Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/524bv.pdf
Page Number: 194

524US1

Unit: $U79

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Cite as: 524 U. S. 125 (1998)

149

Ginsburg, J., dissenting

ings, as the Court and the “Firearms” statutes demon-
strate.13 The narrower
[one’s] person”
interpretation is hardly implausible nor at odds with an
accepted meaning of “carries a ﬁrearm.”

“on or about

Overlooking that there will be an enhanced sentence for
the gun-possessing drug dealer in any event, see supra, at
140–142, the Court asks rhetorically: “How persuasive is a
punishment that is without effect until a drug dealer who
has brought his gun to a sale (indeed has it available for
use) actually takes it from the trunk (or unlocks the glove
compartment) of his car?” Ante, at 133. Correspondingly,
the Court deﬁnes “carries a ﬁrearm” to cover “a person who
knowingly possesses and conveys ﬁrearms [anyplace] in a ve-
hicle . . . which the person accompanies.” Ante, at 126–127.
Congress, however, hardly lacks competence to select the
words “possesses” or “conveys” when that is what the Legisla-
ture means.14 Notably in view of the Legislature’s capacity
to speak plainly, and of overriding concern, the Court’s inquiry

13 Any doubt on that score is dispelled by examining the provisions
in the “Firearms” chapter, in addition to § 924(c)(1), that include a form
of the word “carry”: 18 U. S. C. § 922(a)(5)
(“carry out a bequest”);
§§ 922(s)(6)(B)(ii), (iii) (“carry out this subsection”); § 922(u) (“carry away
[a ﬁrearm]”); 18 U. S. C. § 924(a)(6)(B)(ii) (1994 ed., Supp. II) (“carry or
otherwise possess or discharge or otherwise use [a] handgun”); 18 U. S. C.
§ 924(e)(2)(B) (“carrying of a ﬁrearm”); § 925(a)(2) (“carried out to enable
a person”); § 926(a) (“carry out the provisions of this chapter”); § 926A
(“lawfully possess and carry such ﬁrearm to any other place where he
may lawfully possess and carry such ﬁrearm”); § 929(a)(1) (“uses or carries
a ﬁrearm and is in possession of armor piercing ammunition”); § 930(d)(3)
(“lawful carrying of ﬁrearms . . . in a Federal facility incident to hunting
or other lawful purposes”) (emphasis added in all quotations).

14 See, e. g., 18 U. S. C. § 924(a)(6)(B)(ii) (1994 ed., Supp. II) (“if the person
sold . . . a handgun . . . to a juvenile knowing . . . that the juvenile intended
to carry or otherwise possess . . . the handgun . . . in the commission of a
crime of violence”); 18 U. S. C. § 926A (“may lawfully possess and carry
such ﬁrearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry
such ﬁrearm”); § 929(a)(1) (“uses or carries a ﬁrearm and is in possession
of armor piercing ammunition”); § 2277 (“brings, carries, or possesses any
dangerous weapon”) (emphasis added in all quotations).