) A fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; or
    (E) An ability to accept a detachable magazine;
    (5) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
    (6) Conversion kit, part or combination of parts, from which an assault weapon
    can be assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same
    person[.]” 
    Id. § 54-211
    (amended Nov. 14, 2006).
    ¶ 17      The Ordinance specifically excludes “any firearm that has been made permanently
    inoperable, *** ‘antique firearm[s],’ *** or weapons designed for Olympic target shooting
    events.” 
    Id. ¶ 18
         In addition, under section 54-211 the following additional terms are specifically defined:
    “(c) Detachable magazine means any ammunition feeding device, the function
    of which is to deliver one or more ammunition cartridges into the firing chamber,
    which can be removed from the firearm without the use of any tool, including a bullet
    or ammunition cartridge.
    (d) Large capacity magazine means any ammunition feeding device with the
    capacity to accept more than 10 rounds, but shall not be construed to include the
    following:
    (1) A feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot
    accommodate more than 10 rounds.
    (2) A 22 [sic] caliber tube ammunition feeding device.
    (3) A tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm.
    (e) ‘Muzzle brake’ means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that
    utilizes escaping gas to reduce recoil.
    (f) ‘Muzzle compensator’ means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that
    utilizes escaping gas to control muzzle movement.” (Emphases in original.) 
    Id. ¶ 19
                                    Vagueness Challenge
    ¶ 20      In this preenforcement facial challenge, plaintiffs have alleged that the Ordinance is
    vague and therefore violates the due process clause of the United States Constitution (U.S.
    Const., amend. XIV). Plaintiffs contend that the Ordinance defines assault weapons by “an
    -8-
    arbitrary and ill-defined subset of these weapons without providing any explanation for its
    selections, and the language employed to describe various features or components of firearms
    that make them ‘assault [w]eapons’ is both vague and arbitrary.”
    ¶ 21      The notion that an Ordinance is void for vagueness is a concept derived from the notice
    requirement of the due process clause. The concern animating the doctrine is twofold: (1)
    whether the law fails to provide people of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to
    understand what conduct it prohibits so that one may act accordingly; and (2) whether the
    law provides reasonable standards to law enforcement to ensure against authorizing or even
    encouraging arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. Hill v. Colorado, 
    530 U.S. 703
    , 732
    (2000); Grayned v. City of Rockford, 
    408 U.S. 104
    , 108-09 (1972).
    ¶ 22       Additionally, in determining the clarity that the Constitution demands of a law, we are
    cognizant that in the context of first amendment freedoms the Supreme Court has expressed
    that “[u]ncertain meanings inevitably lead citizens to steer far wider of the unlawful zone ...
    than [they would] if the boundaries of the forbidden areas were clearly marked.” (Internal
    quotation marks omitted.) 
    Grayned, 408 U.S. at 109
    . Thus, in cases where the law threatens
    to inhibit a first amendment right it has been said that the Constitution requires a “greater
    degree of specificity.” Smith v. Goguen, 
    415 U.S. 566
    , 574 (1974). However, “ ‘perfect
    clarity and precise guidance have never been required.’ ” United States v. Williams, 
    553 U.S. 285
    , 304 (2008) (quoting Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 
    491 U.S. 781
    , 794 (1989)).
    ¶ 23       We are also mindful that, “[t]he degree of vagueness that the Constitution tolerates—as
    well as the relative importance of fair notice and fair enforcement—depends in part on the
    nature of the enactment.” Village of Hoffman Estates v. The Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc.,
    
    455 U.S. 489
    , 498 (1982). The Constitution tolerates a lesser degree of vagueness in
    enactments with criminal rather than civil penalties and specifically those without a scienter
    requirement because the consequences of imprecision are more severe. 
    Id. at 499.
    In order
    to succeed in a facial vagueness challenge, as opposed to an as-applied challenge, the
    vagueness must “permeate[ ] the text of such a law.” City of Chicago v. Morales, 
    527 U.S. 41
    , 55 (1999).
    ¶ 24       In construing the validity of the ordinance, we begin by applying the same rules that
    govern the construction of a statute. Pooh-Bah Enterprises, 
    Inc., 232 Ill. 2d at 492
    . Thus, as
    with a statute, the first step in a vagueness inquiry is to examine the plain language of the
    ordinance in light of its common understanding and practice. 
    Id. If the
    plain text of the
    ordinance sets forth clearly perceived boundaries, our inquiry is ended. 
    Id. ¶ 25
          With these principles in mind, we address plaintiffs’ contentions. At the outset, we note
    that plaintiffs provide little or no argument in their brief to support their vagueness challenge,
    but instead merely direct our attention to specific paragraphs in the first amended complaint
    and attached exhibits. Accordingly, we look exclusively to those allegations highlighted by
    plaintiffs in their brief, and to the extent that they have failed to address other allegations
    raised in the complaint, those arguments have been forfeited. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff.
    July 1, 2008); Elementary School District 159 v. Schiller, 
    221 Ill. 2d 130
    , 143 n.2 (2006).
    -9-
    ¶ 26       Plaintiffs initially challenge as vague the definition of an “assault weapon” in section 54-
    211(1) as a “semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a large capacity magazine[,]
    detachable or otherwise.” Plaintiffs allege that the language “has the capacity to accept” does
    not put an individual on notice whether a particular semiautomatic rifle with a detachable
    magazine is prohibited. Plaintiffs posit as an example an individual who possesses a firearm
    which, when purchased, was not manufactured to accept a large-capacity magazine but,
    subsequently, can accommodate the large-capacity magazine through a modification
    available in the marketplace. Plaintiffs maintain that under this example, the Ordinance
    violates due process because an ordinary intelligent gun owner may not know of such
    availability, but would be subject to prosecution.
    ¶ 27        In support, plaintiffs rely on the Sixth Circuit decision in Peoples Rights Organization,
    Inc. v. City of Columbus, 
    152 F.3d 522
    , 535-36 (6th Cir. 1998). There, an ordinance defined
    “assault weapon” as “any semiautomatic action, center fire rifle or carbine that accepts a
    detachable magazine with a capacity of 20 rounds or more.” 
    Id. at 535.
    The plaintiffs
    challenged the provision on vagueness grounds. The record indicated that any semiautomatic
    rifle that accepts a detachable magazine would accept a detachable magazine of any capacity
    that might exist. The court held this provision was “little more than a trap for the unwary.”
    
    Id. The court
    reasoned that since the ordinance contained no scienter requirement, the lack
    of knowledge as to the high-capacity magazine’s existence was of no consequence in
    prosecuting the offense. 
    Id. at 536.
    Since the capacity was limited only by the availability of
    a large-capacity magazine, and not by actual possession, all owners with semiautomatic,
    center-fire rifles and carbines with detachable magazines were in jeopardy of prosecution if
    a compatible large-capacity magazine was discovered or had ever been manufactured. The
    court held that “[d]ue process demands more than this” and that “presumably” this
    construction of the ordinance was not intended by the Columbus city council. 
    Id. ¶ 28
           Nevertheless, based on the plain language of this Ordinance, and the allegations in the
    first amended complaint, we find the Ordinance is not vague and is distinguishable from the
    Sixth Circuit decision. “Capacity,” as defined by its ordinary meaning, includes “the power
    or ability to hold, receive, or accommodate.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary
    330 (1993). It is evident from plaintiffs’ own allegations that the language in section 54-
    211(1) means that any semiautomatic rifle with the ability to accommodate a large-capacity
    magazine and which also has one of the five listed features is prohibited, whether the large-
    capacity magazine which it accommodates is currently manufactured or may be in the future.
    The absence of a scienter requirement does not alter our conclusion that the Ordinance is not
    unconstitutionally vague on its face. As evinced by plaintiffs’ allegations, any semiautomatic
    rifle with the capacity to accept a 10-round magazine is also capable of accepting a large-
    capacity magazine. Thus, since plaintiffs acknowledge that all semiautomatic rifles that
    accept a magazine are capable of accommodating the larger capacity, it follows that the
    conduct proscribed is knowable and the prohibition is clear. Therefore, albeit broad, the
    language “has the capacity to accept” is not facially vague. Its prohibitions are clearly
    defined, as plaintiffs’ own allegations demonstrate.
    ¶ 29      Additionally, unlike the Columbus ordinance in Peoples Rights Organization, the County
    -10-
    chose to add an additional characteristic test similar to the federal ban on assault weapons.
    Under the Ordinance, the weapon must not only have the capacity to accept a large-capacity
    magazine, but must also have one of five other enumerated characteristics. Cook County
    Code § 54-211(1)(A) to (E) (definition of assault weapon). The five additional enumerated
    properties are different in kind from the capacity requirement because these properties refer
    to extant properties of the weapon and not “potential properties” or “capabilities.” Thus, an
    individual that seeks to possess a semiautomatic rifle with the capacity to accept a large-
    capacity magazine but which has none of the other additional features is on notice that his
    weapon is not prohibited. Accordingly, we cannot say that vagueness permeates the text of
    section 54-211(1).
    ¶ 30       Plaintiffs further allege that several of the specific enumerated characteristics such as
    “barrel shroud” or “protruding grip” are vague generic features that would potentially qualify
    any weapon as an assault weapon. Courts that have analyzed similar language have declared
    these attributes to be specific and readily discernible characteristics. See Richmond Boro Gun
    Club, Inc. v. City of New York, 
    97 F.3d 681
    , 685 (2d Cir. 1996). We note that lower federal
    court decisions are not binding on Illinois courts, but may be considered persuasive authority.
    People ex rel. Ryan v. World Church of the Creator, 
    198 Ill. 2d 115
    , 127 (2001). As the court
    explained in Richmond Boro Gun Club, an ordinance is not facially vague merely because
    “a host of items exist that, although not specifically intended to serve these purposes, could
    arguably do so, thereby subjecting an unsuspecting gun owner to criminal liability.”
    Richmond Boro Gun 
    Club, 97 F.3d at 685
    . The court stated that this argument is self-
    defeating because “the issue is not whether plaintiffs can posit some application not clearly
    defined by the legislation.” 
    Id. The issue
    is whether the vagueness “permeates the text.”
    
    Morales, 527 U.S. at 55
    . We agree with the trial and appellate courts that based on their plain
    language these terms are not so ill-defined that they are facially vague.
    ¶ 31        Plaintiffs additionally allege that the use of the phrase “copies or duplicates” in section
    54-211(7) is vague because the weapons may have similar functions, but have different
    cosmetic components. Section 54-211(7) provides a nonexhaustive list of weapons which
    are prohibited as well as “copies or duplicates thereof.” A “copy” is defined as “an imitation,
    *** or reproduction of an original work.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 504
    (1993). A “duplicate” is defined to include “either of two things that exactly resemble or
    correspond to each other” (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 702 (1993)). The
    “copies or duplicates” language was added to the Ordinance in order to prevent
    manufacturers from simply changing the name of the specified weapons to avoid criminal
    liability. See Olympic Arms v. Buckles, 
    301 F.3d 384
    (6th Cir. 2002); see also In re R.C. ,
    195 Ill. 2d 291
    , 299 (2001) (noting that when considering a vagueness challenge a court considers
    not only the language, but the legislative objective and the evil it is designed to remedy).
    ¶ 32      A person of ordinary intelligence would understand that section 54-211(7) includes the
    specific weapons listed and any imitations or reproductions of those weapons made by that
    manufacturer or another. When read together with the listed weapons, the provision is not
    vague. In addition, plaintiffs’ argument ignores the rule of statutory construction that we
    must construe the Ordinance as a whole. People v. Marshall, 
    242 Ill. 2d 285
    , 292 (2011).
    -11-
    When the Ordinance is read as a whole, reference to section 54-211(1) through (6) would
    also put an individual on notice whether a particular weapon is banned based on the specific
    characteristics of the weapon.
    ¶ 33       The “copies or duplicates” language together with the characteristics-based test serve to
    rectify the problems outlined in Springfield Armory, Inc. v. City of Columbus, 
    29 F.3d 250
           (6th Cir. 1994), a case relied on by plaintiffs in support of their argument. There, the court
    sustained a vagueness challenge to an ordinance which banned assault weapons only by
    outlawing certain brand names without including within the prohibition similar weapons of
    the same type, function or capability. In that case the consumer was “without a reasoned
    basis for determining which firearms are prohibited.” 
    Id. at 252.
    In contrast, the Ordinance
    provides standards and a reasoned basis on which to determine whether a firearm is banned.
    Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the trial court properly dismissed count I of
    plaintiffs’ first amended complaint.
    ¶ 34                             Second Amendment Challenge
    ¶ 35       Plaintiffs contend that the County’s ban on assault weapons as defined in the Ordinance
    violates the second amendment right to bear arms. The second amendment provides: “A well
    regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to
    keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” U.S. Const., amend. II. In its 2008 decision in
    District of Columbia v. Heller, 
    554 U.S. 570
    (2008), a five justice majority of the Supreme
    Court expressly recognized, in its first “in-depth examination,” that the second amendment
    confers an individual right to keep and bear arms (id. at 592), and that the “central
    component of the right” is the right of armed self-defense, most notably in the home.
    (Emphasis omitted.) 
    Id. at 595,
    599-600.
    ¶ 36       Based on this interpretation, the Court invalidated the District of Columbia’s complete
    prohibition on handguns in the home by law-abiding citizens, and invalidated its requirement
    that all firearms in the home be kept inoperable. 
    Id. at 629-35.
    The majority found that
    “under any of the standards of scrutiny the Court has applied to enumerated constitutional
    rights” a prohibition on all handguns was a ban on “an entire class of ‘arms’ that is
    overwhelmingly chosen by American society for [the] lawful purpose” of self-defense and
    that a complete prohibition on their use was invalid. 
    Id. at 628.
    The Court explained that
    “whatever else [the second amendment] leaves to future evaluation, it surely elevates above
    all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of
    hearth and home.” 
    Id. at 635.
    ¶ 37       Nevertheless, the Court held that the scope of the right is not without limitations. The
    Court made clear that “[l]ike most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not
    unlimited.” 
    Id. at 626.
    An individual does not have “a right to keep and carry any weapon
    whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.” (Emphases added.) 
    Id. Notably, the
    majority of the Court interpreted its prior decision in United States v. Miller,
    
    307 U.S. 174
    (1939), to stand for the proposition that the second amendment right extends
    -12-
    only to certain types of weapons. 
    Id. at 623.
    The Court read Miller to say that “the Second
    Amendment does not protect those weapons not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens
    for lawful purposes, such as short-barreled shotguns.” 
    Id. at 625.
    The Court found support
    for this “important limitation” in “the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of
    ‘dangerous and unusual weapons.’ ” 
    Id. at 627.
    ¶ 38       The Court additionally attempted to sketch out a nonexhaustive list of “presumptively
    lawful regulatory measures,” including “longstanding [sic] prohibitions on the possession of
    firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in
    sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and
    qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.” 
    Id. at 626-27.
    The Court declined to explain
    what it meant by “long-standing” or elaborate on the historical justifications for these
    exceptions. See 
    id. It found
    it unnecessary to define the outer limits of the right or identify
    the level of scrutiny that should be applied to laws that burden those rights because the
    District of Columbia law under consideration would violate the second amendment “[u]nder
    any of the standards of scrutiny that we have applied to enumerated constitutional rights.”
    
    Id. at 628.
    ¶ 39       Thereafter, the Supreme Court revisited the second amendment in McDonald v. City of
    Chicago, 561 U.S. ___, 
    130 S. Ct. 3020
    (2010). A plurality of the Court held that “the Due
    Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Second Amendment right
    recognized in Heller.” Id. at ___, 130 S. Ct. at 3050. The Supreme Court reiterated its central
    holding in Heller “that the Second Amendment protects the right to possess a handgun in the
    home for the purpose of self-defense.” 
    Id. Additionally, the
    Court reiterated that the second
    amendment right was far from absolute and noted that the doctrine of incorporation “does
    not imperil every law regulating firearms.” Id. at ___, 130 S. Ct. at 3047.
    ¶ 40       Since Heller and McDonald, courts have begun to develop a general framework for
    analyzing the newly enunciated second amendment right. These courts have endeavored to
    (1) outline the appropriate scope of the individual second amendment guarantee as defined
    in Heller; and (2) determine the appropriate standard of scrutiny for laws that burden these
    rights. See, e.g., Ezell v. City of Chicago, 
    651 F.3d 684
    (7th Cir. 2011); Heller v. District of
    Columbia, No. 10-7036, 
    2011 WL 4551558
    (D.C. Cir. Oct. 4, 2011) (Heller II).
    ¶ 41        These courts have generally followed a two-pronged approach. The threshold question
    we must consider is whether the challenged law imposes a burden on conduct falling within
    the scope of the second amendment guarantee. That inquiry involves a textual and historical
    inquiry to determine whether the conduct was understood to be within the scope of the right
    at the time of ratification. 
    Heller, 554 U.S. at 634-35
    ; McDonald, 561 U.S. at ___, 130 S. Ct.
    at 3047. If the government can establish that the challenged law regulates activity falling
    outside the scope of the second amendment right, then the regulated activity is categorically
    unprotected. 
    Ezell, 651 F.3d at 702-03
    .
    ¶ 42       However, “if the historical evidence is inconclusive or suggests that the regulated activity
    is not categorically unprotected—then there must be a second inquiry into the strength of the
    government’s justification for restricting or regulating the exercise of Second Amendment
    -13-
    rights.” 
    Id. at 703.
    What form that takes has been articulated in various ways, but courts
    generally recognize that Heller rejected rational-basis review and requires some form of
    heightened scrutiny. See, e.g., 
    Ezell, 651 F.3d at 702-04
    ; United States v. Chester, 
    628 F.3d 673
    , 680 (4th Cir. 2010); United States v. Marzzarella, 
    614 F.3d 85
    , 91 (3d Cir. 2010);
    Heller II, 
    2011 WL 4551558
    , at *5.
    ¶ 43             Plaintiffs’ Pleadings and the Scope of the Second Amendment
    ¶ 44       As Heller explained, the second amendment does not provide a right to possess any
    weapon whatsoever and clearly articulates that certain types of weapons are not eligible for
    second amendment protection. The second amendment categorically protects the right of
    law-abiding citizens to possess a handgun, particularly for self-defense in the home, because
    handguns are a class of arms that the Supreme Court has found are “overwhelmingly” chosen
    by American society for the lawful purpose of self-defense. Unlike the District of Columbia
    handgun ban, we cannot say as a matter of law that the Ordinance purports to prohibit an
    entire class of arms that is overwhelmingly chosen by American society for self-defense in
    the home. The Ordinance is not an absolute ban on the possession of all rifles, shotguns, or
    pistols for self-defense. Nor is it a complete ban on all semiautomatic firearms. Instead, it
    covers a particular subset of these weapons with particular characteristics that the County has
    determined make them capable of firing rapidly, delivering a large number of shots without
    reloading, and creating a high risk of collateral damage. The Court in Heller had no reason
    to consider regulation of these particular types of firearms with these particular attributes.
    ¶ 45       Nor can it be said with any certainty, unlike in Heller, that assault weapons, as defined
    under the Ordinance, are the “quintessential weapon of choice” for self-defense by
    Americans. At least some of these types of weapons were banned for 10 years under federal
    law and have been banned in some degree by numerous states and municipalities, albeit
    without any uniform definition. See, e.g., Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 121, 131M (2008);
    N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2C:39-1(w), 2C:39-5(f), 2C:58-12 (West 2008); N.Y. Penal Law
    §§ 265.00(21), (22), 265.10, 265.20(a)(16) (McKinney 2008); Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 134-1,
    134-4(e) (2007); Aurora (Ill.) Code of Ordinances § 29-49 (2008); Chicago Municipal Code
    §§ 8-20-030(h), 8-20-40, 8-20-50 (2008); Columbus City (Ohio) City Codes §§ 2323.11(G),
    2323.31 (2008). In 1994, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
    characterized assault weapons as “mass produced mayhem” and weapons of choice for
    gangs, drug dealers, and mass killers to outgun police officers on the streets. ATF, Assault
    Weapons Profile 19 (1994). The ATF, Congress, and the County have concluded that assault
    weapons under varied definitions have no “sporting purpose.”
    ¶ 46       With that said, neither can we say conclusively at this early stage of the litigation that
    assault weapons as defined in this Ordinance categorically fall outside the scope of the rights
    protected by the second amendment. Heller explicitly recognized a historical and long-
    standing tradition of firearms regulations prohibiting a category of “dangerous and unusual
    weapons” that are “not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.”
    Historically, weapons like machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, grenade launchers, and other
    -14-
    high-powered weapons have fallen into this category due to their extreme nature. See, e.g.,
    United States v. McCartney, 357 F. App’x 73 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding that machine gun
    possessed by defendant was dangerous and unusual; noting that defendant’s own expert
    testified that possession by private citizen was unusual); United States v. Fincher, 
    538 F.3d 868
    , 870, 873-74 (8th Cir. 2008) (machine gun and sawed-off shotgun not protected by the
    second amendment because they were not in common use by law-abiding citizens for lawful
    purposes); United States v. Dempsey, 
    957 F.2d 831
    , 834 (11th Cir. 1992) (court reasoned that
    unlike firearms which may be used for sport, recreation or collection, pipe bombs had no
    legitimate purpose); State v. Fennell, 
    382 S.E.2d 231
    , 233 (N.C. Ct. App. 1989) (noting the
    danger posed by a sawed-off shotgun because it may be readily concealed and because of its
    wide and nearly indiscriminate spraying of its shot).
    ¶ 47      Excluding these types of arms has been analogized to excluding fighting words from the
    ambit of first amendment protection because:
    “the value provided by the fighting words/machine gun is so slight that it will always
    be outweighed by ‘the social interest in order and morality.’ In other words, the
    interest that one would have in possessing a machine gun—for example, the ability
    to repel home invasions or attack by mobs—can never justify the increased potential
    of collateral damage resulting from the use of such a weapon.” Jason T. Anderson,
    Note, Second Amendment Standards of Review: What the Supreme Court Left
    Unanswered in District of Columbia v. Heller, 82 S. Cal. L. Rev. 547, 578-79 (2009).
    Others have suggested that Heller’s adaption of Miller’s criterion suggests the Court “wishes
    to distinguish a limited class of arms that is only appropriate for use on military battlefields,
    where the social compact is completely suspended, from the broader class of arms that are
    amenable to being commonly kept within civil society.” Michael P. O’Shea, The Right to
    Defensive Arms After District of Columbia v. Heller, 
    111 W. Va. L
    . Rev. 349, 385 (2009).
    ¶ 48       The parties vigorously debate the dangers of assault weapons as defined by the breadth
    of this Ordinance, and seek to debate whether these types of arms are appropriate for self-
    defense and whether these types of prohibited weapons under the Ordinance are well suited
    to the core lawful purpose as expressed in Heller. The County’s findings, as enunciated in
    the 1993 version of the Ordinance prior to its current amendment, were that “there is no
    legitimate sporting purpose for the military style assault weapons now being used on our
    streets”; and “assault weapons are twenty times more likely to be used in the commission of
    a crime than other kinds of weapons.” Cook County Ordinance No. 93-O-37. The County
    maintains that these assault weapons have particular characteristics that render these weapons
    more dangerous than ordinary weapons typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful
    purposes. It asserts that the Ordinance targets semiautomatic firearms that enable shooters
    to discharge high numbers of shots rapidly and have other features conducive to criminal
    applications.
    ¶ 49        Plaintiffs seek to present evidence to support their allegation that this particular
    Ordinance encompasses a myriad of weapons that are typically possessed by law-abiding
    citizens for lawful purposes and fall outside the scope of the dangers sought to be protected
    -15-
    under the Ordinance. Without a national uniform definition of assault weapons from which
    to judge these weapons, it cannot be ascertained at this stage of the proceedings whether
    these arms with these particular attributes as defined in this Ordinance are well suited for
    self-defense or sport or would be outweighed completely by the collateral damage resulting
    from their use, making them “dangerous and unusual” as articulated in Heller. This question
    requires us to engage in an empirical inquiry beyond the scope of the record and beyond the
    scope of judicial notice about the nature of the weapons that are banned under this Ordinance
    and the dangers of these particular weapons.
    ¶ 50       We recognize that the other courts that have addressed the scope issue in relation to
    assault weapons have taken varying approaches in varying contexts. In People v. James, 
    94 Cal. Rptr. 3d 576
    (Cal. Ct. App. 2009), in the context of a criminal prosecution post-Heller,
    the California court of appeals held that a particular assault weapon was not protected by the
    second amendment. 
    Id. at 585.
    The court’s finding was based upon the legislature’s hearings
    and codified findings that these weapons were unusual and dangerous. The legislature found
    that an assault weapon “ ‘has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its
    function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the
    danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings.’ ” 
    Id. at 585.
    The court declared
    based on the legislative finding that assault weapons are “at least as dangerous and unusual
    as the short-barreled shotgun” and described them as “weapons of war.” 
    Id. at 586.
    ¶ 51       In Heller II, in ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court found that based
    upon the record before it, which included legislative findings, it could not ascertain whether
    the assault weapons as defined by the District of Columbia ordinance were commonly used
    or were useful for self-defense and, therefore, whether the prohibitions meaningfully affected
    the right to keep and bear arms. Heller II, 
    2011 WL 4551558
    , at *13. Instead, the court of
    appeals chose to presume a right protected by the second amendment and proceeded to apply
    intermediate-scrutiny review. 
    Id. ¶ 52
          Nevertheless, given the procedural posture of this case, we need not choose either of
    these approaches at this time. Unlike James and Heller II, we have a minimal legislative
    record to review and need not make assumptions without first attempting to ascertain
    relevant facts. Additionally, our deference to a legislative finding is a balancing of competing
    interests. As the Supreme Court has indicated in the context of fundamental first amendment
    rights, a legislative declaration does not preclude inquiry by the judiciary into the facts
    bearing on an issue of constitutional law. Landmark Communications, Inc. v. Virginia, 
    435 U.S. 829
    , 843 (1978) (“Deference to a legislative finding cannot limit judicial inquiry when
    First Amendment rights are at stake.”). We note that unlike Heller II, the County has not had
    an opportunity to present evidence to justify the nexus between the Ordinance and the
    governmental interest it seeks to protect. Pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code, we cannot
    say at this point that it is clearly apparent that no set of facts can be proved that would entitle
    plaintiffs to relief on count IV. Accordingly, for these reasons, we reverse the trial court’s
    dismissal of the first amended complaint with respect to count IV and remand to the trial
    court for further proceedings.
    -16-
    ¶ 53                                      Equal Protection
    ¶ 54       Lastly, we consider plaintiffs’ equal protection challenge. Plaintiffs allege that the
    Ordinance violates the equal protection clause under the due process clause of the fifth and
    fourteenth amendments. Specifically, plaintiffs allege that the Ordinance arbitrarily
    differentiates between identically situated persons by banning specifically listed assault
    weapons, but not banning possession of other identical firearms. For example, plaintiffs
    assert that there are a number of firearms that are not “copies or duplicates” of listed firearms
    under the Ordinance because they have features that make them easier for left-handed
    shooters to use, but are identical in function. Therefore, plaintiffs maintain that the person
    who owns the listed firearm is treated differently than a person who owns a functionally
    identical firearm. We disagree.
    ¶ 55       The equal protection clause has generally been held to protect against inappropriate
    classifications of people, rather than things. See Olympic Arms v. Buckles, 
    301 F.3d 384
    (6th
    Cir. 2002). Plaintiffs assert that because individuals have an interest in things, classifications
    of these things can be challenged on equal protection grounds. Nevertheless, we need not
    engage in the scope of the equal protection clause here in order to resolve the issue presented
    because even under an equal protection analysis, the Ordinance meets those requirements.
    ¶ 56       Plaintiffs’ construction of the Ordinance runs afoul of the long-standing rules of statutory
    construction. As the County notes, section 54-211(7) is part of a broader legislative scheme
    and is not to be read in isolation. 
    Marshall, 242 Ill. 2d at 292
    . Subsection (7) offers a
    nonexhaustive list of weapons along with “copies or duplicates.” In addition, section 54-
    211(1) through (6) defines the types of weapons prohibited by listing specific technical
    characteristics of the weapon. Thus, when read in its entirety, the Ordinance does not
    arbitrarily differentiate between two owners with similar firearms because the banned
    firearms are either listed, a copy or duplicate, or fall under the characteristics-based test.
    Accordingly, we find the trial court properly dismissed count VI of the first amended
    complaint.
    ¶ 57                                       CONCLUSION
    ¶ 58       For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the Ordinance does not violate the due process
    and equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution and therefore affirm the
    judgment of the appellate court and trial court dismissing count I and count VI of the first
    amended complaint. Additionally, we hold that plaintiffs have sufficiently pleaded a cause
    of action to withstand a section 2-615 motion to dismiss on their second amendment
    challenge under count IV of the first amended complaint. Accordingly, we affirm in part and
    reverse in part, and remand to the trial court for further proceedings on count IV.
    -17-
    ¶ 59   Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
    ¶ 60   Cause remanded.
    -18-
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 112026

Citation Numbers: 2012 IL 112026

Filed Date: 4/5/2012

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 3/3/2020

Authorities (25)

McDonald v. City of Chicago , 130 S. Ct. 3020 ( 2010 )

City of Chicago v. Morales , 119 S. Ct. 1849 ( 1999 )

richmond-boro-gun-club-inc-new-york-state-rifle-and-pistol-association , 97 F.3d 681 ( 1996 )

Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc. , 102 S. Ct. 1186 ( 1982 )

Hill v. Colorado , 120 S. Ct. 2480 ( 2000 )

United States v. Williams , 128 S. Ct. 1830 ( 2008 )

State v. Fennell , 95 N.C. App. 140 ( 1989 )

Wilson v. Cook County , 237 Ill. 2d 593 ( 2010 )

United States v. James M. Dempsey , 957 F.2d 831 ( 1992 )

United States v. Marzzarella , 614 F.3d 85 ( 2010 )

In Re RC , 195 Ill. 2d 291 ( 2001 )

Pooh-Bah Enterprises, Inc. v. County of Cook , 232 Ill. 2d 463 ( 2009 )

United States v. Miller , 59 S. Ct. 816 ( 1939 )

Heller v. District of Columbia , 698 F. Supp. 2d 179 ( 2010 )

People v. Madrigal , 241 Ill. 2d 463 ( 2011 )

Springfield Armory, Inc. v. City of Columbus , 29 F.3d 250 ( 1994 )

People Ex Rel. Ryan v. World Church of Creator , 198 Ill. 2d 115 ( 2001 )

People v. Marshall , 242 Ill. 2d 285 ( 2011 )

Grayned v. City of Rockford , 92 S. Ct. 2294 ( 1972 )

Ward v. Rock Against Racism , 109 S. Ct. 2746 ( 1989 )

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