§ 1245. — Ballistic knives.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC1245]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 29--MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE
KNIVES
Sec. 1245. Ballistic knives
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) ``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.
(Pub. L. 85-623, Sec. 7, as added Pub. L. 99-570, title X, Sec. 10002,
Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-167; amended Pub. L. 100-690, title VI,
Sec. 6472, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4379.)
Amendments
1988--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 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, Sec. 6472(2), struck out ``or State''
after ``Federal''.
Effective Date
Section 10004 of Pub. L. 99-570 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 [Oct. 27, 1986].''
