18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

Elements

1. Qualifying federal predicate offense

   for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States

   Government must establish commission of a qualifying crime; legal qualification is distinct from proving the crime facts. The alternatives are the drug-felony definition in (c)(2) and the surviving elements clause in (c)(3)(A). The invalid residual clause is not an alternative.

2. Firearm object

   uses or carries a firearm

3. Active employment of a firearm

   uses or carries a firearm

   Bailey predates the 1998 possession amendment. Its active-employment rule still defines use; it does not immunize possession in furtherance. Watson decides use only and expressly leaves the possession theory open.

4. Knowingly possess and convey the firearm

   uses or carries a firearm

5. During and in relation to the predicate

   during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime

   Both temporal coincidence and a facilitating relationship are required for use/carry. Smith explains at least facilitation or potential facilitation; coincidence alone is insufficient. Apply the corresponding nexus to ammunition under (c)(5).

6. Knowing actual or constructive possession

   or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm

   Possession can be actual or constructive under applicable circuit law; a defendant must knowingly exercise the requisite control, rather than merely happen to be near a gun. The furtherance element is additional, not a substitute for possession.

7. Possession advances the specific predicate

   in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm

   (formerly `variant evidence/context`) Fifth Circuit nonexclusive factors: activity type, accessibility, weapon type, stolen status, legality of possession, loaded condition, proximity to drugs/profits, time and circumstances. These are evidentiary considerations, not mandatory independent elements. Ceballos-Torres affirmed on the combination of accessible loaded weapon, illegal possession, drugs and money. Neither mere presence nor a general assertion that drug dealers use guns suffices.

8. Section 2 aiding and abetting route

   uses or carries a firearm

   Rosemond requires intent to facilitate the entire armed crime. Advance knowledge means time to choose to withdraw; knowledge first acquired when withdrawal is unrealistic does not automatically suffice. This is not a general rule that association with an armed offender establishes liability.

9. Sentencing consequences after offense proof

   shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime-

   These nodes describe consequences; none is a universal extra conjunct in the base claims. The greater-minimum proviso and offense date matter. Mandatory-minimum aggravating facts and weapon type have their own allocation-of-proof doctrine; this catalogue does not replace a sentencing/jury-instruction analysis.

10. Armor-piercing ammunition object

    uses or carries armor piercing ammunition

11. Use or carry the armor-piercing ammunition

    uses or carries armor piercing ammunition

12. Possess the armor-piercing ammunition

    or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses armor piercing ammunition

13. Greater minimum for the same firearm conduct displaces the lower minimum

    Except to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided by this subsection or by any other provision of law

    Abbott, 562 U.S. 8 (2010), construes the (c)(1)(A) proviso. The second text anchor preserves the separate (c)(5) proviso; no independent holding on that ammunition branch is attributed to Abbott.