Document: 390 U.S. 85 88 S.Ct. 722 19 L.Ed.2d 923 Miles Edward HAYNES, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 236. Argued Oct. 11, 1967. Decided Jan. 29, 1968. Charles Alan Wright, Austin, Tex., for petitioner; Ernest E. Figari, Jr., Dallas, on the brief. Harris Weinstein, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. Justice HARLAN delivered opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner was charged by a three-count information filed in United States District Court Northern Texas with violations National Firearms Act. 48 Stat. 1236. Two counts were subsequently dismissed upon motion Attorney. The remaining count averred that petitioner, violation 26 U.S.C. § 5851, knowingly possessed firearm, as defined 5848(1), which had not been registered Secretary Treasury or his delegate, required 5841. moved before trial to dismiss this count, evidently asserting 5851 violated privilege against self-incrimination, guaranteed Fifth Amendment.1 denied, and petitioner thereupon entered plea guilty.2 judgment conviction affirmed Appeals Circuit. 372 F.2d 651. We granted certiorari examine constitutionality under Amendment petitioner's conviction. 388 908, 87 2130, 18 1347. For reasons follow, we reverse. I. 2 Section 58513 forms part Act, an interrelated statutory system taxation certain classes firearms. Act's requirements are applicable only shotguns barrels less than inches long; rifles 16 other weapons, made from rifle shotgun, overall length inches; machine guns automatic firearms; mufflers silencers; firearms, except pistols revolvers, 'if such weapon is capable being concealed person * *.' 5848(1); Treas.Reg. 179.20, CFR 179.20. These limitations apparently intended guarantee weapons used principally persons engaged unlawful activities would be subjected taxation.4 3 Importers manufacturers, dealers firearms obliged each year pay special occupational taxes, register delegate. §§ 5801, 5802. Separate taxes imposed making transfer those taxes. 5811, 5821. purposes these additional acts transferring broadly defined. 5821 thus imposes tax firearm 'whether manufacture, putting together, alteration, any combination thereof, otherwise.' Similarly, encompasses 'to sell, assign, pledge, lease, loan, give away, otherwise dispose of' firearm. 5848(10). 4 All supplemented comprehensive calculated assure their collection. Any individual who wishes make weapon, within meaning 5821(a), obliged, 'prior making,' declare intention Secretary, provide fingerprints photograph. 5821(e); 179.78. declaration must 'supported certificate local chief police whose may acceptable indicate satisfaction photograph declarant, 'for lawful purposes.' Ibid. lawfully do so if he first obtains written order prospective transferee 'application form issued purpose Secretary.' 5814(a). application, supported police, accompanied transferee's photograph, approved prior transfer. 179.98, 179.99. Finally, every possessing possession unless acquired it importation, transfers, makings, importations 'were complied with.' 5841.5 5 Failure comply punishable fines imprisonment. 5861. In addition, creates series supplementary offenses; declares has 'at time' transferred provisions, 'has section 5841.' provides prosecutions conducted 'possession shall deemed sufficient evidence authorize conviction, defendant explains jury.' II. 6 At outset, emphasized issue case whether Congress authority Constitution regulate transfer, nor are, wholly part, unlawful. Rather, resolve narrow enforcement despite assertion constitutionally permissible. questions necessary decision art two: first, meaningfully distinguishable 5841 failure firearm; second, not, obligation have compelled him incriminating himself. If, urges, essentially indistinguishable premised directly 5841, prosecution punished incriminate himself, follow proper claim should provided full defense prosecution.6 To turn. III. 7 elements offense 'which 5841' differ significant respect contends two offenses, similarity descriptions, serve entirely different purposes, registration clause punish acceptance which, never possessor, while punishes present possessor failed fact own possession. If construction correct, nothing turn elected register; complete when accepted no previous registered. need determine free constitutional difficulty Amendment, concluded cannot properly construed urged.7 8 finds support its chiefly section's use past tense: act stated possess (Emphasis added.) It contended infer choice tense necessarily precede accused's acquisition derive much little. perceive more draftsman's obvious moment at accused charged; find confines clause's application failures occurred received follows phrase fastened is, least, equally consistent advanced petitioner. 9 however, further available, might incumbent us accept Government's avoid adjudication serious issue. See, e.g., Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority, 297 288, 348, 56 466, 483, 80 L.Ed. 688 (concurring opinion); Crowell Benson, 285 22, 62, 52 285, 296, 76 598. But there persuasive indications hand our view, preclude adoption position urged States. Initially, note offenses indicates very specifically ultimately premised, can time.' An analogous plain beyond all question now accepted; indeed Congress' purpose, difficult see why did clauses, insert few words clear wishes. suggested oblige us, assume has, one clause, chosen remarkably oblique unrevealing phrasing. 10 pertinent clauses receipt, well possession, contrast, Under given States, expected unlawful, receipt previously registered; indeed, construction, central element offense. preference 'possession,' rather 'receipt,' satisfactorily explicable adopted. 11 Third important, 'as absence contrary, final suggest strongly perimeter marked terms requirement turn, quite precisely '(e)very firearm' must, excused exception, Moreover, regulations unequivocal; they (a) him, execute 179.120. 12 legislative history offers assistance, points construction. inserted into Excise Tax Technical Changes Act 1958. 72 1428. committee reports indicate, identical terms,8 existing thought inadequate because, although define unregistered firearm.' H.R.Rep. 481, 85th Cong., 1st Sess., 195; S.Rep. 2090, 2d 212, Code Congressional Administrative News, p. 4604. amended 'specifically defines act.' useful committees preceded Further, proposed amendment available presumption already contained 5851; conclude 'primary change simplify clarify law aid prosecution.' supra, 196; 212. 13 purposes. First, created adding bottomed register. Second, facilitate permitting included 5851. 'aid prosecution' conduct also Both fully but 14 unable escape conclusion incorporate declaring circumstances sections therefore identical. This does hazards incrimination stem understood inhere distinctions between suggested, them. 15 said emphasis, Cf. Frye 315 491, 494; Castellano 350 852, 854. supposed distinction unpersuasive, for, found, fundamental ingredients both offenses. 'status possession' assumed individual, denies protection privilege. claimed unpersuasive; discussed Marchetti 39, 51—52, 697, 704, 889, decided today, decline hold performance act, even exists condition commission constitutes waiver privilege, suffices deprive privilege's protection. register, subject deficiencies arising IV. consider whether, contends, himself.9 mark requirement. conditioned simply 5848(1). Not provisions met, acquire furnish name, address, place where usually kept, business employment. date birth, social security number, ever convicted felony. description See 5841; 179.120; Internal Revenue Service Form (Firearms). 17 directed obtained without complying requirements, immediately threatened criminal They unmistakably 'inherently suspect activities.' Albertson SACB, 382 70, 79, 86 194, 199, 165. true, emphasizes, invariably indicative requirements; situations, itself styles 'uncommon,'10 register.11 Nonetheless, correlation obligations regarded exceedingly high, registrant realistically expect will substantially increase likelihood prosecution. reasonably fear established circumstances, scarcely risks confronted registrants 'remote possibilities out ordinary course law,' Heike 227 131, 144, 33 226, 228, 57 450; yet compelled, pain prosecution, formal acknowledgment likely arrest eventual termed 'real appreciable.' Reg. Boyes, B. & S. 311, 330; Brown Walker, 161 591, 599—600, 644, 647—648, 40 819. various disparate reasons, affirm valid exercise taxing powers, merely notice taxable doubt, repeatedly indicated,12 deference measures incidental exercise; heed placed powers Constitution's commands. cognizant Treasury's accurate timely information, methods, limitations, exist obtained. generally Counselman Hitchcock, 142 547, 585, 195, 206, 35 1110. Adams State Maryland, 347 179, 74 442, 98 608; Murphy Waterfront Commission, 378 52, 84 1594, 678. Accordingly, today prevent effective regulation written, brought situations held connection regulatory programs general application. Sullivan, 274 259, 47 607, 71 1037; Shapiro 335 1, 68 1375, 92 1787. Grosso 709, 906, dissimilarity Sullivan cases here. propounded like Albertson, 'directed highly selective group inherently activities'; concern, 'an noncriminal area inquiry,' permeated statutes.' S.Ct., 199. There moreover, records documents here 'public aspects' attached. Compare U.S., 34, 1393; supra. 20 next emphasizes consistently unconstitutional face; urges contention foreclosed inclusion produce disclosures. recognize number uncommon Act; situation finder lost abandoned firearm.13 Forgett, Cir., 349 601. agree existence makes inappropriate, protected rights hampered, impermissible face. Instead, appears, either or, 21 asked difficulties found imposing restrictions state federal authorities consequence 610714 apparently, 5811 decline, indicated Marchetti, Grosso, impose 22 self-incrimination V. 23 remains appropriate disposition case. seasonably asserted courts below, believing inapplicable assess claim's merits. ordinarily remand cause Court, instructions merits claim. note, suggestion waived that, conceded impermissibly infringed contentions accepted. Brief 8. proceeding 'there reasonable ground apprehend danger witness answer.' 330. inevitably result reversal plenary 28 2106 just circumstances.' Yates 354 298, 327—331, 77 1064, 1081—1083, 1356; neither require parties commence needless proceeding. reversed. 24 Reversed. 25 Chief WARREN, dissenting. my dissent 77, 718, I reached Petitioner's 'unconstitutional,' denying substance contentions. His subsequent arguments, below here, have, No Government sufficiently made. guilty course, waive Ury, 106 28, 124 A.L.R. 569. 'It receive time 5812(b), 5813, 5814, 5844, 5846, 5821, Whenever shown view controlling basis earlier Congress. Rainwater 356 590, 593, 78 946, 949, 996; Price, 361 304, 313, 326, 331, 334. Committee Ways Means House Representatives, reporting 1959 amendments (the Act) gangster obtain types weapons. type concerned primarily gangstertype element.' H.R. Rep. 914, 86th 2. 'Every identifying together employment, and, natural person, name home address executive officer thereof. importation made, chapter applied making, be, thereto Indeed, recognized Government; '(w)e concede reading right valid.' several appeals. addition 491; Starks 316 45; Mares 319 71; Sipes 321 174; Taylor 333 721; 852; Pruitt 364 826; Decker 245. None cases, undertook extended examination relationship Lovelace 357 306, 309; Mansfield, Case: Conflict Between Privilege Against Self-Incrimination Need Information, 1966 Sup.Ct.Rev. 103, 158—159, n. 95. language taken elaboration recommendations submitted Treasury. Hearings Problems, 84th 185, 211. times disclosures, self-incrimination. Russell 306 402; Dugan 341 85; McCann 217 F.Supp. 751; Fleish, 967. 309. particular, 20. similar possible compliance themselves. Such would, Malloy Hogan, 1489, 653. illustrations statutes occur, Conn.Gen.Stat.Rev. 53—202 (1958); Del.Code Ann., Tit. 465 (1953); Hawaii Rev.Laws 157—8 (1955); Iowa 696.1 (1966); Kan.Stat.Ann. 21—2601 (1964); La.Rev.Stat. 40:1752 (1950); Minn.Stat. 609.67 (1965); N.J.Rev.Stat., 2A, 151—50 (1953). discovered statute registrable incriminated law. example, Sonzinsky 300 506, 554, 81 772; Again, law, 11. 6107 'In principal internal revenue office district public inspection, alphabetical list names paid Subtitle D E district. prepared kept pursuant prescribed contain time, place, paid, prosecuting State, county, municipality furnished certified copy record, fee $1 100 fraction thereof copies requested charged.' refers include 5801.

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