Opinion ID: 373460
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Gun Count

Text: 26 Count five of the superseding indictment charged appellant with carrying a firearm unlawfully during the commission of a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2). 9 Appellant admits that he was carrying a gun while the felony was in progress, but argues that the government did not prove that it was carried unlawfully. Based on this argument appellant filed a motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of the entire case. The district court concluded that the gun was carried unlawfully and denied appellant's motion. The issue on appeal is whether the trial court's denial was proper. 27 Section 924(c)(2) is violated if the separate act of carrying a firearm is prohibited by a federal, state, or local law of the area. United States v. Bower, 575 F.2d at 501; United States v. Rivero, 532 F.2d 450, 459 (5th Cir. 1976); See United States v. Soria, 519 F.2d 1060, 1063-64 (5th Cir. 1975). The government was therefore required to prove only that while the felony was in progress, appellant was carrying a gun in violation of any firearms law. United States v. Bower, 575 F.2d at 502. 28 The applicable Texas state law, section 46.02(a) of Vernon's Texas Penal Code Annotated, provides A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his person a handgun . . . . Under this Texas law, unless specifically excluded by another section, any carrying of a handgun is unlawful. Chatman v. State, 513 S.W.2d 854, 856 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). Because he did not show that he came within an exception to the statute, appellant was proved to have been carrying the gun unlawfully during the commission of a felony. Accordingly, the district court was correct in denying appellant's motion.