18 U.S. Code § 2332a - Use of weapons of mass destruction | U.S. Code | US Law

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person" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-991716523-1415921655&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">person</a> who, without lawful authority, uses, threatens, or attempts or conspires to use, a <a aria-label="Definitions - weapon of mass destruction" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-2003303595-783258095&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">weapon of mass destruction</a>—</span> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="a_1"></a><span class="num" value="1">(1)</span> <div class="content"> against a <a aria-label="Definitions - national of the United States" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-503460309-783258096&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">national of the United States</a> while such national is outside of the United States;</div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="a_2"></a><span class="num" value="2">(2)</span><span class="chapeau"> against any <a aria-label="Definitions - person" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-991716523-1415921655&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">person</a> or <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a> within the United States, and</span> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="a_2_A"></a><span class="num" value="A">(A)</span> <div class="content"> the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce is used in furtherance of the offense;</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="a_2_B"></a><span class="num" value="B">(B)</span> <div class="content"> such <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a> is used in interstate or foreign commerce or in an activity that affects interstate or foreign commerce;</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="a_2_C"></a><span class="num" value="C">(C)</span> <div class="content"> any perpetrator travels in or causes another to travel in interstate or foreign commerce in furtherance of the offense; or</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="a_2_D"></a><span class="num" value="D">(D)</span> <div class="content"> the offense, or the results of the offense, affect interstate or foreign commerce, or, in the case of a threat, attempt, or conspiracy, would have affected interstate or foreign commerce;</div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="a_3"></a><span class="num" value="3">(3)</span> <div class="content"> against any <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a> that is owned, leased or used by the United States or by any department or agency of the United States, whether the <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a> is within or outside of the United States; or</div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="a_4"></a><span class="num" value="4">(4)</span> <div class="content"> against any <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a> within the United States that is owned, leased, or used by a foreign government,</div> </div> <div class="continuation indent0 firstIndent0">shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, and if death results, shall be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.</div> </div> <div class="subsection indent0"><a name="b"></a><span class="num" value="b">(b)</span><span class="heading"> Offense by National of the United States Outside of the United States.—</span> <div class="content">Any <a aria-label="Definitions - national of the United States" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-503460309-783258096&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">national of the United States</a> who, without lawful authority, uses, or threatens, attempts, or conspires to use, a<a aria-label="Definitions - weapon of mass destruction " class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-2003303595-783258095&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a"> weapon of mass destruction </a>outside of the United States shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, and if death results, shall be punished by death, or by imprisonment for any term of years or for life.</div> </div> <div class="subsection indent0"><a name="c"></a><span class="num" value="c">(c)</span><span class="heading"> Definitions.—</span><span class="chapeau">For purposes of this section—</span> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="c_1"></a><span class="num" value="1">(1)</span> <div class="content"> the term “<a aria-label="Definitions - national of the United States" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-503460309-783258096&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">national of the United States</a>” has the meaning given in section 101(a)(22) of the <a href="/topn/immigration_and_nationality_act">Immigration and Nationality Act</a> (<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1101#a_22">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)</a>);</div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="c_2"></a><span class="num" value="2">(2)</span><span class="chapeau"> the term “<a aria-label="Definitions - weapon of mass destruction" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-2003303595-783258095&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">weapon of mass destruction</a>” means—</span> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="c_2_A"></a><span class="num" value="A">(A)</span> <div class="content"> any destructive device as defined in <a href="/uscode/text/18/921">section 921 of this title</a>;</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="c_2_B"></a><span class="num" value="B">(B)</span> <div class="content"> any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="c_2_C"></a><span class="num" value="C">(C)</span> <div class="content"> any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in <a href="/uscode/text/18/178">section 178 of this title</a>); or</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="c_2_D"></a><span class="num" value="D">(D)</span> <div class="content"> any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life; and</div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="c_3"></a><span class="num" value="3">(3)</span> <div class="content"> the term “<a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a>” includes all real and personal <a aria-label="Definitions - property" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-993141291-783258094&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:113B:section:2332a">property</a>.</div> </div> </div> <div class="sourceCredit">(Added <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._103-322">Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60023(a)</a>, <span class="date" date="1994-09-13">Sept. 13, 1994</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/108_Stat._1980">108 Stat. 1980</a>; amended <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132, title V, § 511(c)</a>, title VII, § 725, <span class="date" date="1996-04-24">Apr. 24, 1996</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/110_Stat._1284">110 Stat. 1284</a>, 1300; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-294">Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 605(m)</a>, <span class="date" date="1996-10-11">Oct. 11, 1996</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/110_Stat._3510">110 Stat. 3510</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._105-277">Pub. L. 105–277, div. I, title II, § 201(b)(1)</a>, <span class="date" date="1998-10-21">Oct. 21, 1998</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/112_Stat._2681-871">112 Stat. 2681–871</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._107-188">Pub. L. 107–188, title II, § 231(d)</a>, <span class="date" date="2002-06-12">June 12, 2002</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/116_Stat._661">116 Stat. 661</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, title VI, § 6802(a)</a>, (b), <span class="date" date="2004-12-17">Dec. 17, 2004</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/118_Stat._3766">118 Stat. 3766</a>, 3767.)</div> </div> </div></text> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="tab_default_2">  <notes><div class="notes"> </div><div class="notes"> <div class="note" topic="editorialNotes"><span class="heading centered"><strong>Editorial Notes</strong></span></div> <div class="note" topic="amendments"><span class="heading centered smallCaps">Amendments</span> <p>2004—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(b)(1)</a>, struck out “certain” before “weapons” in section catchline.</p> <p>Subsec. (a). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(b)(2)</a>, struck out “(other than a chemical weapon as that term is defined in section 229F)” after “mass destruction” in introductory provisions.</p> <p>Subsec. (a)(2). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(a)(1)</a>, amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “against any<a aria-label="Definitions - person " class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-991716523-1415921655&term_occur=999&term_src="> person </a>within the United States, and the results of such use affect interstate or foreign commerce or, in the case of a threat, attempt, or conspiracy, would have affected interstate or foreign commerce; or”.</p> <p>Subsec. (a)(4). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(a)(2)</a>, (3), added par. (4).</p> <p>Subsec. (b). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(b)(3)</a>, struck out “(other than a chemical weapon (as that term is defined in section 229F))” after “mass destruction”.</p> <p>Subsec. (c)(3). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._108-458">Pub. L. 108–458, § 6802(a)(4)</a>–(6), added par. (3).</p> <p>2002—Subsec. (a). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._107-188">Pub. L. 107–188, § 231(d)(1)</a>, substituted “section 229F)—” for “section 229F), including any biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178)—” in introductory provisions.</p> <p>Subsec. (c)(2)(C). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._107-188">Pub. L. 107–188, § 231(d)(2)</a>, substituted “a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in <a href="/uscode/text/18/178">section 178 of this title</a>)” for “a disease organism”.</p> <p>1998—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._105-277">Pub. L. 105–277, § 201(b)(1)(A)</a>, inserted “certain” before “weapons” in section catchline.</p> <p>Subsec. (a). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._105-277">Pub. L. 105–277, § 201(b)(1)(B)</a>, inserted “(other than a chemical weapon as that term is defined in section 229F)” after <a aria-label="Definitions - “weapon of mass destruction”" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-2003303595-783258095&term_occur=999&term_src=">“weapon of mass destruction”</a> in introductory provisions.</p> <p>Subsec. (b). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._105-277">Pub. L. 105–277, § 201(b)(1)(C)</a>, inserted “(other than a chemical weapon (as that term is defined in section 229F))” after <a aria-label="Definitions - “weapon of mass destruction”" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-2003303595-783258095&term_occur=999&term_src=">“weapon of mass destruction”</a>.</p> <p>1996—Subsec. (a). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132</a>, §§ 511(c), 725(1)(A), (B), in heading, inserted “<span class="inline small-caps">Against a <a aria-label="Definitions - National of the United States" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-503460309-783258096&term_occur=999&term_src=">National of the United States</a> or Within the United States</span>” after “<span class="inline small-caps">Offense</span>”, and in introductory provisions, substituted “, without lawful authority, uses, threatens, or attempts” for “uses, or attempts” and inserted “, including any biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in <a aria-label="18 USC 178" href="/uscode/text/18/178">section 178</a>)” after “mass destruction”.</p> <p>Subsec. (a)(2). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132, § 725(1)(C)</a>, inserted before semicolon at end “, and the results of such use affect interstate or foreign commerce or, in the case of a threat, attempt, or conspiracy, would have affected interstate or foreign commerce”.</p> <p>Subsec. (b). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132, § 725(4)</a>, added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).</p> <p>Subsec. (b)(2)(B). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132, § 725(2)</a>, as amended by <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-294">Pub. L. 104–294, § 605(m)</a>, added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “poison gas;”.</p> <p>Subsec. (c). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-132">Pub. L. 104–132, § 725(3)</a>, redesignated subsec. 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18 U.S. Code § 2332a - Use of weapons of mass destruction | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute