The state of Wisconsin has dropped all charges against a trucker who was charged with carrying a concealed weapon after officers spotted a loaded revolver in his rig during an inspection.
The case was dismissed on Monday, August 28th in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, back in June of 2016, Guy A. Smith, a truck driver from Merrill, Wisconsin, was stopped for a routine inspection at a weigh station in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Inspectors entered his big rig and discovered a loaded revolver on the floor of the truck’s cab. The inspectors then cited Smith for carrying a concealed weapon and seized his gun. Smith did not have a concealed handgun permit.
John Monroe, Smith’s attorney, believed the charges were without merit and prepared two defenses.
The first defense focused on a 2011 Wisconsin law that allowed loaded handguns in vehicles.
“The charge should never have been filed because in 2011 the Legislature changed the law to allow handguns in cars to be unencased and loaded,” said Monroe.
“Carrying a concealed weapon is no longer a crime applicable to handguns in vehicles,” he continued.
The second defense, focused on Wisconsin’s “castle doctrine,” which allows people to use a gun without a permit to protect their home, car, or business. In the case of Smith, a truck driver who uses his vehicle for transportation, business, and lodging, his semi truck could be considered all three.
Last fall, prosecutors in Kenosha County delayed the trial date and requested more time upon discovering Monroe’s planned defense of his client.
On August 28th, as the second trial date approached, that state of Wisconsin dropped all charges against Smith.
“We are pleased the state came to its senses before wasting the taxpayers’ money on a trial, even if the state did not afford us the courtesy of telling us it would dismiss the case before we prepared for a trial and traveled to Kenosha,” said Monroe.
“I’m just a trucker trying to stay alive,” said Smith.
“I want my gun back, and I don’t want a record, and I’m not paying a fine. I didn’t do anything wrong,” he concluded.
