Opinion ID: 1955138
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of Section 5d

Text: In reviewing the Section 5d conviction, we first must determine whether Kelly's possession of the carpet cutter was unlawful under section 5d. See State v. Latimore, 197 N.J. Super. 197, 210, 484 A. 2d 702 (A.D. 1984) (To prove possession of weapon, state must show intentional control and dominion, the ability to affect physically and care for item during a span of time, accompanied by knowledge of its character). The State proved that Kelly possessed the carpet cutter for the purpose of using it as a weapon. State v. Blaine, 221 N.J. Super. 66, 70, 533 A. 2d 980 (App.Div. 1987) (State must prove possession and circumstantial culpability). Kelly testified that she put the weapon in her pocket before going outside in order to protect herself from a potential attack by Boone. Kelly thus intentionally carried the razor for at least two hours for the purpose of using it as a weapon. The next question then concerns whether anticipatory self-defense excuses unlawful possession of the weapon in this instance. New Jersey courts have previously rejected the contention that self-defense justifies possession of a weapon prohibited per se by the Legislature. See State v. Colon, 186 N.J. Super. 355, 357, 452 A. 2d 700 (App.Div. 1982) (The issue is not whether a weapon could be lawfully used, but whether the circumstances surrounding the possession were manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses.). The permissible use of a weapon does not legitimate its impermissible possession. Other jurisdictions have also interpreted statutes issuing per se prohibitions on the possession of certain weapons generally to exclude self-defense as a justification for unlawful possession. See Hurt v. United States, 337 A. 2d 215, 217 (D.C. 1975) (rejecting defendant's contention that self-defense is justification to violation of per se offense of carrying pistol without license in absence showing of threat of immediate harm); State v. Hart, 66 Idaho 217, 220-221, 157 P. 2d 72, 73 (1945) (rejecting argument of defendant charged with violation of city ordinance prohibiting concealed weapons that ordinance was unconstitutional); Johnson v. State, 256 Ind. 497, 504-507, 269 N.E. 2d 879, 883-84 (1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 921, 92 S.Ct. 958, 30 L.Ed. 2d 792 (1972) (rejecting contention of defendant charged with per se offense of carrying pistol without license that possession became lawful when weapon is used in self-defense); State v. Walton, 311 N.W. 2d 113, 114-15 (Iowa 1981) (rejecting defendant's argument that defense of self-protection applies to per se regulatory offenses of carrying weapons and of receipt, transportation, or possession of weapon by felon absent showing of immediate and imminent threatened harm); Medley v. State, 52 Md. App. 225, 231-237, 448 A. 2d 363, 366-69 (1982) (rejecting defendant's argument that he had right to arm himself in reasonable anticipation of a future attack as valid defense to per se regulatory offense of wearing, carrying, or transporting handgun); Commonwealth v. Lindsey, 396 Mass. 840, 489 N.E. 2d 666 (1986) (rejecting defendant's argument that reasonable apprehension of future serious bodily harm is defense to charge of per se regulation that one may lawfully carry firearm only with license or if qualified for specific statutory authorization even though defendant had been previously attacked by victim and was pressing criminal charges against victim at the time that defendant shot victim in self-defense); People v. Townsel, 13 Mich. App. 600, 601, 164 N.W. 2d 776, 777 (1968) (rejecting defendant's argument that carrying a weapon for self-defense is a defense to a prosecution for carrying a concealed weapon); People v. Bieniek, 60 A.D. 2d 777, 778, 400 N.Y.S. 2d 640, 641 (1977) (rejecting defendant's contention that his unlawful possession of weapon in anticipation of a future need for self-defense was justified because the defendant had previously received threats); Taylor v. State, 520 S.W. 2d 370, 370-71 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1974) (rejecting defendant's contention that carrying weapon solely for purpose of self-defense is defense to charge of carrying a pistol); Johnson v. State, 650 S.W. 2d 414, 415 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) (rejecting defendant's contention that feeling that one is in a high crime area is defense to per se regulatory offense that prohibits the carrying of firearms on premise licensed for the sale or service of alcoholic beverages); Thompson v. State, 452 S.W. 2d 467 (Tex. Crim. App. 1970) (arming in self-defense is not defense to charge of unlawful carrying a pistol). Thus while self-defense may be probative to determining unlawful intent to commit a crime, it is only relevant in the context of section 5d offenses when a defendant makes spontaneous use of a weapon in response to an immediate danger. [2] Harmon defines the extraordinary circumstances that allow for a self-defense under section 5d as those in which a person makes spontaneous use of a weapon to repell immediate danger. 104 N.J. at 208-09, 516 A. 2d 1047. When Kelly armed herself, the danger was in no way immediate. Had Kelly seized the weapon spontaneously and used it to defend herself against a life-threatening attack, then, she would not have possessed the weapon for a manifestly inappropriate purpose. As it stands, however, even Kelly acknowledged at trial that she knew she was not supposed to carry a razor but took it with her in anticipation of a confrontation with Boone. Thus, the record fully supports the jury's finding that Kelly possessed the weapon under manifestly inappropriate circumstances. Her anticipatory self-defense does not excuse the possession. It is logical to hold that in the context of section 5d offenses, self-defense should not generally cure the infraction of wrongful possession. The jury, in acquitting Kelly of offenses that require an inquiry into intent, accurately perceived the distinction between possession and use. Although self-defense involves a lawful use of a weapon, it does not justify the unlawful possession of the weapon under section 5d except when a person uses a weapon after arming himself or herself spontaneously to repell an immediate danger. Obviously, there may be circumstances in which a weapon is seized in response to an immediate danger, but ensuing circumstances render its use unnecessary. Arguably, under such conditions the individual may take immediate possession of the weapon out of necessity, N.J.S.A. 2C:3-2a, rather than self-defense, N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4. However, it would appear that the availability of necessity as a justification for the immediate possession of a weapon, as with self-defense, is limited only to cases of spontaneous and compelling danger. Indeed, precautionary arming during a non-emergency situation is the type of conduct that the Legislature sought to interdict under section 5d. Persons who feel threatened should communicate with the police and not take the law into their own hands. We recognize that some will consider our position unreasonable and argue that Kelly, in the face of Boone's past behavior, recent threats, and inability of the police to stop Boone from abusing her, acted reasonably in arming herself with the razor for protection. Nonetheless, that is precisely the behavior section 5d was designed to discourage. Undoubtedly Kelly found herself in a particularly difficult situation, but the answer is not to arm oneself and fight violence with violence. The answer lies in making law enforcement more responsive so that the embattled person does not face the Draconian choice of bearing arms or withstanding the onslaught of abuse.