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Batf v. Galioto, 477 U.S. 556 (1986)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
Batf v. Galioto, 477 U.S. 556 (1986)
United States Dept. of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms v. Galioto No. 84-1904 Argued March 26, 1986 Decided June 27, 1986 477 U.S. 556
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
Syllabus
Appellee, who had been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital for a period of several days in 1971, was unable to purchase a firearm from a store in 1982 because of the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 922(d) prohibiting sales of firearms to such persons. Section 922(d) and other federal statutes prohibiting persons who have been committed to mental institutions from possessing, receiving, or transporting firearms also apply to felons. However, under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), certain felons could apply to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for administrative relief from the disabilities imposed by federal firearms laws, but no such relief was permitted for former mental patients. After unsuccessfully seeking a special exemption from the Bureau, appellee brought suit in Federal District Court, challenging the constitutionality of the firearms legislation. The court held that the statutory scheme was unconstitutional as violating equal protection principles because there was no rational basis for singling out mental patients for permanent disabled status, particularly as compared to convicts. The court also concluded that the statutory scheme unconstitutionally created an "irrebuttable presumption" that one who has been committed, no matter what the circumstances, is forever mentally ill and dangerous.
Held: The equal protection and "irrebuttable presumption" issues are now moot because, after this Court noted probable jurisdiction over this appeal and heard arguments, Congress amended § 925(c) to afford the administrative remedy contained therein to former mental patients ineligible to purchase firearms. Since appellee’s complaint appears to raise other issues best addressed in the first instance by the District Court, the case is remanded for further proceedings. Pp. 559-560.
602 F.Supp. 682, vacated and remanded.
BURGER, C.J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Batf v. Galioto, 477 U.S. 556 (1986) in 477 U.S. 556 477 U.S. 557. Original Sources, accessed November 24, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=W3Q494V9FLU3W4Y.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Batf v. Galioto, 477 U.S. 556 (1986), in 477 U.S. 556, page 477 U.S. 557. Original Sources. 24 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=W3Q494V9FLU3W4Y.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Batf v. Galioto, 477 U.S. 556 (1986). cited in 1986, 477 U.S. 556, pp.477 U.S. 557. Original Sources, retrieved 24 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=W3Q494V9FLU3W4Y.
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