Opinion ID: 3003685
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether The Statute At Issue Is Impermissibly

Text: Vague Relying on the dissent in Stanko, Schultz also argues that § 921(a)(20)(A) is impermissibly vague. “[T]he void-for-vagueness doctrine requires that a penal statute define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness such that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357 (1983) (citations omitted). Schultz argues that because § 921(a)(20)(A) fails to specify what offenses are included under “other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices,” ordinary individuals are left to guess as to whether their conduct is criminally prohibited by statute. Appellant’s Br. at 8. We do not find this statute impermissibly vague. According to its terms, § 921(a)(20)(A) excludes those “[f]ederal or state offenses pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices.” In the final phrase, the word “similar” limits the term “offenses,” so that it refers back to the three enumerated offenses, and is further limited by “relating to the regulaNo. 09-1192 7 tion of business practices.” Accordingly, an ordinary individual would have notice that the § 921(a)(20)(A) exception applies only if he or she committed an enumerated or similar offense related to the regulation of business practices.