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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cause physical injury. Unlike Chambers v. <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong>, where this <strong>Court</strong> held that failing to<br />
report to prison is not a violent felony merely because <strong>the</strong> felon might be doing something that<br />
poses a risk <strong>of</strong> injury to o<strong>the</strong>rs, 555 U.S. at 128, possession <strong>of</strong> an unregistered sawed-<strong>of</strong>f<br />
shotgun poses a continuous risk <strong>of</strong> injury because an <strong>of</strong>ficer can show up at any minute.<br />
<strong>In</strong> Begay, this <strong>Court</strong> stressed <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> identifying <strong>of</strong>fenses that not only reveal<br />
callousness toward risk, but also show an increased likelihood that <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fender is <strong>the</strong> kind <strong>of</strong><br />
person who might deliberately harm ano<strong>the</strong>r. 553 U.S. at 146, 148. The NFA was purposefully<br />
limited to a “narrow category <strong>of</strong> weapons such as submachineguns (sic) and sawed-<strong>of</strong>f<br />
shotguns.” Staples, 511 U.S. at 626 (1994) (Stevens, J., dissenting). These were <strong>the</strong> weapons<br />
characteristically used only by pr<strong>of</strong>essional gangsters like Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir henchman. Id. Congress could <strong>the</strong>refore, “reasonably presume that a person in possession<br />
<strong>of</strong> an unregistered machinegun or sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun intended to use it for criminal purposes.”<br />
NFA Hearing at 113 (noting that by including only machine guns and sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotguns,<br />
“Congress will have done all that can be done to assist <strong>the</strong> <strong>States</strong> in <strong>the</strong> suppression <strong>of</strong><br />
felonies.”). Sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotguns are indicative <strong>of</strong> future violent crimes, as <strong>the</strong> hearing suggests,<br />
and possession <strong>of</strong> a sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun is <strong>the</strong> kind <strong>of</strong> risk Begay stresses should be a “violent<br />
felony” under <strong>the</strong> ACCA. Begay, 553 U.S. at 1587. <strong>In</strong>deed, it is this type <strong>of</strong> crime that “is<br />
characteristic <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> armed career criminal.” Sykes, 131 S. Ct. at 2289.<br />
Similarly, Congress determined that possession <strong>of</strong> an unregistered sawed-<strong>of</strong>f shotgun is<br />
so grievous it is also considered an “aggravated felony” under 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (2006 & Supp.<br />
2012) (incorporating by reference 26 U.S.C § 5861). O<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>fenses in this provision include<br />
murder, rape, sexual abuse <strong>of</strong> a minor, robbery, and o<strong>the</strong>r crimes <strong>of</strong> violence. Id. The aggravated<br />
status <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se crimes provides for <strong>the</strong> expedited removal <strong>of</strong> aliens. 8 U.S.C. § 1228 (2006). The<br />
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