From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC842]

 
                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
   CHAPTER 40--IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE OF 
                           EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
 
Sec. 842. Unlawful acts

    (a) It shall be unlawful for any person--
        (1) to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or 
    dealing in explosive materials without a license issued under this 
    chapter;
        (2) knowingly to withhold information or to make any false or 
    fictitious oral or written statement or to furnish or exhibit any 
    false, fictitious, or misrepresented identification, intended or 
    likely to deceive for the purpose of obtaining explosive materials, 
    or a license, permit, exemption, or relief from disability under the 
    provisions of this chapter;
        (3) other than a licensee or permittee knowingly--
            (A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive 
        any explosive materials; or
            (B) to distribute explosive materials to any person other 
        than a licensee or permittee; or

        (4) who is a holder of a limited permit--
            (A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive 
        in interstate or foreign commerce any explosive materials; or
            (B) to receive explosive materials from a licensee or 
        permittee, whose premises are located outside the State of 
        residence of the limited permit holder, or on more than 6 
        separate occasions, during the period of the permit, to receive 
        explosive materials from 1 or more licensees or permittees whose 
        premises are located within the State of residence of the 
        limited permit holder.

    (b) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee to knowingly 
distribute any explosive materials to any person other than--
        (1) a licensee;
        (2) a holder of a user permit; or
        (3) a holder of a limited permit who is a resident of the State 
    where distribution is made and in which the premises of the 
    transferor are located.

    (c) It shall be unlawful for any licensee to distribute explosive 
materials to any person who the licensee has reason to believe intends 
to transport such explosive materials into a State where the purchase, 
possession, or use of explosive materials is prohibited or which does 
not permit its residents to transport or ship explosive materials into 
it or to receive explosive materials in it.
    (d) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to distribute 
explosive materials to any individual who:
        (1) is under twenty-one years of age;
        (2) has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by 
    imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
        (3) is under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment 
    for a term exceeding one year;
        (4) is a fugitive from justice;
        (5) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled 
    substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances 
    Act (21 U.S.C. 802));
        (6) has been adjudicated a mental defective or who has been 
    committed to a mental institution;
        (7) is an alien, other than an alien who--
            (A) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined 
        in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act); 
        or
            (B) is in lawful nonimmigrant status, is a refugee admitted 
        under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1157), or is in asylum status under section 208 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), and--
                (i) is a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly 
            foreign government, as determined by the Secretary \1\ in 
            consultation with the Secretary of State, entering the 
            United States on official law enforcement business, and the 
            shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive 
            materials is in furtherance of this official law enforcement 
            business;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``Attorney General''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (ii) is a person having the power to direct or cause the 
            direction of the management and policies of a corporation, 
            partnership, or association licensed pursuant to section 
            843(a), and the shipping, transporting, possession, or 
            receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of such 
            power;
                (iii) is a member of a North Atlantic Treaty 
            Organization (NATO) or other friendly foreign military 
            force, as determined by the Secretary \1\ in consultation 
            with the Secretary of Defense, (whether or not admitted in a 
            nonimmigrant status) who is present in the United States 
            under military orders for training or other military purpose 
            authorized by the United States, and the shipping, 
            transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials 
            is in furtherance of the military purpose; or
                (iv) is lawfully present in the United States in 
            cooperation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and 
            the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession of the 
            explosive materials is in furtherance of such cooperation;

        (8) has been discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable 
    conditions; \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ So in original. Probably should be followed by ``or''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (9) having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced 
    the citizenship of that person.

    (e) It shall be unlawful for any licensee knowingly to distribute 
any explosive materials to any person in any State where the purchase, 
possession, or use by such person of such explosive materials would be 
in violation of any State law or any published ordinance applicable at 
the place of distribution.
    (f) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee willfully to 
manufacture, import, purchase, distribute, or receive explosive 
materials without making such records as the Attorney General may by 
regulation require, including, but not limited to, a statement of 
intended use, the name, date, place of birth, social security number or 
taxpayer identification number, and place of residence of any natural 
person to whom explosive materials are distributed. If explosive 
materials are distributed to a corporation or other business entity, 
such records shall include the identity and principal and local places 
of business and the name, date, place of birth, and place of residence 
of the natural person acting as agent of the corporation or other 
business entity in arranging the distribution.
    (g) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee knowingly to 
make any false entry in any record which he is required to keep pursuant 
to this section or regulations promulgated under section 847 of this 
title.
    (h) It shall be unlawful for any person to receive, possess, 
transport, ship, conceal, store, barter, sell, dispose of, or pledge or 
accept as security for a loan, any stolen explosive materials which are 
moving as, which are part of, which constitute, or which have been 
shipped or transported in, interstate or foreign commerce, either before 
or after such materials were stolen, knowing or having reasonable cause 
to believe that the explosive materials were stolen.
    (i) It shall be unlawful for any person--
        (1) who is under indictment for, or who has been convicted in 
    any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term 
    exceeding one year;
        (2) who is a fugitive from justice;
        (3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled 
    substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances 
    Act (21 U.S.C. 802));
        (4) who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has 
    been committed to a mental institution;
        (5) who is an alien, other than an alien who--
            (A) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as that 
        term is defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act); or
            (B) is in lawful nonimmigrant status, is a refugee admitted 
        under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1157), or is in asylum status under section 208 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), and--
                (i) is a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly 
            foreign government, as determined by the Secretary \1\ in 
            consultation with the Secretary of State, entering the 
            United States on official law enforcement business, and the 
            shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive 
            materials is in furtherance of this official law enforcement 
            business;
                (ii) is a person having the power to direct or cause the 
            direction of the management and policies of a corporation, 
            partnership, or association licensed pursuant to section 
            843(a), and the shipping, transporting, possession, or 
            receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of such 
            power;
                (iii) is a member of a North Atlantic Treaty 
            Organization (NATO) or other friendly foreign military 
            force, as determined by the Secretary \1\ in consultation 
            with the Secretary of Defense, (whether or not admitted in a 
            nonimmigrant status) who is present in the United States 
            under military orders for training or other military purpose 
            authorized by the United States, and the shipping, 
            transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials 
            is in furtherance of the military purpose; or
                (iv) is lawfully present in the United States in 
            cooperation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and 
            the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession of the 
            explosive materials is in furtherance of such cooperation;

        (6) who has been discharged from the armed forces under 
    dishonorable conditions; \2\
        (7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has 
    renounced the citizenship of that person \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ So in original. Probably should be followed by a semicolon.

to ship or transport any explosive in or affecting interstate or foreign 
commerce or to receive or possess any explosive which has been shipped 
or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce.
    (j) It shall be unlawful for any person to store any explosive 
material in a manner not in conformity with regulations promulgated by 
the Attorney General. In promulgating such regulations, the Attorney 
General shall take into consideration the class, type, and quantity of 
explosive materials to be stored, as well as the standards of safety and 
security recognized in the explosives industry.
    (k) It shall be unlawful for any person who has knowledge of the 
theft or loss of any explosive materials from his stock, to fail to 
report such theft or loss within twenty-four hours of discovery thereof, 
to the Attorney General and to appropriate local authorities.
    (l) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture any plastic 
explosive that does not contain a detection agent.
    (m)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to import or bring into 
the United States, or export from the United States, any plastic 
explosive that does not contain a detection agent.
    (2) This subsection does not apply to the importation or bringing 
into the United States, or the exportation from the United States, of 
any plastic explosive that was imported or brought into, or manufactured 
in the United States prior to the date of enactment of this subsection 
by or on behalf of any agency of the United States performing military 
or police functions (including any military reserve component) or by or 
on behalf of the National Guard of any State, not later than 15 years 
after the date of entry into force of the Convention on the Marking of 
Plastic Explosives, with respect to the United States.
    (n)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to ship, transport, 
transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not 
contain a detection agent.
    (2) This subsection does not apply to--
        (A) the shipment, transportation, transfer, receipt, or 
    possession of any plastic explosive that was imported or brought 
    into, or manufactured in the United States prior to the date of 
    enactment of this subsection by any person during the period 
    beginning on that date and ending 3 years after that date of 
    enactment; or
        (B) the shipment, transportation, transfer, receipt, or 
    possession of any plastic explosive that was imported or brought 
    into, or manufactured in the United States prior to the date of 
    enactment of this subsection by or on behalf of any agency of the 
    United States performing a military or police function (including 
    any military reserve component) or by or on behalf of the National 
    Guard of any State, not later than 15 years after the date of entry 
    into force of the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives, 
    with respect to the United States.

    (o) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than an agency of the 
United States (including any military reserve component) or the National 
Guard of any State, possessing any plastic explosive on the date of 
enactment of this subsection, to fail to report to the Attorney General 
within 120 days after such date of enactment the quantity of such 
explosives possessed, the manufacturer or importer, any marks of 
identification on such explosives, and such other information as the 
Attorney General may prescribe by regulation.
    (p) Distribution of Information Relating to Explosives, Destructive 
Devices, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.--
        (1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
            (A) the term ``destructive device'' has the same meaning as 
        in section 921(a)(4);
            (B) the term ``explosive'' has the same meaning as in 
        section 844(j); and
            (C) the term ``weapon of mass destruction'' has the same 
        meaning as in section 2332a(c)(2).

        (2) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person--
            (A) to teach or demonstrate the making or use of an 
        explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass 
        destruction, or to distribute by any means information 
        pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an 
        explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, 
        with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, or information 
        be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes 
        a Federal crime of violence; or
            (B) to teach or demonstrate to any person the making or use 
        of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass 
        destruction, or to distribute to any person, by any means, 
        information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture 
        or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass 
        destruction, knowing that such person intends to use the 
        teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance 
        of, an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence.

(Added Pub. L. 91-452, title XI, Sec. 1102(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 
953; amended Pub. L. 100-690, title VI, Sec. 6474(c), (d), Nov. 18, 
1988, 102 Stat. 4380; Pub. L. 101-647, title XXXV, Sec. 3521, Nov. 29, 
1990, 104 Stat. 4923; Pub. L. 103-322, title XI, Secs. 110508, 110516, 
Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2018, 2020; Pub. L. 104-132, title VI, 
Sec. 603, title VII, Sec. 707, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1289, 1296; Pub. 
L. 106-54, Sec. 2(a), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 398; Pub. L. 107-296, 
title XI, Secs. 1112(e)(3), 1122(b), 1123, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 
2276, 2280, 2283.)

                       References in Text

    Section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, referred 
to in subsecs. (d)(7)(A) and (i)(5)(A), is classified to section 
1101(a)(20) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
    The date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsecs. 
(m)(2), (n)(2), and (o), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104-132, 
which was approved Apr. 24, 1996.


                               Amendments

    2002--Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1122(b)(1), (2), 
added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (3) which read as 
follows: ``other than a licensee or permittee knowingly--
        ``(A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive in 
    interstate or foreign commerce any explosive materials, except that 
    a person who lawfully purchases explosive materials from a licensee 
    in a State contiguous to the State in which the purchaser resides 
    may ship, transport, or cause to be transported such explosive 
    materials to the State in which he resides and may receive such 
    explosive materials in the State in which he resides, if such 
    transportation, shipment, or receipt is permitted by the law of the 
    State in which he resides; or
        ``(B) to distribute explosive materials to any person (other 
    than a licensee or permittee) who the distributor knows or has 
    reasonable cause to believe does not reside in the State in which 
    the distributor resides.''
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1122(b)(3), added subsec. (b) and 
struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: ``It shall be 
unlawful for any licensee knowingly to distribute any explosive 
materials to any person except--
        ``(1) a licensee;
        ``(2) a permittee; or
        ``(3) a resident of the State where distribution is made and in 
    which the licensee is licensed to do business or a State contiguous 
    thereto if permitted by the law of the State of the purchaser's 
    residence.''
    Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1123(a)(2), substituted ``or 
who has been committed to a mental institution;'' for period at end.
    Subsec. (d)(7) to (9). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1123(a)(1), (3), added 
pars. (7) to (9).
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1112(e)(3), substituted 
``Attorney General'' for ``Secretary''.
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1123(b)(3), inserted ``or 
affecting'' before ``interstate'' in two places in concluding 
provisions.
    Subsec. (i)(5) to (7). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1123(b)(1), (2), added 
pars. (5) to (7).
    Subsecs. (j), (k), (o). Pub. L. 107-296, Sec. 1112(e)(3), 
substituted ``Attorney General'' for ``Secretary'' wherever appearing.
    1999--Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 106-54 added subsec. (p).
    1996--Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 707, amended subsec. (h) 
generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: ``It shall 
be unlawful for any person to receive, conceal, transport, ship, store, 
barter, sell, or dispose of any explosive materials knowing or having 
reasonable cause to believe that such explosive materials were stolen.''
    Subsecs. (l) to (o). Pub. L. 104-132, Sec. 603, added subsecs. (l) 
to (o).
    1994--Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 110516, substituted ``any 
person'' for ``any licensee'' in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 110508, inserted ``or possess'' 
after ``receive'' in concluding provisions.
    1990--Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 101-647, Sec. 3521(1), substituted ``; 
or'' for a period.
    Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 101-647, Sec. 3521(2), substituted ``; or'' 
for a period.
    1988--Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 6474(c), amended par. 
(5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: ``is an 
unlawful user of marihuana (as defined in section 4761 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1954) or any depressant or stimulant drug (as defined in 
section 201(v) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) or narcotic 
drug (as defined in section 4721(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1954); or''.
    Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 6474(d), amended par. (3) 
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: ``who is an 
unlawful user of or addicted to marihuana (as defined in section 4761 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954) or any depressant or stimulant drug 
(as defined in section 201(v) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act) or narcotic drug (as defined in section 4731(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1954); or''.


                    Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

    Amendment by sections 1112(e)(3) and 1123 of Pub. L. 107-296 
effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107-296, 
set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic 
Security.
    Amendment by section 1122(b) of Pub. L. 107-296 effective 180 days 
after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 1122(i) of Pub. L. 107-296, set out as 
a note under section 843 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Amendment by section 603 of Pub. L. 104-132 effective 1 year after 
Apr. 24, 1996, see section 607 of Pub. L. 104-132, set out as a note 
under section 841 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 843, 844, 845, 981, 982, 
2332b, 2339A of this title; title 8 section 1101.