Source: https://www.ussc.gov/guidelines/amendment/691
Timestamp: 2020-07-06 09:50:55
Document Index: 756910476

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5845', '§ 921', '§ 5845', '§ 5845', '§ 921', '§ 5845', '§ 5845', '§ 921', '§ 922', '§ 5845', '§ 922', '§2', '§ 921', '§ 921', '§ 922', '§2', '§2', 'art 1', '§5', '§2', '§1', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§ 921', '§2', '§5', '§2', '§5', '§2', '§2', '§2']

691 | United States Sentencing Commission
AMENDMENT 691
Amendment: Section 2K2.1(a) is amended by striking subdivision (1) as follows:
"(1) 26, if the offense involved a firearm described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a) or 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30), and the defendant committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining at least two felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;",
"(1) 26, if (A) the offense involved a (i) semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine; or (ii) firearm that is described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a); and (B) the defendant committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining at least two felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;";
by striking subdivision (3) as follows:
"(3) 22, if the offense involved a firearm described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a) or 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30), and the defendant committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining one felony conviction of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;",
"(3) 22, if (A) the offense involved a (i) semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine; or (ii) firearm that is described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a); and (B) the defendant committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining one felony conviction of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;";
by striking subdivision (4)(B) as follows:
"(B) the offense involved a firearm described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a) or 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30); and the defendant (i) was a prohibited person at the time the defendant committed the instant offense; or (ii) is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d);",
"(B) the (i) offense involved a (I) semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine; or (II) firearm that is described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a); and (ii) defendant (I) was a prohibited person at the time the defendant committed the instant offense; or (II) is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d);";
Section 2K2.1(b) is amended by striking subdivision (4) as follows:
"(4) If any firearm was stolen, or had an altered or obliterated serial number, increase by 2 levels.",
"(4) If any firearm (A) was stolen, increase by 2 levels; or (B) had an altered or obliterated serial number, increase by 4 levels.".
"(5) If the defendant engaged in the trafficking of firearms, increase by 4 levels.".
The Commentary to §2K2.1 captioned "Application Notes" is amended by striking Note 2 as follows:
"2. Firearm Described in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30).—For purposes of subsection (a), a ‘firearm described in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30)’ (pertaining to semiautomatic assault weapons) does not include a weapon exempted under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 922(v)(3).",
"2. Semiautomatic Firearm Capable of Accepting a Large Capacity Magazine.—For purposes of subsections (a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(4), a ‘semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine’ means a semiautomatic firearm that has the ability to fire many rounds without reloading because at the time of the offense (A) the firearm had attached to it a magazine or similar device that could accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition; or (B) a magazine or similar device that could accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition was in close proximity to the firearm. This definition does not include a semiautomatic firearm with an attached tubular device capable of operating only with .22 caliber rim fire ammunition.".
The Commentary to §2K2.1 captioned "Application Notes" is amended by striking Note 4 as follows:
"4. ‘Felony offense,’ as used in subsection (b)(5), means any offense (federal, state, or local) punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, whether or not a criminal charge was brought, or conviction obtained.";
by redesignating Notes 5 through 10 as Notes 4 through 9, respectively; by striking Note 11 as follows:
"11. Under subsection (c)(1), the offense level for the underlying offense (which may be a federal, state, or local offense) is to be determined under §2X1.1 (Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy) or, if death results, under the most analogous guideline from Chapter Two, Part A, Subpart 1 (Homicide).";
by redesignating Notes 12 through 14 as Notes 10 through 12, respectively; and by striking Notes 15 and 16 as follows:
"15. As used in subsections (b)(5) and (c)(1), ‘another felony offense’ and ‘another offense’ refer to offenses other than explosives or firearms possession or trafficking offenses. However, where the defendant used or possessed a firearm or explosive to facilitate another firearms or explosives offense (e.g., the defendant used or possessed a firearm to protect the delivery of an unlawful shipment of explosives), an upward departure under §5K2.6 (Weapons and Dangerous Instrumentalities) may be warranted.
16. The enhancement under subsection (b)(4) for a stolen firearm or a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number applies whether or not the defendant knew or had reason to believe that the firearm was stolen or had an altered or obliterated serial number.".
"8. Application of Subsection (b)(4).—
(B) Knowledge or Reason to Believe.—Subsection (b)(4) applies regardless of whether the defendant knew or had reason to believe that the firearm was stolen or had an altered or obliterated serial number.".
The Commentary to §2K2.1 captioned "Application Notes" is amended in Note 4, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Application of Subsection (a)(7).—" before "Subsection (a)(7)"; in Note 5, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Application of Subsection (b)(1).—" before "For purposes of calculating"; in Note 6, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Application of Subsection (b)(2).—" before "Under subsection (b)(2)"; in Note 7, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Destructive Devices.—" before "A defendant"; in Note 9, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Application of Subsection (b)(7).—" before "Under"; and by striking "(b)(6), if" and inserting "(b)(7), if"; in Note 10, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Prior Felony Convictions.—" before "For purposes of"; in Note 11, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Upward Departure Provisions.—" before "An upward departure"; in Note 12, as redesignated by this amendment, by inserting "Armed Career Criminal.—" before "A defendant who"; and by inserting at the end the following:
"13. Application of Subsection (b)(5).—
The term ‘defendant’, consistent with §1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct), limits the accountability of the defendant to the defendant’s own conduct and conduct that the defendant aided or abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, procured, or willfully caused.
14. ‘In Connection With’.—
(B) Application When Other Offense is Burglary or Drug Offense.—Subsections (b)(6) and (c)(1) apply (i) in a case in which a defendant who, during the course of a burglary, finds and takes a firearm, even if the defendant did not engage in any other conduct with that firearm during the course of the burglary; and (ii) in the case of a drug trafficking offense in which a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs, drug-manufacturing materials, or drug paraphernalia. In these cases, application of subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1) is warranted because the presence of the firearm has the potential of facilitating another felony offense or another offense, respectively.
(D) Upward Departure Provision.—In a case in which the defendant used or possessed a firearm or explosive to facilitate another firearms or explosives offense (e.g., the defendant used or possessed a firearm to protect the delivery of an unlawful shipment of explosives), an upward departure under §5K2.6 (Weapons and Dangerous Instrumentalities) may be warranted.".
Chapter Five, Part K is amended by striking §5K2.17 as follows:
"§5K2.17. High-Capacity, Semiautomatic Firearms (Policy Statement)
If the defendant possessed a high-capacity, semiautomatic firearm in connection with a crime of violence or controlled substance offense, an upward departure may be warranted. A ‘high-capacity, semiautomatic firearm’ means a semiautomatic firearm that has a magazine capacity of more than ten cartridges. The extent of any increase should depend upon the degree to which the nature of the weapon increased the likelihood of death or injury in the circumstances of the particular case.",
"§5K2.17. Semiautomatic Firearms Capable of Accepting Large Capacity Magazine (Policy Statement)
If the defendant possessed a semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine in connection with a crime of violence or controlled substance offense, an upward departure may be warranted. A ‘semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine’ means a semiautomatic firearm that has the ability to fire many rounds without reloading because at the time of the offense (A) the firearm had attached to it a magazine or similar device that could accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition; or (B) a magazine or similar device that could accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition was in close proximity to the firearm. The extent of any increase should depend upon the degree to which the nature of the weapon increased the likelihood of death or injury in the circumstances of the particular case.".
While the amendment deletes the reference to 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30) at §2K2.1(a)(5), it does not include the phrase "a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine" in this subsection because a defendant sentenced under subsection (a)(5) does not have the same "prohibited person" status as a defendant sentenced under subsections (a)(1), (a)(3), or (a)(4).
The amendment also amends §5K2.17 (High-Capacity, Semiautomatic Firearms) in a manner consistent with §2K2.1, as amended, except that it excludes the language pertaining to .22 caliber rim fire ammunition in order to remain in conformity with a prior congressional directive. As amended, §5K2.17 (Semiautomatic Firearms Capable of Accepting Large Capacity Magazine) provides that an upward departure may be warranted if a defendant possesses a semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine in connection with a crime of violence or controlled substance offense.
Second, the amendment provides a 4-level enhancement at §2K2.1(b)(5) if the defendant engaged in the trafficking of firearms. The definition of trafficking encompasses transporting, transferring, or otherwise disposing of two or more firearms, or receipt of two or more firearms with the intent to transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of firearms to another individual. The definition also requires that the defendant know or have reason to believe that such conduct would result in the transport, transfer, or disposal of a firearm to an individual whose possession or receipt would be unlawful or who intended to use or dispose of the firearm unlawfully. With respect to an individual whose possession would be unlawful, the amendment includes individuals who previously have been convicted of a crime of violence, a controlled substance offense, or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or who at the time of the offense were under a criminal justice sentence, including probation, parole, supervised release, imprisonment, work release, or escape status. Additionally, the definition provides that the enhancement applies regardless of whether anything of value was exchanged.
Third, the amendment modifies §2K2.1(b)(4) to increase penalties for offenses involving altered or obliterated serial numbers. Prior to this amendment, §2K2.1(b)(4) provided a 2-level enhancement if the offense involved either a stolen firearm or a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number. The amendment provides a 4-level enhancement for offenses involving altered or obliterated serial numbers. This increase reflects both the difficulty in tracing firearms with altered or obliterated serial numbers, and the increased market for these types of weapons.