Title 46 — Criminal Justice

(a) “Blackjack” means any instrument that is designed or adapted for the purpose of stunning or inflicting physical injury by striking a person, and which is readily capable of lethal use. (b) “Deface” means to alter or destroy the manufacturer’s or importer’s serial number or an…

(a) A person commits a crime if he knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells: (1) an explosive weapon; (2) a machine gun; (3) a gas gun; (4) a short barreled rifle or shotgun; (5) a firearm silencer; (6) a switchblade knife; (7) knuckles; (8) any other arms,…

(a) A person commits the crime of unlawful use of weapons if he knowingly: (1) carries concealed on or about his person a knife, a firearm, a blackjack or any other weapon readily capable of lethal use; (2) sets a spring gun; (3) discharges or shoots a firearm into an inhabitable…

(a) A person commits the crime of defacing a firearm if he knowingly defaces any firearm. (b) Defacing a firearm is a class A misdemeanor. History: 1979, PL 16-43 § 2.

(a) A person commits the crime of possession of a defaced firearm if he knowingly possesses a firearm which does not have the manufacturer’s or importer’s serial number engraved or cast on the receiver or frame of the firearm. (b) Possession of a defaced firearm is a class B misd…

(a) A person commits the crime of unlawful transfer of weapons if he: (1) knowingly sells, leases, loans, gives away, or delivers a firearm or ammunition for a firearm to any person who, under the provisions of 46.4207, is not lawfully entitled to possess it; (2) knowingly sells,…

(a) A person commits the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm or firearm ammunition if he has any firearm or firearm ammunition in his possession, and (1) he has been convicted of a dangerous felony or confined therefor in this territory or elsewhere during the 5-year period…

As used in 46.4220 through 46.4234, “arms”, includes guns, rifles, pistols, air rifles, air pistols, gas rifles, gas pistols, ammunition, shells, cartridges, gunpowder, dynamite, nitroglycerine, blasting powder, fireworks, and all other firearms and explosives and materials for t…

(a) It is unlawful for any person, whether permanently or temporarily resident within American Samoa or whether on shore or on board any vessel, anchored, moored, or docked in any harbor in American Samoa, to have in his possession any arms without first having obtained a license…

(a) It is unlawful for any person to import arms into American Samoa without having obtained a license therefor from the Commissioner of Public Safety. (b) A license to import arms shall not be issued by the Commissioner of Public Safety unless the application for the license has…

(a) It is unlawful for any person to sell or in any other way transfer the right of possession of any arms without having obtained from the Commissioner of Public Safety a license to sell arms. The application for such license shall contain such information as may be required by …

(a) Every person who obtains a license to possess, import, or sell arms shall, upon the written request of the Governor or his designated representative, furnish such information concerning such arms as may be reasonably required. (b) Each license issued shall specify the number,…

Every person to whom a license to possess arms is issued shall, when carrying such arms or any part thereof, have with him the license to possess such arms, and shall produce the same for inspection upon demand of any officer or official of the government. History: 1962, PL 7-13.…

Any license issued under authority of this title may be altered or revoked by the Governor or his designated representative at any time for good cause. History: 1962, PL 7-13.

(a) Licenses to possess arms shall expire on 10 January of the year following their issue. Each holder of a license to possess arms shall between the 1st and 10th of January of each year, submit his license to possess arms for the previous year, together with the annual license f…

Each person to whom a license to possess arms is issued shall, upon receipt of such arms, produce at the office of the Commissioner of Public Safety his license to possess arms, together with the arms specified in said license. Such arms shall be examined and compared with the li…

(a) No person shall sell or otherwise transfer any arms to any person who does not hold a valid and existing license to possess the particular firearms to be sold. (b) Arms no longer permitted to be licensed but for which current, valid licenses were issued prior to the effective…

(a) Any person desirous of obtaining gunpowder, dynamite, nitroglycerine, or other explosive for the purpose of blasting shall first obtain from the Commissioner of Public Safety a license specifically authorizing the use of the gunpowder, dynamite, nitroglycerine, or other explo…

It is unlawful for any person to discharge, explode, or set off any arms within 30 yards of any public road or highway, house, building, or airport in American Samoa except that the Commissioner of Public Safety may authorize the discharge of firearms for the purpose of an Honor …

The Chief Justice, the Associate Justice or a district court judge, upon the filing of a complaint sworn to or affirmed by the complainant, which describes the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized, may issue a warrant authorizing any police officer to search…

(a) This chapter does not prohibit the possession and use of arms and other police weapons by any member of the police force, armed forces of the United States or employees of the government of the United States and law enforcement officers of other states or territories if these…

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or who refuses to obey any lawful order issued under the authority of this chapter is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced accordingly, and any arms involved may be confiscated b…