Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Chapter 29 — Manufacture, Transportation, or Distribution of Switchblade Knives
§ 1245. Ballistic knives
Statutory text
Prohibition and penalties for possession, manufacture, sale, or importation
Whoever in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports a ballistic knife shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Prohibition and penalties for possession or use during commission of Federal crime of violence
Whoever possesses or uses a ballistic knife in the commission of a Federal crime of violence shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not less than five years and not more than ten years, or both.
Exceptions
The exceptions provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1244 of this title with respect to switchblade knives shall apply to ballistic knives under subsection (a) of this section.
“Ballistic knife” defined
As used in this section, the term “ballistic knife” means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 85–623 § 7 · 72 Stat. 562
Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 1245
Pub. L. 85–623, § 7, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10002, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 85–623, § 7, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10002, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167Anti-Drug Abuse Amendments Act of 1988
Pub. L. 100–690 § 6472(1) · 102 Stat. 4181
Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 1245(a)
Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(1), substituted “in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports” for “knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(1), substituted “in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports” for “knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) by striking “knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports” and inserting “in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports”; andAnti-Drug Abuse Amendments Act of 1988
Pub. L. 100–690 § 6472(2) · 102 Stat. 4181
Struck · 15 U.S.C. § 1245(b)
Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(2), struck out “or State” after “Federal”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(2), struck out “or State” after “Federal”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) by striking “or State” before “crime of violence”.
2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(1), substituted “in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports” for “knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6472(2), struck out “or State” after “Federal”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10004, , 100 Stat. 3207–167, provided that: “The amendments made by this title [enacting this section, amending section 1716 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1241 of this title] shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of this title [].”
Credits
1986–1988 · 2 acts
- 1986Pub. L. 85–623, § 7, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10002, , 100 Stat. 3207–167
- 1988amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6472, , 102 Stat. 4379.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 85–623, § 7, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10002, , 100 Stat. 3207–167; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6472, , 102 Stat. 4379.)