Opinion ID: 601810
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inadequate Jury Charge

Text: 39 Defendant contends that in order to be convicted of using and carrying a firearm during a drug offense in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), the firearm must have been within the defendant's immediate reach at the time of the offense. U.S. v. Feliz-Cordero, 859 F.2d 250 (2d Cir.1988). The standard Fifth Circuit jury instruction was given. Defendant's additional instruction would impose an additional burden on the government, not recognized by this Circuit. See U.S. v. Pineda-Ortuno, 952 F.2d 98 (5th Cir.1992), cert. denied, by Ramirez-Carranza v. U.S., --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1990, 118 L.Ed.2d 587 (1992). Our decisions uniformly hold that it is not necessary for the defendant to actually brandish or use the firearm at the time of arrest, merely that the firearm is available for use, or is in position to provide protection in connection with a drug trafficking crime. U.S. v. Cannon, 981 F.2d 785, 790 (5th Cir.1993); U.S. v. Beverly, 921 F.2d 559, 562-563 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, by Brown v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 2869, 115 L.Ed.2d 1035 (1991); U.S. v. Molinar-Apodaca, 889 F.2d 1417, 1424 (5th Cir.1989). 40 The district court properly instructed the jury.