The following is a copy of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This section covers the possession of firearms or dangerous weapons in a federal facility; and, the possession or discharge of a firearm in a school zone.

(a)Base Offense Level: 6

(b)Specific Offense Characteristic

(1)If –

(A)the defendant unlawfully possessed or caused any firearm or dangerous weapon to be present in a federal court facility; or

(B)the defendant unlawfully possessed or caused any firearm to be present in a school zone,

increase by 2 levels.

(c)Cross Reference

(1)If the defendant used or possessed any firearm or dangerous weapon in connection with the commission or attempted commission of another offense, or possessed or transferred a firearm or dangerous weapon with knowledge or intent that it would be used or possessed in connection with another offense, apply –

(A)§2X1.1 (Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy) in respect to that other offense if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above; or

(B)if death resulted, the most analogous offense guideline from Chapter Two, Part A, Subpart 1 (Homicide), if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.

Commentary

Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(q), 930; 40 U.S.C. § 5104(e)(1).

Application Notes:

1."Dangerous weapon" and "firearm" are defined in the Commentary to §1B1.1 (Application Instructions).

2"Federal court facility" includes the courtroom; judges’ chambers; witness rooms; jury deliberation rooms; attorney conference rooms; prisoner holding cells; offices and parking facilities of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal; probation and parole offices; and adjoining corridors and parking facilities of any court of the United States. See 18 U.S.C. § 930(g)(3).

3"School zone" is defined at 18 U.S.C. § 922(q). A sentence of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) must run consecutively to any sentence of imprisonment imposed for any other offense. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(4). In order to comply with the statute, when the guideline range is based on the underlying offense, and the defendant is convicted both of the underlying offense and 18 U.S.C. § 922(q), the court should apportion the sentence between the count for the underlying offense and the count under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q). For example, if the guideline range is 30-37 months and the court determines "total punishment" of 36 months is appropriate, a sentence of 30 months for the underlying offense, plus 6 months under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) would satisfy this requirement.

4Where the firearm was brandished, discharged, or otherwise used, in a federal facility, federal court facility, or school zone, and the cross reference from subsection (c)(1) does not apply, an upward departure may be warranted.

Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 191). Amended effective November 1, 1991 (see Appendix C, amendment 374); November 1, 2003 (see Appendix C, amendment 661); November 1, 2010 (see Appendix C, amendment 746).

(EFFECTIVE November 1, 2010)

United States Sentencing Commission