Court Opinion

ID: 9762711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:29:49.414691+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:36.840105
License: Public Domain

EAKIN, J.,
dissenting:
¶ 1 The majority bases its reversal on the fact appellant put his gun in his girlfriend’s purse before entering the school; this is interpreted as displaying an effort to dispossess himself of the weapon, rather than an intent to conceal it. Remembering appellant was at the school to collect a child in the context of a custody dispute, and that police were called to serve a PFA petition on him, such concealment is not necessarily as pure and innocent as the majority assumes.
¶ 2 The legislature made this all but a strict liability crime, requiring no proof of purpose beyond the transport onto school property, for reasons as obvious as the nightly news. The one indisputable fact shown by his act is that he knew he shouldn’t bring the gun to the school; he chose to do so anyhow, hidden in his companion’s purse. Hiding that which is illegal does not make it legal.
¶ 3 The learned trial court was in much better position than we are to assess the true nature and purpose of concealing the gun in the purse, but did not find exculpation in that act. If putting the gun in the purse was at all commendable, it may mitigate the sentence, but does not excuse the bringing of a gun on school property. The purpose of this law is to keep guns away from schools. This gun was not kept away from the school; it was brought to school property by appellant, knowingly, concealed and readily available.
¶ 4 Putting the gun in the purse did not preclude a finding of constructive possession. Were these drugs, would appellant not possess them even though they temporarily reposed (at his instruction) in the *218purse of his companion? The cases holding such a scenario sufficient to show constructive possession are too many to enumerate. What distinguishes this gun from other objects for which constructive possession is clear?
¶ 5 If this were a student concealing a handgun in a classmate’s purse, we would not hesitate to affirm the finding of constructive possession. Why is a parent different? There is no realistic question but that appellant would retrieve his gun when he wanted, not when his girlfriend decided to return it. If he wished to retrieve the gun at any time before leaving the school, the gun was there for him to take.
¶ 6 You cannot escape responsibility for bringing a gun to school by putting the gun in the purse of your companion. Accordingly, I would affirm the conviction.