Opinion ID: 743510
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Count 5--Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun

Text: 33 Polk next challenges the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o )(1), which criminalizes the possession of a machine gun, as an unconstitutional exercise of Congress's powers under the Commerce Clause. This argument, however, was dead on arrival, for after a spirited debate by our en banc court (which failed to produce a decisive ruling on the issue), 6 we have since declared § 922(o )(1) constitutional. See United States v. Knutson, 113 F.3d 27 (5th Cir.1997). Until the Supreme Court suggests otherwise, we are bound by Knutson. 34 E. Count 6--False Statement to a Licensee in the Acquisition of a Firearm, Aiding and Abetting 35 Count 6 of the indictment charged Polk with aiding and abetting the purchase of a firearm through a false and fictitious statement. In particular, the Government alleged that Polk purchased weapons from Liberty Sports through Davidson, a straw purchaser. Such purchases, argues the Government, violate 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6) because they involve the buyer making a false statement about the true purchaser of the weapon(s). 36 Section 922(a)(6) provides in part as follows: 37
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