Does Section 3559(a) of the Criminal Code require a mandatory life sentence for the first degree murder of a minor?

We have recently rejected a similar argument. In United States v. LaFleur, 952 F.2d 1537 (9th Cir.1991), we held that the letter-classification sentencing scheme of sections 3559(a) and 3581(b) did not apply to the offense of first degree murder set forth in 18 U.S.C. 1111, because the latter statute specified its own penalty of a mandatory life sentence. We said that "[t]here is no indication that 3581 was intended to modify clearly established statutory sentences." Id. at 1546. The Second and Third Circuits have reached similar conclusions. See United States v. Gonzalez,

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