United States v. Gonzales

Summary

The Court, in an opinion by Justice O'Connor, held that 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) prohibits a federal court from making a firearms sentence concurrent with any other prison term, including a previously imposed state sentence. The statute does not require that the firearms sentence be served first or restrict the court's authority to make other sentences concurrent under § 3584. The Court vacated the Tenth Circuit's judgment and remanded. Justice Stevens, joined by Justice Breyer, dissented, arguing that the provision concerns only federal sentences and that the majority's interpretation creates unjustified disparities depending on the order of state and federal prosecutions. Justice Breyer, joined by Justice Stevens, separately dissented, emphasizing the potentially duplicative punishment where a state has already imposed a firearms enhancement resembling § 924(c).