In the Supreme Court of the United States In the Supreme Court of ...
In the Supreme Court of the United States In the Supreme Court of ...
In the Supreme Court of the United States In the Supreme Court of ...
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<strong>of</strong>fense and <strong>the</strong> likelihood <strong>of</strong> accompanying criminal violence.” James, 550 U.S. at 206 (internal<br />
quotations omitted) (quoting <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> v. Doe, 960 F.2d 221, 225 (1st Cir. 2007)).<br />
<strong>In</strong> 2003, <strong>the</strong> USSC amended Application Note 1 <strong>of</strong> § 4B1.2, <strong>the</strong> section which mirrors<br />
<strong>the</strong> ACCA, to include <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> a sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun within <strong>the</strong> definition <strong>of</strong> “crime <strong>of</strong><br />
violence.” 68 Fed. Reg. 75357 (Dec. 30, 2003); § 4B1.2 cmt. n.1 (“Unlawfully possessing a<br />
firearm that is <strong>of</strong> a type described in 26 U.S.C. [§] 5845(a) (e.g., a sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun, silencer,<br />
or machine gun) is a ‘crime <strong>of</strong> violence.’’’). Because <strong>the</strong> USSC is able to make a well-informed<br />
decision on this issue and has concluded that <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> an unregistered sawed-<strong>of</strong>f<br />
shotgun is a crime <strong>of</strong> violence under a residual clause identical to and enacted for <strong>the</strong> same<br />
purpose as <strong>the</strong> ACCA, this <strong>Court</strong> should consider it as strong evidence that <strong>the</strong> same <strong>of</strong>fense is a<br />
violent felony under <strong>the</strong> ACCA. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, “<strong>the</strong> Fourth, [Fifth,] Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth<br />
Circuits each have found that, because it is primarily used for violent purposes, possession <strong>of</strong> a<br />
sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun presents a serious potential risk <strong>of</strong> physical injury and <strong>the</strong>refore constitutes a<br />
‘crime <strong>of</strong> violence’ under an identical residual clause in <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> Sentencing<br />
Guidelines. Serna, 309 F.3d at 863 (citing <strong>the</strong> applicable cases).<br />
Likewise, intuition suggests <strong>the</strong> degree <strong>of</strong> risk in unlawful possession <strong>of</strong> a sawed-<strong>of</strong>f<br />
shotgun is greater than some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> enumerated <strong>of</strong>fenses. “Even a city dweller who watches<br />
television or reads newspapers would know <strong>the</strong> reputation <strong>of</strong> [a sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun].” <strong>United</strong><br />
<strong>States</strong> v. Shaw, 670 F.3d 360, 369 (1st Cir. 2012). <strong>In</strong> James, this <strong>Court</strong> explained that <strong>the</strong><br />
potential <strong>of</strong> risk a burglary will result in actual harm is small. 550 U.S. at 207. This <strong>Court</strong> has<br />
also recognized that certain <strong>of</strong>fenses, which categorically fit within <strong>the</strong> enumerated <strong>of</strong>fense <strong>of</strong><br />
extortion, such as blackmail, present almost no risk <strong>of</strong> resulting in physical injury. Id. at 208; see<br />
also Armed Career Criminal Legislation: Hearing on H.R. 4639 and H.R. 4768 Before <strong>the</strong><br />
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