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 fel- ony offense, increase by 4 levels. Statutory Provision: 18 U.S.C. § 931. Commentary 270 ║ Guidelines Manual (November 1, 2024) §2K3.1 Application Notes: 1. Application of Subsection (b)(1).— (A) Meaning of “Defendant”.—Consistent with §1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct), the term “de- fendant”, 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, com- manded, 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 exceed- ing 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 in- cludes 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). §2K3.1. [Deleted] Historical Note Section 2K3.1 (Unlawfully Transporting Hazardous Materials in Commerce), effective November 1, 1987, was deleted by consolidation with §2Q1.2 effective November 1, 1993 (amendment 481). Guidelines Manual (November 1, 2024) ║ 271 §2K3.2