18 U.S.C. § 231 — Civil disorders

submitted 58 years ago by Pub. L. 90-284 to r/title-18-CRIMES-AND-CRIMINAL-PROCEDURE · 245 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This law makes it a crime to teach people how to make or use weapons for a civil disorder that disrupts commerce. It also punishes transporting weapons for that purpose, or interfering with police and firefighters during a civil disorder. Officers doing their lawful duty are not covered by this law.

(a) This part lists three crimes, each punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison, or both. (1) It's illegal to teach or demonstrate to someone else how to use, apply, or make a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device — or a technique that can hurt or kill people — if you know, have reason to know, or intend that it will be used unlawfully in a "civil disorder." That's only a crime if the civil disorder could, in some way, block, delay, or hurt interstate commerce, or interfere with a federally protected function. (2) It's illegal to transport a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device in commerce (or manufacture one for that transport), if you know, have reason to know, or intend that it will be used unlawfully to help a civil disorder. (3) It's illegal to commit or try to commit any act that obstructs, blocks, or interferes with a firefighter or law enforcement officer who is lawfully doing their official duties during a civil disorder — again, only if that civil disorder obstructs, delays, or hurts commerce, or interferes with a federally protected function. (b) This law does not make it illegal for a law enforcement officer to do anything that is part of their lawful, official duties.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a)

(1)

Whoever teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm or explosive or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that the same will be unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder which may in any way or degree obstruct, delay, or adversely affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce or the conduct or performance of any federally protected function; or

(2)

Whoever transports or manufactures for transportation in commerce any firearm, or explosive or incendiary device, knowing or having reason to know or intending that the same will be used unlawfully in furtherance of a civil disorder; or

(3)

Whoever commits or attempts to commit any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of his official duties incident to and during the commission of a civil disorder which in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or adversely affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce or the conduct or performance of any federally protected function—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(b)

Nothing contained in this section shall make unlawful any act of any law enforcement officer which is performed in the lawful performance of his official duties.

Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 90–284, title X, § 1002(a), Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 90; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1968Enacted · Pub. L. 90-284 · 82 Stat. 90
1994Amended · Pub. L. 103-322 · 108 Stat. 2147

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 90-284 on 1968-04-11.

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