Possessing, Purchasing, or Owning Body Armor by Violent Felons

(a) Base Offense Level: 10

(b) Specific Offense Characteristic (1) If the defendant used the body armor in connection with another felony offense, increase by 4 levels. Commentary Statutory Provision: 18 U.S.C. § 931. Application Notes: 1. Application of Subsection (b)(1).— (A) Meaning of “Defendant”.—Consistent with §1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct), the term “defendant”, for purposes of subsection (b)(1), limits the accountability of the defendant to the defendant’s own conduct and conduct that the defendant aided or abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, procured, or willfully caused. (B) Meaning of “Felony Offense”.—For purposes of subsection (b)(1), “felony offense” means any offense (federal, state, or local) punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, regardless of whether a criminal charge was brought, or a conviction obtained. (C) Meaning of “Used”.—For purposes of subsection (b)(1), “used” means the body armor was (i) actively employed in a manner to protect the person from gunfire; or (ii) used as a means of bartering. Subsection (b)(1) does not apply if the body armor was merely possessed. For example, subsection (b)(1) would not apply if the body armor was found in the trunk of a car but was not being actively used as protection. 2. Inapplicability of §3B1.5.—If subsection (b)(1) applies, do not apply the adjustment in §3B1.5 (Use of Body Armor in Drug Trafficking Crimes and Crimes of Violence). 3. Grouping of Multiple Counts.—If subsection (b)(1) applies (because the defendant used the body armor in connection with another felony offense) and the instant offense of conviction includes a count of conviction for that other felony offense, the counts of conviction for the 18 U.S.C. § 931 offense and that other felony offense shall be grouped pursuant to subsection (c) of §3D1.2 (Groups of Closely Related Counts). Historical Note Effective November 1, 2004 (amendment 670). * * * * * 3. MAILING INJURIOUS ARTICLES Historical Note Effective November 1, 1987

ense of conviction includes a count of conviction for that other felony offense, the counts of conviction for the 18 U.S.C. § 931 offense and that other felony offense shall be grouped pursuant to subsection (c) of §3D1.2 (Groups of Closely Related Counts). Historical Note Effective November 1, 2004 (amendment 670). * * * * * 3. MAILING INJURIOUS ARTICLES Historical Note Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1993 (amendment 481).