Court Opinion

ID: 8529278
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 10:59:31.053078+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:51:43.629254
License: Public Domain

Me. Justice "Wole
delivered the opinion of the court.
The appellant was convicted of carrying on his person for purposes of offense and defense a revolver that was capable of causing death or a severe bodily injury.
The defendant was prosecuted by virtue of Act No. 14 of the Legislative Assembly of Porto Rico, approved on the 25th of June, 1924. The appellant assigns as error that the said act is void, inasmuch as a special session of the Legislature was called for the purpose of amending the law with regard to the bearing of arms, and that the said Legislature, instead of merely amending the law, passed an entirely new act.
While in the said act the definition of a prohibited weapon is completely changed, we think, nevertheless, that the changed definition was within the amending power of the Legislature, as amendment is defined in 2 Corpus Juris, Í316. Hence the change was within the call of the Governor to make an amendment to the law. We are inclined to agree with the fiscal that the discussion of this alleged error shades oif into the discussion of the alleged uncon*442stitutionality of the act in question which the defendant sets forth in his other assignments of error.
The principal objection of the defendant is that Act No. 14, supra, is unconstitutional because the definition therein contained is vague, indefinite and uncertain; that the said act does not specify in a clear and definite manner what weapons are prohibited. As a part of this objection appellant also maintains that the power of determining what is and what is not a prohibited weapon is left too much to the arbitrament of the judge who tries the case. Section 1 of Act No. 14, supra, says: “That any person unlawfully carrying any arm or instrument with which bodily injury may be caused, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of from one to six months.” Section 5 of the Act provides:
“That the provisions of this Act shall not be applicable—
“1. To the carrying of implements, tools and instruments pertaining to the arts, professions, trades, and occupations or sports when carried by reason or on occasion thereof;
“2. To the carrying of commonly used walking-sticks, provided they do not contain swords or other arms prohibited by this Act;
“3. To the carrying of pocket-knives or folding pocket-knives the blades of which do not exceed three inches in length;
“4. To the carrying of hunting arms when used for said purposes by a person having a license therefor ■ Provided, That hunting licenses shall continue to be granted in accordance with the special law on the subject;
“5. To the carrying of arms within one’s dwelling or estate;
“6. To the carrying of crutches, canes, or other similar articles by invalids or cripples when required by their bodily condition.”
Taking the words contained in section 1, it is evident that the word “arm” (arma in Spanish) means a weapon, or something that may be used for purposes of offense and defense. If the statute had merely used the word “instrument” without any further attempt to classify the nature of the thing prohibited, perhaps there would be force in the contention of the appellant that the definition lacks *443certainty. Every one, however, knows what an arm or weapon means. Little' is left to the judge except to say whether the particular thing used is a weapon, or an instrument similar to a weapon, by which bodily injury may be caused. Every one also knows that an arm or weapon is used for purposes of offense and defense. The court need only say in a particular case whether the thing used falls within the definition of the word “arm” or is an instrument similarly used. See People v. Cruz-Rosado, ante, page 305.
Furthermore, the definition in section 1 is aided by section 5, supra. The said section more definitely shows the nature of the arms or instruments prohibited. Therefore, we find it unnecessary to analyze the jurisprudence cited by the appellant to the effect that a penal statute which does not contain a sufficient definition of a crime is unconstitutional and void.
The judgment must be affirmed.