Document: 529 U.S. 848120 S.Ct.1904146 L.Ed.2d 902 SyllabusNOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as being done in connection with this case, at the time opinion issued. The constitutes no part of Court but has been prepared by Reporter Decisions for convenience reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 337. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES JONESv.UNITED CERTIORARI TO APPEALSFOR SEVENTH CIRCUIT No. 99_5739. Argued March 21, 2000 Decided May 22, Petitioner Jones tossed Molotov cocktail into home owned and occupied his cousin dwelling place everyday family living. ensuing fire severely damaged home. was convicted District violating, inter alia, 18 U.S.C. § 844(i), which makes federal crime to "maliciously damag[e] or destro[y], _ means an explosive, any building used interstate foreign commerce activity affecting commerce." Seventh Circuit affirmed, rejecting Jones's contention that §844(i), when applied arson private residence, exceeds authority vested Congress under Commerce Clause. Held: Because owner-occupied residence not commercial purpose does qualify property "used in" commerce-affecting activity, such subject prosecution §844(i). Pp. 3_10. (a) In support its argument §844(i) reaches Government relies principally on breadth statutory term "affecting commerce," words that, unqualified, signal Congress' intent invoke full Clause authority. But contains qualifying activity. key word "used." did define explosion whose damage destruction might affect commerce, required destroyed itself have commerce. proper inquiry, therefore, function itself, then whether affects rejects Government's Indiana involved case constantly "used" least three "activit[ies] commerce": (1) collateral obtain secure mortgage from Oklahoma lender, who, turn, security loan; (2) Wisconsin insurer casualty insurance policy, safeguarded interests homeowner mortgagee; (3) receive natural gas sources outside Indiana. Section 844(i)'s use-in-commerce requirement most sensibly read mean active employment purposes, merely passive, passing, past See, e.g., Bailey States, 516 137, 143, 145. It surely common perception private, "activity" receiving gas, mortgage, policy. Cf. id., allege here served office locus undertaking. home's only "active employment," so far record reveals, living family. Russell 471 858, 862-in held particular "activity commerce" because owner renting tenants he attempted destroy fire-does warrant less "use"-centered reading case. there observed "[b]y terms," applies "property `used' `activity' ruled "the rental real estate" fits description, ibid. Here, use trade business. Were adopt expansive interpretation, hardly land would fall §844(i)'s domain, statute's limiting language, in," office. Judges should hesitate treat terms setting surplusage, particularly describe element crime. E.g., Ratzlaf 510 135, 140_141. 3_8. (b) foregoing harmony guiding principle where statute susceptible two constructions, one grave doubtful constitutional questions arise other are avoided, Court's duty latter. Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. Florida Gulf Coast Building Constr. Trades Council, 485 568, 575. holding making possess firearm within 1,000 feet school exceeded power regulate Court, Lopez, 514 549, stressed area traditional state concern, see, 561, n. 3, legislation aimed neither actors nor their conduct had character, 560_562. Given concerns brought fore appropriate avoid question were render traditionally local criminal engaged matter enforcement. Bass, 404 336, 350. comprehension additionally reinforced interpretive guides. Ambiguity concerning ambit statutes resolved favor lenity, Rewis 401 808, 812, choice must made between readings what crime, appropriate, before choosing harsher alternative, require spoken language clear definite, Universal C. I. T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 221_222. Moreover, unless conveys clearly, deemed significantly changed federal-state balance crimes. U.S., 349. To encompassing effect change, paradigmatic common-law 8_9. 178 F.3d 479, reversed remanded. Ginsburg, J., delivered unanimous Court. Stevens, filed concurring opinion, Thomas, joined. Scalia, Opinion 1 NOTICE: This formal revision publication preliminary print Reports. Readers requested notify Decisions, Supreme Washington, D. 20543, typographical errors, order corrections may goes press. 99_5739 DEWEY JONES, PETITIONERv.UNITED 2 ON WRIT APPEALS FOR 3 [May 2000] 4 Justice Ginsburg 5 844(i) (1994 ed., Supp. IV) destroy, "by presents falls compass. Construing text, we hold activity; dwelling, Our construction 549 (1995), rule constitutionally constructions avoided possible, see 575 (1988). 6 * On February 23, 1998, petitioner Dewey through window Fort 7 Wayne, Indiana, cousin. No injured fire, blaze A grand jury returned three-count indictment charging arson, IV); using destructive device during relation violence (the arson), 924(c); illegal device, 26 5861(f). tried Northern all counts.1 sentenced him, pursuant Sentencing Reform Act 1984, total prison 35 years, followed five years supervised release. court also ordered pay $77,396.87 restitution loss. appealed, Appeals affirmed judgment 479 (1999). 8 unsuccessfully urged, both appeal Circuit, Constitution, Art. I, §8, cl. 3. Courts divided buildings purposes,2 constitutionality application.3 We granted certiorari, 528 1002 (1999), framed presented: 9 "Whether, light (1988), residence; if so, application present constitutional." 10 Satisfied reach purpose, reverse Appeals' judgment. II 11 enacted Title XI Organized Crime Control 1970, Pub. L. 91_452, §1102, 84 Stat. 952, "because need `to curb use, transportation, possession explosives.' " 860, (1985) (citation omitted). "fire," appear originally composed, introduced amendment 1982.4 As now worded, reads relevant part: 12 "Whoever maliciously damages destroys, attempts building, vehicle, personal shall imprisoned than more 20 fined title, ." 13 previously construed 858 (1985), property," petitioner-defendant set two-unit apartment owned. He earned income "treated business tax purposes." Id., 859. decision stated dispositive fact: "Petitioner fire." 862. fact, concluded, "[t]he meaning §844(i)." Ibid.5 14 confront Russell: Does cover venture, residence. Is place, commerce"? 15 Brief 10, 16_17, "Congress described Mennuti, 639 F.2d 107, 110 (CA2 1981) (Friendly, J.).6 "require[d] Ibid. agree, "is determination Ryan, 660, 675 (CA8 1993) (Arnold, dissenting part).7 16 urges First, lender; loan. Second, policy insurer. That points out, mortgagee. Third, 19-23. 17 correctly observes excludes type (it covers "any building"); provision does, however, qualification Although "variously defined," "use," conversation, ordinarily signifies employment." 145 (1995); Asgrow Seed Co. Winterboer, 513 179, 187 (1995) ("When undefined, give them ordinary meaning."). Bailey, (interpreting appears 924(c)(1), gun whenever presence "protect[s] drugs" "embolden[s]" drug dealer). 19 rented out owner, supra, 4, referred recognized distinction limited activities "in invoking over substantially 859_860 4. went observe, "The estate," stated, unquestionably activity." Ibid.8 earlier emphasized, home, center life. interpretation domain. Practically every our cities, towns, rural areas constructed supplies moved utilities connection, financed insured enterprises do across lines, bears some trace FERC Mississippi, 456 742, 757 (1982) (observing electric energy consumed virtually home" "[n]o State solely own resources" meet inhabitants' demand product). If connections sufficed trigger Monholland, 607 1311, 1316 (CA10 1979) (finding indication intended include "everybody everything"). "Judges [as surplusage], resistance heightened offense." 140_141 (1994); accord, III 21 "where latter." ex rel. Attorney General Delaware Hudson 213 366, 408 (1909), quoted 526 227, 239 (1999); DeBartolo, 575; Ashwander TVA, 297 288, 348 (1936) (Brandeis, concurring). invalidated Gun-Free School Zones Act, former 922(q) (1988 V), school. defend- 22 ant 12th-grade student, knowingly possessing concealed handgun bullets San Antonio, Texas, high school, violation Act. Holding 567; 577 (Kennedy, concurring), "neither character," 580 concurring); 560_562 (opinion Court). 23 "traditionally conduct" "a enforcement." 350 (1971). instructed "ambiguity lenity," 812 (1971), "when choose definite," 221_222 (1952). cautioned, well, "unless balance" generally Poulos, Metamorphosis Law Arson, 51 Mo. Rev. 295 (1986). IV 24 conclude soundly make country offense. currently used-it left cases genre law enforcement authorities States. 25 conviction vacated. Accordingly, reversed, remanded further proceedings consistent opinion. ordered. 27 whom Thomas joins, concurring. 28 Part convincingly explains why better text context reading. seems emphasize kinship well-established presumption against pre-emption law, Ray Atlantic Richfield 435 151, 157 (1978), reluctance "believe authorize intervention marginal this." Altobella, 442 310, 316 (CA7 1971). fact received sentence maximum penalty comparable offense Ind. Code §§35_43_1_1, 35_50_2_5 (1993), illustrates how like effectively displace State. Even undoubted pre-empt wisely decided balance." 349 For reason, I reiterate my firm belief interpret narrowly laws overlap congressional intention assert jurisdiction plain.* 29 Scalia 30 joining express view statute, IV), construed, activities. Notes 31 1. review refers conviction. infra, therefore address §924(c) §5861(f) convictions. 32 2. Compare Gaydos, 108 505 (CA3 1997) (vacant, uninhabitable house formerly covered statute), Denalli, 73 328 (CA11) (owner-occupied covered), modified grounds, 90 444 (1996) (per curiam), 107 (same), 41 361 1994) (en banc) (vacant cert. denied, 1082 Ramey, 602 (CA4 1103 Stillwell, 900 1104 (CA7) 498 838 (1990). 33 Pappadopoulos, 64 522 (CA9 1995) (application unconstitutional), 1999) (decision below), F.3d, constitutional). 34 97_298, §2(c), 96 1319 (amending insert "fire or" "an explosive"). House Report accompanying 1982 explained original measure, confined caused explosive," resulted problems practical application. H. R. Rep. 678, 97th Cong., 2d Sess., (1982). particular, noted conflict measure gasoline flammable liquids ignite fire. 2, nn. 5_6. 5. version bill became destruction, explosives, "for Russell, After members indicated they thought apply bombings schools, police stations, places worship, purposes" omitted. 860_861. final bill, very broad covering property." 861, (citing 91_1549, pp. 69_70 (1970)). 36 6. defendants Mennuti buildings. One her family, property. F.2d, 108_109, Second dismissal entire indictment. supersedes respect rental. Regarding find Mennuti's reasoning persuasive. 37 7. Chief Judge Arnold dissented panel permanently closed fitness fell prohibition. majority considered adequate either connections: leased out-of-state parties, borders. added, extend "to purely nature, privately residential 666_667. Sitting en banc, Eighth panel's (1994), (1995). 38 8. Notably, rest advanced O.T. 435, p. ("Petitioner South Union Street heating interstate."), 862 (focusing instead estate activity" commerce). 39 *See Landreth Landreth, 681, 700, (Stevens, dissenting); Bennett New Jersey, 470 632, 654_655, Garcia 469 70, 89_90 (1984) Bell 462 356, 363 (1983) McElroy 455 642, dissenting).

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