§231 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Makes it a crime to teach, show, make, transport, or plan to use guns, explosives, incendiary devices, or dangerous techniques if you know or intend they will be used unlawfully to help a civil disorder that in any way delays, blocks, or harms trade, the movement of goods, or a federal government activity. It also makes it a crime to try to block or interfere with a firefighter or police officer who is lawfully doing their job during such a civil disorder. Offenders may be fined under federal law or jailed for up to 5 years, or both. Lawful acts by police officers while doing their official duties are not made illegal by this law.

Title 18, §231

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Whoever teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm or explosive or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that the same will be unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder which may in any way or degree obstruct, delay, or adversely affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce or the conduct or performance of any federally protected function; or

(2)Whoever transports or manufactures for transportation in commerce any firearm, or explosive or incendiary device, knowing or having reason to know or intending that the same will be used unlawfully in furtherance of a civil disorder; or

(3)Whoever commits or attempts to commit any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of his official duties incident to and during the commission of a civil disorder which in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or adversely affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce or the conduct or performance of any federally protected function—Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(b)Nothing contained in this section shall make unlawful any act of any law enforcement officer which is performed in the lawful performance of his official duties.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in concluding par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–284, title X, § 1001, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 90, provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Civil Obedience Act of 1968’.”

§231 Civil Disorders