Opinion ID: 165629
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sporting Exception

Text: Aune argues that the district court erred in finding that he did not qualify for a reduced offense level under the “sporting exception” contained in U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2). Section 2K2.1(b)(2) states in relevant part: If the defendant . . . possessed all ammunition and firearms solely for lawful sporting purposes or collection, and did not unlawfully This adjusted base offense level was calculated as follows: the base 1 offense level of fourteen under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(6)(A) was adjusted upward two levels as directed by § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) for the number of firearms possessed and then reduced by three levels for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to § 3E1.1(a) and (b). This adjusted base offense level and Aune’s criminal history category resulted in Guidelines range of eighteen to twenty-four months. -5- discharge or otherwise unlawfully use such firearms or ammunition, decrease the offense level determined . . . to level 6. U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2) (2003). 2 The application notes to § 2K2.1(b)(2) state that whether firearms are possessed for “lawful sporting purposes or collection” is “determined by the surrounding circumstances” which include “the number and type of firearms, the amount and type of ammunition, the location and circumstances of possession and actual use, the nature of the defendant’s criminal history (e.g., prior convictions for offenses involving firearms), and the extent to which possession was restricted by local law.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(2), cmt. n.10. The defendant has the burden to show that § 2K2.1(b)(2) applies. United States v. Collins, 313 F.3d 1251, 1254 (10th Cir. 2002). After reviewing the record, we conclude that the district court did not err in declining to reduce Aune’s sentence pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(2). Aune failed to provide any support for his assertion that the .270 caliber rifle was used for hunting and target shooting. The court also relied on Aune’s admission that he possessed about a thousand rounds of hollow-point ammunition for the .22 caliber firearms allegedly for use by Aune’s children. Perhaps most importantly, Aune admitted that the .45 caliber handgun had never been taken hunting and that it was for his girlfriend’s Because Aune was sentenced in March 2004, all citations to the 2 Sentencing Guidelines are to the 2003 version of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual. -6- protection, which is indisputably not a “sporting purpose.” The court also considered the substantial number of firearms and the fact that the guns were kept in a hidden closet, which, combined with the statements by McCune, suggested to the court that Aune knew he was in violation of the law. The district court therefore did not err when it concluded that Aune was not entitled to a reduction under § 2K2.1(b)(2) because Aune failed to carry his burden to show that all the firearms were “solely for lawful sporting purposes.” B. Sixth Amendment Claim under Blakely v. Washington Aune also argues that under Blakely v. Washington, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), his Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the district court enhanced his sentence by two levels pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(1) because he possessed between three and seven firearms. The indictment to which Aune pleaded guilty, however, charged him with possession of six specifically identified firearms. Because the district court did not enhance Aune’s sentence based on any facts not admitted by Aune regarding the number of weapons he possessed, Aune’s Sixth Amendment rights were not violated. 3 Blakely, 124 S. Ct. at 2537 (noting that the Sixth 3 Aune does not argue that the district court’s factual findings related to his qualification under the “sporting exception” violated his Sixth Amendment rights. Furthermore, because Aune does not assert that the district court erred under United States v. Booker, 125 S. Ct. 738 (2005), we need not consider its application to his appeal. -7- Amendment is implicated when a sentence is imposed on facts not found by a jury or admitted by the defendant).