Document: 516 U.S. 137116 S.Ct. 501133 L.Ed.2d 472 Roland J. BAILEY, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. Candisha Summerita ROBINSON, aka Candysha Robinson, Petitioner, v. UNITED Nos. 94-7448, 94-7492. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Oct. 30, 1995. Decided Dec. 6, Syllabus * Petitioners Bailey and Robinson were each convicted federal drug offenses violating 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), which, in relevant part, imposes a prison term upon person who "during relation to any . trafficking crime uses or carries firearm." Bailey's 924(c)(1) conviction was based on loaded pistol that police found inside bag his locked car trunk after they arrested him for possession cocaine revealed by search car's passenger compartment. The unloaded, holstered firearm provided basis Robinson's her bedroom closet she number drug-related offenses. There no evidence either case defendant actively employed way. In consolidating cases affirming convictions, Appeals sitting en banc applied an "accessibility proximity" test determine "use" within 924(c)(1)'s meaning, holding, both cases, gun sufficiently accessible proximate drugs proceeds jury could properly infer had placed order further protect drugs. Held: 1. Section requires suf ficient show active employment defendant, use makes operative factor predicate offense. Evidence proximity accessibility is not alone sufficient support under statute. Pp. ---- - ----. (a) Although correctly ruled must connote more than mere commits offense, court's standard renders virtually synonymous with "possession" role statutory word "carries" superfluous. language instead indicates Congress intended sense "to avail oneself of." Smith States, 508 ----, 113 2050, 2054, 124 138 (1993). This reading receives from context scheme, neither section's amendment history nor Smith, supra, at S.Ct., 2053-54, contrary. Thus, sustain prong Government during crime. Under this reading, includes acts brandishing, displaying, bartering, striking with, firing attempting fire, firearm, as well making reference defendant's possession. It does include placement protection near site its paraphernalia, nearby concealment be ready imminent confrontation. 505-509. (b) insufficient active-employment word. P. 509. 2. However, because did consider liability "carry" upholding these remanded. 36 F.3d 106, reversed O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Alan E. Untereiner, Washington, DC, petitioners. Michael Dreeben, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 These consolidated petitions challenge 924(c)(1). section 5-year minimum imprisonment violence We are asked decide whether offense 2 May 1989, petitioner stopped officers noticed lacked front license plate inspection sticker. When failed produce driver's license, ordered out car. As he stepped out, saw push something between seat console. A compartment one round ammunition 27 plastic bags containing total 30 grams cocaine. After arresting Bailey, searched where found, among items, large amount cash 9-mm. pistol. 3 charged several counts, including using carrying violation prosecution expert testified trial dealers frequently carry their money themselves. all charges, sentence included consecutive 60-month conviction. 4 District Columbia Circuit rejected claim 995 F.2d 1113 (C.A.D.C.1993). court held "using" if reasonably facilitated commission Id., 1119. case, explained, trier fact used facilitate sales. Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg, dissenting argued prior circuit precedent required reversal 5 June 1991, undercover officer made controlled buy crack Robinson. observed retrieve one-bedroom apartment. second buy, executed warrant Inside closet, other things, .22-caliber Derringer, papers tax return belonging 10.88 cocaine, marked $20 bill first buy. 6 indicted Derringer "second gun," i.e., type dealer might hide until reaching "real gun." also generally guns themselves dealers, police, own employees. count, which received imprisonment. denied motion judgment acquittal respect "using carrying" establish 7 divided panel count. 997 884 determined, "[g]iven way drafted, even individual intends connection conduct reached statute unless actually purpose." 887. unloaded fell significantly short previously necessary actual Henderson dissented, arguing things distribution it protected 8 resolve apparent inconsistencies decisions applying two reheard them banc. opinion, majority affirmed case. 106 (C.A.D.C.1994) (en banc). 9 multifactor weighing approach sufficiency nonexclusive set factors, including: gun, drugs, loaded, what weapon involved, testimony supported government's theory "use." explained invited reviewing reweigh mak e finding ultimate fact, function left jury; produced widely divergent contradictory results; step broader definition Circuits. 10 replaced test. "[W]e hold avails therefore violates [§ ], whenever puts keeps particular place (or one's agent) can gain access when needed crime." 115. new convictions determined 11 Wald, dissent, previous better appellate review convictions. Williams, joined Judges Silberman Buckley, dissented. He understanding denoted "rather contingent intent use." 121. "[B]y articulating 'proximity' plus 'accessibility' test, however, has effect diluted 'use' mean simply floating Ibid. 12 debate illustrates, been source much perplexity courts. Circuits conflict standards have articulated, compare Torres-Rodriguez, 930 1375, 1385 (C.A.9 1991) (mere satisfy 924(c)) Castro-Lara, 970 976, 983 (C.A.1 1992), cert. denied, 2935, 684 (1993) insufficient); results reached, Feliz-Cordero, 859 250, 254 (C.A.2 1988) (presence dresser drawer apartment proceeds, paraphernalia meet 924(c)(1)) McFadden, 13 463, 465 1994) (evidence hidden mattress money, "use") Hager, 969 883, 889 (C.A.10), 506 964, 437, 121 357 (1992) (gun boots living room "used"). granted certiorari clarify meaning 514 115 1689, 131 554(1995). II imposition specified penalties argue signifies firearm. Respondent opposes defends adopted Appeals. agree petitioners, 14 grappled proper we faced question barter "use," concluded was. illustrated, poses some interpretational difficulties different meanings attributable it. Consider paradoxical statement: "I my house, but I've never it." "Use" draws context, will look only wo rd itself, sentencing intended. 15 below See F.3d, 109; accord, 983; Theodoropoulos, 866 587, 597-598 (C.A.3 1989); Wilson, 174, 177 (C.A.5 1989). Had trigger easily so provided. obvious conclusion frequent "possess" gun-crime statutes describe prohibited gun-related conduct. See, e.g., §§ 922(g), 922(j), 922(k), 922(o)(1), 930(a), 930(b). 16 Where erred means possession, evaluating involvement amounted Its provides almost limitation kind would criminalized; practice, nearly every engaged standard, "thereby eras[ing] line statutes, courts, tried draw." 469 (Breyer, C. dissenting). Rather requiring use, criminalize "simpl[e] (Williams, shortcomings succinctly Williams' dissent: 17 "While attempts fine-tune concept facilitation (and thereby, use) through twin guideposts accessibility, result amounts enhances confidence. that, need mentioned regard, majority's broad assure automatic affirmance or, broad, unlikely clear guideline." 124-125 (citations omitted). An evidentiary satisfied adhere congressional require statute's application. 19 conclusion—that showing us answer difficult question. What show, beyond purposes statute? conclude language, indicate 20 start, must, Ron Pair Enterprises, Inc., 489 235, 241, 109 1026, 1030, 103 290 (1989). given "ordinary natural" variously defined "[t]o convert service," employ," of," purpose action 2054 (internal quotation marks omitted) (citing Webster's New International Dictionary English Language 2806 (2d ed.1949) Black's Law 1541 (6th ed.1990)). various definitions imply implementation. 467 dissenting) ("the ordinary words 'carry' activity simple possession"). 21 bare scheme. " '[T]he plain not, depends context.' Brown Gardner, 513 552, 555, 130 462 (1994) King St. Vincent's Hosp., 502 215, 221, 112 570, 574, 116 578 (1991)). Looking past read assumption terms meaning. "Judges should hesitate treat [as surplusage] setting, resistance heightened element criminal offense." Ratzlaf 510 114 655, 659, 126 615 (1994). Here, types firearm: "uses" "carries." 22 Government's into embolden himself. such breadth remains "carry." admits converge interpretation, maintains overlap product Therefore, argues, canon construction instructs "a legislature presumed superfluous words," Platt Union Pacific R. Co., 99 48, 58, 25 L.Ed. 424 (1879), inapplicable. Brief pp. 24-25. disagree. Nothing here Congress, terms, understood redundant. 23 assume particular, nonsuperfluous While undermines "carry," limited, interpretation preserves meaningful alternative charge. enunciate today, without being carried, offender display transaction, barters handling it; carried used, clothing throughout transaction. 24 firearm" "different 924(d)." U.S., 2057. Savings Assn. Timbers Inwood Forest Assocs., Ltd., 484 365, 371, 108 626, 630, 98 740 (1988) ("A provision may seem ambiguous isolation often clarified remainder scheme"). 924(d)(1) forfeiture "used" "intended used" certain crimes. provision, recognized distinction firearms those used," before "used." attaches places later necessary. difference provisions demonstrates meant broaden application specified, 924(d)(1). 924(c) casts light Congress' original version, passed 1968, read: 26 "(c) Whoever — "(1) commit felony prosecuted 28 "(2) unlawfully 29 shall sentenced less year years." 102, 82 Stat. 1224. phrase "uses commit" originally reach situation stretched far cover played detectable crime's commission. For example, stored retrieval deal went sour "use[d] version shows distinctly meanings. 31 1984 altered scope "any felony" violence," removed "unlawfully" requirement, merged prongs, substituted to" crimes earlier linking crimes, raised five years. 1005(a), 2138-2139. argues stripped qualifications ("to "unlawfully during") gave distinct meanings, now overlap. Of course, subsequent amendments expansively, item barter. 2057-58. But there expand swallow up significance If deprive connotations, appropriate "possession"—to wished reach. 32 nonetheless our observation "§ sweeps broadly," precludes limiting employment. decision today inconsistent Smith. declined limit "use weapon," adhered term. gun; (bartering) came address face permit find all. 33 To illustrate activities fall here, briefly "active employment" do not. 34 certainly most obviously, note compels offender's calculated bring about change circumstances just silent forceful presence table 35 example above—"I it"—shows takes depending context. refers ongoing, inactive fulfilled underlies contention "placement protection"—i.e., provide security embolden—constitutes follows, according argument, "used," emboldens protects owner. offender, availability intimidation, attack, defense always, presumably, comfort offender. inert more, enough Perhaps nonactive nature asserted clearer synonym used: storage. cannot merely storing proceeds. Storage employment, distinguishable possibly arises conceals Cf. 119 (Wald, (discussing firearm's defendant). Some "actively employed" hiding grab view, extend encompass action. disclosed employed, otherwise distort create impossible line-drawing problem. How "at ready" firearm? Within arm's reach? room? house? long confrontation there? Five minutes hours? Placement constitute rationale why "use"—that put future use—also fails. discussed above, knew how draft used." chose term, established five-year mandatory defendants 37 undeniable restricts available charge offenders mix brings And Sentencing Guidelines 2D1.1(b)(1) enhancement drug-trafficking possessed Commission, Manual (Nov.1994). extended applications prosecutors sometimes it, penalize 38 forth III 39 Having denotes 40 traffic then trunk. footlocker closet. No showed reverse judgments. 41 prongs Because remand consideration 42 ordered. syllabus constitutes part prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499 (1906).

Category: 0