No. 18-936

Jeremy Kettler v. United States

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2019-01-18
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: 2nd-amendment congressional-taxing-power constitutional-challenge constitutional-law cox-v-new-hampshire due-process murdock-v-pennsylvania national-firearms-act second-amendment sound-suppressor standing statutory-interpretation tax taxation united-states-v-sonzinsky
Key Terms:
SecondAmendment Takings
Latest Conference: 2019-06-06
Related Cases: 18-7451 (Vide)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the National Firearms Act of 1934 continues to be a constitutional exercise of Congress's taxing power

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW Petitioner was convicted of possessing an unregistered firearm sound suppressor in violation of the National Firearms Act of 1934, 26 U.S.C § 5861(d). He challenged whether the NFA continues to be a proper exercise of Congress’s taxing power due to changed circumstances, and if so, whether it imposes an impermissible tax on the exercise of a constitutional right. The Tenth Circuit concluded that it was bound by this Court’s decision in United States v. Sonzinsky, 300 U.S. 506 (1937), upholding the NFA, and that only this Court could overturn its own decisions. The Tenth Circuit also concluded that the Second Amendment protects only “bearable arms,” not including firearm accessories such as sound suppressors. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the National Firearms Act of 1934, upheld in Sonzinsky, continues to be a constitutional exercise of Congress’s taxing power when the justifications for that decision have significantly eroded over the last 82 years. 2. Whether the Second Amendment protects firearm accessories such as sound suppressors. 3. Whether the tax imposed by the National Firearms Act, targeting the exercise of a Second Amendment right, violates the rule of Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105 (1943) and Cox v. New Hampshire, 312 U.S. 669 (1941).

Docket Entries

2019-06-10
Petition DENIED.
2019-05-23
Reply of petitioner Jeremy Kettler filed. (Distributed)
2019-05-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/6/2019.
2019-05-06
Brief of respondent United States of America in opposition filed.
2019-04-17
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including May 6, 2019.
2019-04-16
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 22, 2019 to May 6, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-03-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 21, 2019 to April 22, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-03-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including April 22, 2019.
2019-02-19
Brief amici curiae of Kansas, et al. filed.
2019-02-19
Brief amici curiae of Downsize DC Foundation, et al filed.
2019-02-15
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 21, 2019.
2019-02-13
Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 19, 2019 to March 21, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-01-14
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 19, 2019)

Attorneys

Downsize DC Foundation, et al
J. Mark BrewerBrewer, Pritchard & Buckley, PC, Amicus
J. Mark BrewerBrewer, Pritchard & Buckley, PC, Amicus
Jeremy Kettler
Robert Jeffrey OlsonWilliam J. Olson P.C., Petitioner
Robert Jeffrey OlsonWilliam J. Olson P.C., Petitioner
Kansas, et al.
Toby CrouseOffice of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Amicus
Toby CrouseOffice of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Amicus
United States of America
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent