State v. Smith’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The evil sought to be remedied by said section was the insecurity of life caused' by the pernicious habit of carrying concealed weapons and the consequent demoralization of society. The word ‘traveler,’ when used in a broad sense, designates one who travels in any way, distance not being material. It is clear that the Legislature did not use the word in this sense, for such signification would destroy the very purpose for which the section was enacted, by licensing, rather than suppressing, the practice of carrying concealed weapons. It is manifest, therefore, that the word was employed in a more limited sense, and was intended to designate a person traveling at least such a distance as takes him among strangers, with whose habits, conduct, and character he is not acquainted, where unknown dangers may exist, from which there may be a necessity to protect himself by preparing for a defense against an attack. It follows that, to come within the exception of said section, the travel must be without the ordinary habits, business, or duties of the person, and at least to such distance from his home as‘takes, him beyond the circle of his general acquaintances, among strangers with whose habits, conduct, and character he is not acquainted.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Sedillo