Source
(Added Pub. L. 91–452, title XI, § 1102(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 952; amended Pub. L. 104–132, title VI, § 602, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1288; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, §§ 1112(e)(1), (3),
1122
(a), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2276, 2280.)
References in Text
For definition of Canal Zone, referred to in subsec. (a), see section
3602
(b) of Title
22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (d).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary”.
Subsec. (j).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1122(a)(1), added subsec. (j) and struck out former subsec. (j) which read as follows: “ ‘Permittee’ means any user of explosives for a lawful purpose, who has obtained a user permit under the provisions of this chapter.”
Subsec. (k).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(1), added subsec. (k) and struck out former subsec. (k) which read as follows: “ ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate.”
Subsec. (l).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary”.
Subsec. (p)(5).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), which directed amendment of par. (5) by substituting “Attorney General” for “Secretary” wherever appearing, was executed by making the substitution the first place appearing to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsecs. (r), (s).
Pub. L. 107–296, § 1122(a)(2), added subsecs. (r) and (s).
1996—Subsecs. (o) to (q).
Pub. L. 104–132 added subsecs. (o) to (q).
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by section 1112(e)(1), (3) 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(a) 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
Section 607 of title VI of
Pub. L. 104–132 provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this title [amending this section, sections
842,
844, and
845 of this title, and section
1595a of Title
19, Customs Duties, and enacting provisions set out as a note below], this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 24, 1996].”
Effective Date
Section 1105(a), (b) of
Pub. L. 91–452 provided that:
“(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the provisions of chapter
40 of title
18, United States Code, as enacted by section
1102 of this title shall take effect one hundred and twenty days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 1970].
“(b) The following sections of chapter
40 of title
18, United States Code, as enacted by section
1102 of this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 1970]: sections
841,
844
(d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j),
845,
846,
847,
848 and
849 [no section
849 was enacted].”
Short Title of 2002 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, § 1121, Nov. 25, 2002,
116 Stat. 2280, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 1121–1128) of title XI of
Pub. L. 107–296, amending this section and sections
842 to
845 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
843 of this title] may be referred to as the ‘Safe Explosives Act’.”
Short Title of 1982 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–298, § 1, Oct. 12, 1982,
96 Stat. 1319, provided: “That this Act [amending section
844 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Anti-Arson Act of 1982’.”
Short Title of 1975 Amendment
Pub. L. 93–639, § 1, Jan. 4, 1975,
88 Stat. 2217, provided: “That this Act [amending sections
845 and
921 of this title] may be cited as ‘Amendments of 1973 to Federal Law Relating to Explosives’.”
Findings and Purposes of Title VI of Pub. L. 104–132
Section 601 of title VI of
Pub. L. 104–132 provided that:
“(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that—
“(1) plastic explosives were used by terrorists in the bombings of Pan American Airlines flight number 103 in December 1988 and UTA flight number 722 in September 1989;
“(2) plastic explosives can be used with little likelihood of detection for acts of unlawful interference with civil aviation, maritime navigation, and other modes of transportation;
“(3) the criminal use of plastic explosives places innocent lives in jeopardy, endangers national security, affects domestic tranquility, and gravely affects interstate and foreign commerce;
“(4) the marking of plastic explosives for the purpose of detection would contribute significantly to the prevention and punishment of such unlawful acts; and
“(5) for the purpose of deterring and detecting such unlawful acts, the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection, Done at Montreal on 1 March 1991, requires each contracting State to adopt appropriate measures to ensure that plastic explosives are duly marked and controlled.
“(b) Purpose.—The purpose of this title [amending this section, sections
842,
844, and
845 of this title, and section
1595a of Title
19, Customs Duties, and enacting provisions set out as a note above] is to fully implement the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection, Done at Montreal on 1 March 1991.”
Marking, Rendering Inert, and Licensing of Explosive Materials
Section 732 of
Pub. L. 104–132, as amended by
Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title I, § 113], Sept. 30, 1996,
110 Stat. 3009, 3009–21;
Pub. L. 105–61, title I, Oct. 10, 1997,
111 Stat. 1272, required study by the Secretary of the Treasury of the marking, rendering inert, and licensing of explosive materials not later than 12 months after Apr. 24, 1996, report to Congress on results and recommendations, hearings by Congress to review study results, promulgation of regulations, and special study on the tagging of smokeless and black powder and report two years after Sept. 30, 1996.
Congressional Declaration of Purpose
Section 1101 of title XI of
Pub. L. 91–452 provided that: “The Congress hereby declares that the purpose of this title [enacting this chapter amending section
2516 of this title, repealing section
837 of this title and sections
121 to
144 of Title
50, War and National Defense, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] is to protect interstate and foreign commerce against interference and interruption by reducing the hazard to persons and property arising from misuse and unsafe or insecure storage of explosive materials. It is not the purpose of this title to place any undue or unnecessary Federal restrictions or burdens on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, storage, or use of explosive materials for industrial, mining, agricultural, or other lawful purposes, or to provide for the imposition by Federal regulations of any procedures or requirements other than those reasonably necessary to implement and effectuate the provisions of this title.”
Modification of Other Provisions
Section 1104 of title XI of
Pub. L. 91–452, as amended by
Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986,
100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “Nothing in this title [enacting this chapter, amending section
2516 of this title, repealing section
837 of this title and sections
121 to
144 of Title
50, War and National Defense, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] shall be construed as modifying or affecting any provision of—
“(a) The National Firearms Act (chapter 53 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);
“(b) Section 414 of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (
22 U.S.C.
1934), as amended, relating to munitions control;
“(c) Section
1716 of title
18, United States Code, relating to nonmailable materials;
“(d) Sections
831 through
836 of title
18, United States Code; or
“(e) Chapter
44 of title
18, United States Code.”
Continuation in Business or Operation of Any Person Engaged in Business or Operation on October 15, 1970
Section 1105(c) of
Pub. L. 91–452 provided that: “Any person (as defined in section
841
(a) of title
18, United States Code) engaging in a business or operation requiring a license or permit under the provisions of chapter 40 of such title 18, who was engaged in such business or operation on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 1970] and who has filed an application for a license or permit under the provisions of section 843 of such chapter 40 prior to the effective date of such section
843 [see Effective Date note set out above] may continue such business or operation pending final action on his application. All provisions of such chapter 40 shall apply to such applicant in the same manner and to the same extent as if he were a holder of a license or permit under such chapter 40.”
Authorization of Appropriations
Section 1107 of title XI of
Pub. L. 91–452 provided that: “There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this title [enacting this chapter, amending section
2516 of this title, repealing section
837 of this title and sections
121 to
144 of Title
50, War and National Defense, and enacting provisions set as notes under this section].”