Williams v. Barr
This text of 379 F. Supp. 3d 360 (Williams v. Barr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
ROBERT F. KELLY, Sr., District Judge
Federal law generally prohibits the possession of firearms by individuals who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. See
In 2005, Plaintiff Edward A. Williams ("Williams") was convicted in Pennsylvania of driving under the influence ("DUI") at the highest rate of intoxication with a prior offense, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five years. He brings this action against Defendants William P. Barr (Attorney General of the United States), Thomas E. Brandon (Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), Christopher A. Wray (Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation), and the United States of America (collectively, the "Government"), contending that § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him.1 Presently before *365the Court are the parties' Motions for Summary Judgment, along with numerous responses and replies to the respective motions. For the reasons that follow, Williams' Motion for Summary Judgment is denied, and the Government's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted.
I. BACKGROUND
In April 2000, Williams was in State College, Pennsylvania, where he was pulled over, arrested, and charged with DUI based on his blood alcohol content ("BAC") being over .10%.2 (Pl.'s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Pl.'s SUMF") in Supp. Mot. Summ. J. ¶¶ 1, 3; Gov't's Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Gov't's SUMF") in Supp. Mot. Summ. J. ¶¶ 2-3.) Williams entered into Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition ("ARD") program and was sentenced to twelve months of probation, required alcohol and driver's safety classes, surrender of his driver's license, and payment of court costs. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 4; Gov't's SUMF ¶ 4.) Acceptance into the ARD program may be construed statutorily as a conviction for purposes of computing sentences on subsequent DUI convictions.3 See
In November 2001, Williams was arrested in Philadelphia for DUI. (Gov't's SUMF ¶ 5.) The charges were dismissed for unknown reasons. (Id. ¶ 8.)
On September 7, 2004, Williams was once again pulled over in Philadelphia for DUI. (Id. ¶ 9; Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 7.) He was arrested, charged, and subsequently found guilty at trial in 2005 of DUI at the highest rate of intoxication in violation of
Although Williams knew his license to carry a firearm had been revoked due to his 2005 DUI conviction, he continued to own approximately twenty firearms until 2014, including semi-automatic guns, revolvers, and shotguns. (Gov't's SUMF ¶¶ 19-21.) Further, between 1994 and 2010, he worked as a sales manager, firearms instructor, and range safety officer at a gun store and range called "Colosimo's."4 (Id. ¶ 22.) During this period, some of which included his federal firearm and ammunition prohibition, Williams physically handled firearms and ammunition every day as part of his job responsibilities. (Id. ¶¶ 24-25.) As part of his employment, Williams also had the responsibility for ensuring that those who wished to purchase firearms at Colosimo's could do so under federal and state law. (Id. ¶ 27.) Additionally, he was responsible for understanding the paperwork that was needed to complete those purchases, such as the Pennsylvania state firearms application. (Id. ¶ 28.)
Nevertheless, Williams in 2007 submitted an application to purchase a Glock-23. (Id. ¶ 31.) In paragraph thirty-two of the Pennsylvania State Police Application/Record of Sale, Williams checked the "no" box when asked, "Are you charged with, or have you ever been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year? This is the maximum sentence that you 'could have received,' not the actual sentence you did receive." (Gov't's SUMF ¶ 31, Ex. A ("Williams Dep."), Ex.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
ROBERT F. KELLY, Sr., District Judge
Federal law generally prohibits the possession of firearms by individuals who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. See
In 2005, Plaintiff Edward A. Williams ("Williams") was convicted in Pennsylvania of driving under the influence ("DUI") at the highest rate of intoxication with a prior offense, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five years. He brings this action against Defendants William P. Barr (Attorney General of the United States), Thomas E. Brandon (Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), Christopher A. Wray (Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation), and the United States of America (collectively, the "Government"), contending that § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him.1 Presently before *365the Court are the parties' Motions for Summary Judgment, along with numerous responses and replies to the respective motions. For the reasons that follow, Williams' Motion for Summary Judgment is denied, and the Government's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted.
I. BACKGROUND
In April 2000, Williams was in State College, Pennsylvania, where he was pulled over, arrested, and charged with DUI based on his blood alcohol content ("BAC") being over .10%.2 (Pl.'s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Pl.'s SUMF") in Supp. Mot. Summ. J. ¶¶ 1, 3; Gov't's Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Gov't's SUMF") in Supp. Mot. Summ. J. ¶¶ 2-3.) Williams entered into Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition ("ARD") program and was sentenced to twelve months of probation, required alcohol and driver's safety classes, surrender of his driver's license, and payment of court costs. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 4; Gov't's SUMF ¶ 4.) Acceptance into the ARD program may be construed statutorily as a conviction for purposes of computing sentences on subsequent DUI convictions.3 See
In November 2001, Williams was arrested in Philadelphia for DUI. (Gov't's SUMF ¶ 5.) The charges were dismissed for unknown reasons. (Id. ¶ 8.)
On September 7, 2004, Williams was once again pulled over in Philadelphia for DUI. (Id. ¶ 9; Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 7.) He was arrested, charged, and subsequently found guilty at trial in 2005 of DUI at the highest rate of intoxication in violation of
Although Williams knew his license to carry a firearm had been revoked due to his 2005 DUI conviction, he continued to own approximately twenty firearms until 2014, including semi-automatic guns, revolvers, and shotguns. (Gov't's SUMF ¶¶ 19-21.) Further, between 1994 and 2010, he worked as a sales manager, firearms instructor, and range safety officer at a gun store and range called "Colosimo's."4 (Id. ¶ 22.) During this period, some of which included his federal firearm and ammunition prohibition, Williams physically handled firearms and ammunition every day as part of his job responsibilities. (Id. ¶¶ 24-25.) As part of his employment, Williams also had the responsibility for ensuring that those who wished to purchase firearms at Colosimo's could do so under federal and state law. (Id. ¶ 27.) Additionally, he was responsible for understanding the paperwork that was needed to complete those purchases, such as the Pennsylvania state firearms application. (Id. ¶ 28.)
Nevertheless, Williams in 2007 submitted an application to purchase a Glock-23. (Id. ¶ 31.) In paragraph thirty-two of the Pennsylvania State Police Application/Record of Sale, Williams checked the "no" box when asked, "Are you charged with, or have you ever been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year? This is the maximum sentence that you 'could have received,' not the actual sentence you did receive." (Gov't's SUMF ¶ 31, Ex. A ("Williams Dep."), Ex. 7.) Williams successfully completed the purchase of the firearm based on his representations in the application. (Id. ¶ 35.)
In December 2014, Williams attempted to obtain a license to carry firearms out of the desire to protect his family and himself in the home. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 14.) He was denied and subsequently submitted a challenge to the Pennsylvania State Police in January 2015. (Gov't's SUMF ¶ 39.) In his challenge form, Williams checked the "yes" boxes when asked whether he had ever been arrested in Pennsylvania and, if so, whether the arrest resulted in a conviction. (Williams Dep., Ex. 6 at 2.) He wrote in the form, however, that his conviction was an ungraded misdemeanor. (Id. )
Williams has worked as a construction manager for the past twenty-five years. (Pl.'s SUMF ¶ 11.) He has managed numerous projects, including the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the "SEPTA Railworks Project," the Commodore Barry Bridge, and the Interstate 95 and New Jersey Transportation maintenance facilities. (Id. ¶ 12.) His job duties include the preparation of day-to-day monitoring of various construction projects in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; attending project meetings on a monthly basis; and assisting contractors with cost control, project management, scheduling, and "claims/time impact analysis as needed." (Id. ¶ 13.)
Williams filed suit in this Court on June 1, 2017, contending that § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him pursuant to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit's decision in *367Binderup v. Att'y Gen. U.S. of Am. ,
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) states that summary judgment is proper "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The Court asks "whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to the jury or whether ... one party must prevail as a matter of law." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. ,
Summary judgment must be granted "against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Celotex , 477 U.S. at 322,
III. DISCUSSION
A. As-Applied Second Amendment Challenges in the Third Circuit
The Second Amendment provides that "[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 the seminal decision of District of Columbia v. Heller , the Supreme Court of the United States held that the "core" of the Second Amendment is the right of "law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home,"
The first precedential, post- Heller Third Circuit decision involving the Second Amendment was United States v. Marzzarella , a case involving an as-applied challenge.
The Third Circuit next addressed the Second Amendment the following year in United States v. Barton ,
The Third Circuit next addressed the Second Amendment en banc in Binderup , a consolidated appeal that involved two as-applied challenges to § 922(g)(1). One of the challengers, Daniel Binderup, was convicted in Pennsylvania state court of corrupting a minor, a misdemeanor subject to *369possible imprisonment of up to five years. Binderup ,
Both challenges succeeded, and the Third Circuit became the first federal Court of Appeals to hold § 922(g)(1) unconstitutional in any of its applications. See Medina v. Whitaker ,
Judge Ambro's opinion held that, when "[r]ead together, Marzzarella and Barton lay out a framework for deciding as-applied challenges to gun regulations." Binderup ,
At the first hurdle of step one of the Marzzarella framework, the challenger must first identify "the historical justification for stripping felons, including those convicted of offenses meeting the traditional definition of a felony, of their Second Amendment rights."
The second hurdle of step one of the Marzzarella framework requires the challenger to distinguish himself from the historically barred class by demonstrating that he was not convicted of a "serious crime."
B. Application to Williams
1. Step One: Whether § 922(g)(1) Burdens Williams' Second Amendment Rights
Under § 922(g)(1), a person convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment is disqualified from possessing a firearm. See
a. The Binderup Factors
Turning to the first factor, the Binderup plaintiffs were convicted of state law misdemeanors. See Binderup ,
*371The second factor requires the Court to consider whether violence was an element of the offense. See
The parties significantly dispute the weight the Court should give to the third and fourth factors. The third factor looks to the actual sentence the challenger received for the offense. See Binderup ,
Williams relies significantly on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania's decision in Holloway v. Sessions ,
Despite the plaintiff in Holloway actually being sentenced to imprisonment, the court concluded that the sentence was "relatively minor."
Williams compares his sentence to the Binderup and Holloway plaintiffs' sentences, *372arguing it was "hardly severe relative" to the others. (Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 19.) He claims that his sentence of ninety days of passive house arrest was "in essence, probation." (Id. ) The Government contends that Williams' sentence of ninety days to two years of imprisonment was severe. In particular, the Government claims that Williams would have served ninety days in jail if not for his medical condition. (Gov't's Resp. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Summ. J. 11.) Additionally, the Government argues that the maximum sentence of two years of imprisonment is probative of the sentencing judge's determination that Williams' offense was serious. (Id. at 11-12.)
Along with fines and other conditions, Williams was sentenced to ninety days to two years of imprisonment for his violation of
An added wrinkle is that the sentencing judge allowed Williams to serve the ninety days "on passive house arrest until electronic monitoring [was] available due to [a] medical condition."11 (Id. ) Williams contends his sentence of house arrest shows that the judge did not believe his offense was worthy of any jail time. (Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 19.) The Government, on the other hand, notes that Williams would have served his sentence in jail if not for his medical condition. (Gov't's Resp. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Summ. J. 11.)
We believe Williams' sentence falls in between the Binderup plaintiffs' sentences and the Holloway plaintiff's sentence. The Binderup plaintiffs respectively received probation and a suspended prison sentence, which the Third Circuit deemed to be "minor" due to the lack of jail time. The plaintiff in Holloway received a term of actual imprisonment for ninety days with participation in the work release program, meaning he was actually confined to county jail except when he reported to work. Even assuming Williams' sentence of ninety days of house arrest (as opposed to ninety days of imprisonment, as the Government argues) is the operative sentence for the Court to consider, it is certainly more severe than the sentences the plaintiffs received in Binderup . Because house arrest is a form of confinement, it seriously restricts an individual's liberty in a way that probation does not. See McKenzie v. Att'y Gen. of U.S. ,
Williams' sentence is, however, less severe than the plaintiff's sentence in *373Holloway , a sentence which the court found to be "relatively minor." Nevertheless, we believe the severity of Williams' sentence leans slightly in favor of the Government. Although Williams was given the minimum sentence under
The fourth and final factor requires the Court to look to whether there is a cross-jurisdictional consensus regarding the seriousness of Williams' offense. In Binderup , one plaintiff was convicted of corrupting a minor, a crime that "some states treated ... as serious crimes ... but the vast majority of states [did] not." Binderup ,
After consideration of the fifty-state surveys the parties have submitted in connection with their Motions, we believe Williams has easily met his burden regarding the cross-jurisdictional analysis. Although all states criminalize DUI, there is no clear consensus among the states regarding the seriousness of Williams' offense. For instance, a second DUI at the BAC that Williams had (.223%) would result in only eleven other states punishing his conduct by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year (the traditional threshold for a felony). (See Gov't's Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. R ("Gov't's DUI Chart"); Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. C ("Pl.'s DUI Chart").) Of those eleven states, four would classify the offense as a felony. (See Gov't's DUI Chart; Pl.'s DUI Chart.) Accordingly, given that Williams' conduct would meet the traditional definition of a felony in only eleven other states, he has shown that there is no consensus regarding the seriousness of his offense. See Binderup ,
The Government attempts to stretch this factor to include states whose maximum sentence for Williams' offense is prescribed at "approximately one year or more." (Gov't's Resp. Opp'n Pl.'s Mot. Summ. J. 13) (emphasis added). The Government argues that 76% of states establish a maximum possible punishment for an offense like Williams' at "about one year or more." (Id. ) Thus, the Government claims that 76% is clearly a consensus regarding the seriousness of the offense at issue.
We reject the Government's invitation to extend the cross-jurisdictional analysis to include offenses where the maximum possible punishment approaches one year. In setting forth this factor, the Third Circuit described the states criminalizing Julio Suarez's offense, noting that "more than half prescribe a maximum sentence *374that does not meet the threshold of a traditional felony." Binderup ,
To summarize, Williams' offense was a misdemeanor, a label that is "a state legislature's ... powerful expression of its belief that the offense is not serious enough to be disqualifying."
b. Additional Arguments
The Government makes the additional argument that Williams' post-conviction conduct makes him an " 'unvirtuous citizen' who is no longer entitled to the Second Amendment's benefits." (Gov't's Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 17.) In particular, the Government points to Williams' admissions during his deposition that he continued to own firearms through 2014 and handled them during his employment at a gun store, a time in which he was federally prohibited from doing so; his answer of "no" on a Pennsylvania State Police firearms application, where he was asked whether he had been convicted of a crime punishable by over one year of imprisonment or a misdemeanor punishable by over two years of imprisonment; and his notation that he had been convicted of an ungraded misdemeanor when he challenged his eligibility to carry a firearm in 2015. (See id. at 18.) This string of conduct, the Government contends, "readily qualifies" Williams "as an 'unvirtuous citizen' who is not eligible for Second Amendment protection." (Id. )
We must reject the Government's argument, as the Third Circuit expressly stated that the only inquiry at step one of the Marzzarella framework is determining the seriousness of the disqualifying offense. See Binderup ,
2. Step Two: Intermediate Scrutiny
Now that Williams has succeeded at step one of the Marzzarella framework, the burden next shifts to the *375Government to demonstrate that the law satisfies intermediate scrutiny.
In Binderup , the Third Circuit held that the Government failed to satisfy its burden of intermediate scrutiny because the record contained "no evidence explaining why banning people like [the plaintiffs] (i.e. , people who decades ago committed similar misdemeanors) from possessing firearms promotes public safety." Id. at 353-54. As a general matter, the government relied on studies that showed felons commit violent crimes more frequently than non-felons, and that the denial of handgun purchases to convicted felons showed a twenty to thirty percent reduction in the risk of later criminal activity. Id. at 354. Because the studies estimated the likelihood that incarcerated felons would reoffend after their release from prison, and the plaintiffs in Binderup were neither felons nor incarcerated, the Third Circuit held that no reasonable conclusions could be drawn "about the risk posed by their possession of firearms from such obviously distinguishable studies." Id.
The government also relied on studies that it contended were relevant to each plaintiff's situation. Regarding Daniel Binderup, the government cited studies from several states that would classify him as a sex offender due to his conduct. Id. The Third Circuit rejected the government's position, stating that the "sex-offender specific studies focus on people who were incarcerated." Id. at 355. Therefore, it would not be helpful "to draw inferences about the usefulness of disarming Binderup from those off-point studies." Id. Regarding Julio Suarez, the government relied on a study "indicating that California handgun purchasers in 1977 'who had prior convictions for nonviolent firearm-related *376offenses such as carrying concealed firearms in public, but none for violent offenses,' were more likely than people with no criminal histories to be charged later with a violent crime." Id. (citation omitted). The Third Circuit stated that the study addressed the risk of recidivism only within fifteen years of a conviction for an unspecified nonviolent firearm-related offense. Id. Thus, this study was also off-point, as "[c]ommon sense tells us that recidivism rates would change with the passage of an additional 11 years (Suarez was convicted 26 years ago) and vary based on the circumstances of the prior conviction." Id.
In this case, the Government relies heavily on the expert report of Daniel Webster ("Dr. Webster"), ScD, a Professor of Health Policy and Management, Co-Director for Research at the Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence, and Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.13 (Gov't's Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J., Ex. S ("Webster Report") at 1.) Dr. Webster earned a Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan in 1985 and a doctorate in Health Policy and Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 1991. (Id. at 2.) In short, most of his academic teaching and scholarship since 1985 has focused on studies relevant to gun-related injuries and violence. (See id. )
Dr. Webster ultimately opines that there is a reasonable fit between prohibiting DUI misdemeanants from possessing firearms and public safety. Among other things, he states that individuals convicted of drunk driving, especially repeat offenders and those with high BACs at the time of their arrests, have higher rates of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and psychiatric disorders, (id. at 4); that "[t]here is a large body of scientific evidence indicating that people who abuse alcohol are at a substantially increased risk of committing acts of violence" and suicidal behavior, (id. at 6-8); and that "[e]mpirical evidence shows that DUI/DWI offenders are more likely to commit violent or firearms-related offenses," (id. at 9). The last of these opinions is relevant for our purposes.
Dr. Webster describes a study that Dr. Garen Wintemute led that is most relevant to the instant matter. (Id. ) In that study, Dr. Wintemute drew upon data from a random sample of 5,923 persons under the age of fifty "who purchased a handgun from a licensed retail firearm dealer in California in 1977 and were stratified by whether or not the person had a prior adult (age 18 years and older) criminal history of any kind at the time the handgun was purchased." (Id. ) In an effort to examine the relationship between prior alcohol-related convictions and the risk of future arrests for crimes involving violence and/or firearms, Dr. Wintemute and his colleagues limited their analysis to 1,272 handgun purchasers with prior alcohol-related convictions (77.8% of whom had DUI/DWI convictions) and 2,794 handgun purchasers with no prior criminal history. (Id. ) Importantly, follow-up on the sample was done in 1991. Dr. Webster describes in his report that
[t]he most relevant findings were the most straight-forward[:] 32.8% of handgun purchasers with prior alcohol convictions versus 5.8% of handgun purchasers *377with no criminal history were arrested for a crime involving violence and/or firearms - a 5.6-fold difference. Those with a prior alcohol offense had a similar disproportionate risk for being arrested for the most serious crimes (FBI Index - murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault), 15.9% versus 2.7% among those with no record of prior offenses.... Regression analysis conducted to control for other risk factors and generate estimates of independent effects indicated that having a history of even a single prior conviction for an alcohol-related crime was associated with a 4-fold increased risk of being arrested for a crime of violence or firearm-related crime.
(Id. at 9-10.) Accordingly, he concludes that "DUI/DWI offenses are therefore robust predictors of future violent and firearms-related offenses." (Id. at 15.)
The parties represent that the Holloway court had a nearly identical version of Dr. Webster's report before it. (Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 37; Gov't's Mem. Law Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 22.) In Holloway , the court gave no weight to Dr. Webster's report. See Holloway ,
The Holloway court did not find that the study was off-point as the Third Circuit found the empirical evidence to be in Binderup , but apparently believed the government's evidence was not substantial enough. The Third Circuit, however, expressly noted that "[p]arties may use statistics to show that people who commit certain crimes have a high (or low) likelihood of recidivism that warrants (or does not warrant) disarmament, even decades after a conviction." Binderup ,
We must respectfully disagree with Holloway and conclude that the Government has met its burden of intermediate scrutiny. Dr. Wintemute's study shows that, as compared to individuals with no prior criminal record, there is a significant statistical increase in the likelihood that an individual will be arrested for a crime involving a firearm or violence when that person has an alcohol-related conviction.14 (See Webster Report at 9) (citing Garen J. Wintemute et al., Firearms, Alcohol and Crime: Convictions for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Other Alcohol-Related Crimes and Risk for Future Criminal Activity Among Authorised Purchasers of Handguns , Injury Prevention, Vol. 24 at 68-72 (2018) ). Indeed, the study found that 32.8% of handgun purchasers with a prior alcohol-related offense were arrested for a crime involving violence and/or a firearm, versus 5.8% of handgun purchasers with no prior criminal history. (Id. ) When regression *378analysis was conducted to control for other risk factors, it showed that having a single prior conviction for an alcohol-related crime was associated with a four-fold increase in risk of being arrested for a crime of violence or firearm-related crime. (Id. at 9-10.) Importantly, these statistics pertain to a fourteen-year period between the handgun purchase in 1977 and the follow-up in 1991.
Unlike the off-point empirical evidence presented in Binderup , Williams falls squarely within Dr. Wintemute's study. For purposes of charging and sentencing, Williams' disqualifying offense was his second DUI. At the time he filed this action the conviction was only twelve years old, and it is not even fourteen years old as of the date of this Opinion. Dr. Wintemute's study shows that individuals like Williams, who have been convicted of an alcohol-related offense within the past fourteen years, have a four to five-fold increase of being arrested for a subsequent crime of violence or one involving a firearm. We believe such statistics demonstrate a reasonable fit between Williams' disarmament and the important government interest of preventing armed mayhem. See Marzzarella , 614 F.3d at 98 (noting that the "fit between the challenged regulation and the asserted objective be reasonable, not perfect"). Accordingly, the Government has carried its burden of demonstrating that § 922(g)(1) survives intermediate scrutiny.
While we have already determined that the Government has satisfied its burden of intermediate scrutiny, we must address some of the parties' additional arguments. First, Williams counters Dr. Webster's expert report with the expert opinion of Robert M. Gordon, Ph.D., ABPP, who is board certified in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis.15 (Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 36-37, Ex. J ("Dr. Gordon Report") at 1.) Dr. Gordon performed an in-person clinical examination of Williams and ultimately recommends "that Mr. Williams be allowed to own, possess, carry, and use a firearm" and can do so "without risk to himself or any other person." (Dr. Gordon Report at 12.) Dr. Gordon also takes issue with Dr. Webster's expert report, noting that "[w]hile Dr. Webster presents some valid correlational research on groupings of individuals, it has a relatively small predictive value in generalizing to groups" and fails to predict the effect of numerous DUI convictions from fourteen to eighteen years ago. (Id. at 7.) Dr. Gordon also takes issue with, inter alia , some of Dr. Webster's report being premised on individuals who suffer from alcohol or abuse issues, as there is no evidence Williams suffers from any kind of dependency. (See id. )
We reject Dr. Gordon's opinion that Williams should be allowed to own, carry, and possess a firearm because he allegedly poses no risk to himself or others. The Government's burden at step two of the Marzzarella framework is not individualistic, but rather focuses on whether the Government *379can dispossess a class of people who have been convicted of certain crimes. See Binderup ,
Williams also argues that the Government's prior history of granting relief from federal firearms disabilities undermines the Government's argument at step two of the Marzzarella framework. (Pl.'s Br. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 28-35.) Under
Under § 925(c), federal law allows an individual to make an application to the Attorney General for relief from a federal firearm disability, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, examples of people who were granted relief under § 925(c) prior to its defunding are inapposite because, as we explained above, Marzzarella 's second prong does not call for an individualized assessment. While Williams might succeed in an application to the Attorney General under § 925(c) if Congress were to fund it, the fact remains that such evidence plays no role in the analysis that Binderup requires. Indeed, the argument Williams presents here is identical to the plaintiff's argument in Holloway , which the court found unpersuasive. See Holloway ,
We next move to the Government's additional argument concerning part two of the Marzzarella framework. The Government stresses that it satisfies intermediate scrutiny in this case, even in the absence of statistical evidence, because there is evidence in the record that Williams "has already been engaging in crimes and has been irresponsible since his 2004 DUI conviction."16 (Gov't's Mem. Law Supp. Mot.
*380Summ. J. 20) (emphasis in original). In Binderup , the Third Circuit stated that step two looks to the "likelihood that the [plaintiff] will commit crimes in the future,"
Several reasons give the Court concern in considering the Government's argument about Williams' conduct after his disqualifying conviction. First, the Government essentially asks the Court to find criminality in this civil matter. Williams has not been convicted of any charges due to the aforementioned conduct, nor do the parties represent that he has been charged. Thus, it would be inappropriate and unwise for the Court to find criminality in the absence of a criminal adjudicative process. Second, Binderup itself lends support for the principle that post-disqualifying convictions, which lack violence or are not firearm-related, play no role in Marzzarella 's second step. One of the Binderup plaintiffs was convicted of unlawfully carrying a handgun without a license, a disqualifying offense under § 922(g)(1). Binderup ,
IV. CONCLUSION
Section 922(g)(1) is constitutional as applied to Williams. While we find that § 922(g)(1) burdens Williams' Second Amendment rights because his disqualifying conviction was not "serious," the law is constitutional as applied because the Government has satisfied its burden of intermediate scrutiny. The statistical evidence shows that individuals convicted of an alcohol-related offense have a four to five-fold increase of being arrested for a crime of violence or firearm-related offense, as compared to individuals with no prior criminal history. Therefore, we believe there is a reasonable fit between disarming individuals like Williams, who were convicted of DUI, and the important government interest of preventing armed mayhem.
For the reasons noted above, the Government's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, and Williams' Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.
An appropriate Order follows.
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
379 F. Supp. 3d 360, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-barr-paed-2019.