…He Challenges Harsh Gun Laws in Supreme Court

Anthony Sylvestre

Sylvestre says that they are basing the case on two arguments.

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney for Allyson Major

“One, that his constitutional right not to be arrested, not to be detained, not to lose his freedom unless there is reasonable suspicion…that right was violated. There was no reasonable suspicion for this man to be arrested and detained and carted off to prison for thirty-eight days. He didn’t have the ability to secure an attorney so he had to wait thirty-eight days until his family could pool together some money to secure an attorney to obtain bail at the Supreme Court. That is an injustice. That is something that happens on a day to day basis and Mr. Major has taken the brave challenge to bring this matter to Court. We are also challenging his right to be presumed innocent. The law under consideration also makes it mandatory that look…in addition to deeming you to be in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, you have to now go to a Court and prove your innocence. Mr. Major went through a full trial…he was able to be acquitted but a citizen should not be put through that where they have to obtain the services of an attorney because as you know a layperson having to go through a trial on their own may not be able to put forward the necessary evidence…or ask the necessary questions to establish certain things. So these are things which ordinary citizens under the existing law are still faced with and therefore the case is an extremely important case and it is one which, in my humble opinion, is one of the more important Constitutional challenges that has been made in recent years.”

Arguments in the case concluded this afternoon, and Justice Michelle has reserved judgment.