Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/22-49_d18e.pdf
Page Number: 7.0

Cite as:  599 U. S. ____ (2023) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

within subsection (c).  Nor does subsection (j) call for impos-
ing any sentence from subsection (c).  Instead, subsection 
(j) provides its own set of penalties.  See §§924(j)(1)–(2). 

To be sure, subsection (j) references subsection (c).  But it 
does so only with respect to offense elements, not penalties. 
Subsection (j)’s offense elements include causing death “in 
the course of a violation of subsection (c).”  §924(j).  And to 
define that phrase, one must consult subsection (c)’s offense 
elements (i.e., what it takes to violate that subsection).  But 
that  is  where  subsection  (c)’s  role  in  subsection  (j)  stops. 
One need not consult subsection (c)’s sentences in order to 
sentence a subsection (j) defendant. 

Thus, a defendant who is sentenced under subsection (j) 
does not receive a “term of imprisonment imposed . . . under 
[subsection (c)].”  Consequently, §924(c)(1)(D)(ii)’s consecu-
tive-sentence mandate does not apply. 

III 
A 
The Government tries to deflect this conclusion by blend-
ing subsections (c) and (j) together.  It claims that “Congress 
incorporated Section 924(c) as a whole into Section 924(j).” 
Brief for United States 15.  Under that view, a subsection 
(j) defendant faces subsection (j)’s penalties plus subsection 
(c)’s penalties—including subsection (c)’s mandatory mini-
mum sentences and its consecutive-sentence mandate. 

The actual statute bears no resemblance to the Govern-
ment’s vision.  Subsection (j) nowhere mentions—let alone 
incorporates—subsection  (c)’s  penalties.    Instead,  as  just 
explained, subsection (j)’s only reference to subsection (c) is
limited to offense elements.  Supra this page. 

Moreover, a sentencing court cannot follow both subsec-
tion  (c)  and  subsection  (j)  as  written.    Combining  the  two
subsections would set them on a collision course; indeed, in 
some cases, the maximum sentence would be lower than the 
minimum sentence.  Take voluntary manslaughter using a