Opinion ID: 2381128
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: is included in the description of the offense;

Text: (2) establishes the required kind of culpability; (3) negatives an excuse or justification for such conduct; (4) negatives a defense under the statute of limitation; or (5) establishes jurisdiction or venue. 18 Pa.C.S. § 103. Visible possession of a firearm is neither included in the definitions of the felonies enumerated in section 9712(a) nor does it establish the culpability required under those definitions. See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502(c), 2503, 2702(a)(1), 2901, 3121, 3123, 3701(a)(1)(i)-(iii). Subsections (3), (4) and (5) of the statutory definition of element of an offense are clearly inapplicable. Thus, under Pennsylvania law, even in the absence of an explicit statement by the legislature visible possession of a firearm could not be considered an element of the crime of which a defendant subject to section 9712 has been convicted.