Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 2332a


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 2332a. Use of certain weapons of mass destruction

      (a) Offense Against a National of the United States or Within the
    United States. - A person who, without lawful authority, uses,
    threatens, or attempts or conspires to use, a weapon of mass
    destruction (other than a chemical weapon as that term is defined
    in section 229F) - 
        (1) against a national of the United States while such national
      is outside of the United States;
        (2) against any person 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
        (3) against any property that is owned, leased or used by the
      United States or by any department or agency of the United
      States, whether the property is within or 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 imprisoned for any term of
    years or for life.
      (b) Offense by National of the United States Outside of the
    United States. - Any national of the United States who, without
    lawful authority, uses, or threatens, attempts, or conspires to
    use, a weapon of mass destruction (other than a chemical weapon (as
    that term is defined in section 229F)) 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.
      (c) Definitions. - For purposes of this section - 
        (1) the term "national of the United States" has the meaning
      given in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality
      Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)); and
        (2) the term "weapon of mass destruction" means - 
          (A) any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this
        title;
          (B) 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;
          (C) any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector
        (as those terms are defined in section 178 of this title); or
          (D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or
        radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.



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