18 U.S.C. § 842

Unlawful acts

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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person—(1) to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in explosive materials without a license issued under this chapter;(2) knowingly to withhold information or to make any false or fictitious oral or written statement or to furnish or exhibit any false, fictitious, or misrepresented identification, intended or likely to deceive for the purpose of obtaining explosive materials, or a license, permit, exemption, or relief from disability under the provisions of this chapter;(3) other than a licensee or permittee knowingly—(A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive any explosive materials; or(B) to distribute explosive materials to any person other than a licensee or permittee; or(4) who is a holder of a limited permit—(A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive in interstate or foreign commerce any explosive materials; or(B) to receive explosive materials from a licensee or permittee, whose premises are located outside the State of residence of the limited permit holder, or on more than 6 separate occasions, during the period of the permit, to receive explosive materials from 1 or more licensees or permittees whose premises are located within the State of residence of the limited permit holder.(b) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee to knowingly distribute any explosive materials to any person other than—(1) a licensee;(2) a holder of a user permit; or(3) a holder of a limited permit who is a resident of the State where distribution is made and in which the premises of the transferor are located.(c) It shall be unlawful for any licensee to distribute explosive materials to any person who the licensee has reason to believe intends to transport such explosive materials into a State where the purchase, possession, or use of explosive materials is prohibited or which does not permit its residents to transport or ship explosive materials into it or to receive explosive materials in it.(d) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to distribute explosive materials to any individual who:(1) is under twenty-one years of age;(2) has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;(3) is under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;(4) is a fugitive from justice;(5) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802));(6) has been adjudicated a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;(7) is an alien, other than an alien who—(A) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act);(B) is in lawful nonimmigrant status, is a refugee admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), or is in asylum status under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), and—(i) is a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government, as determined by the Secretary 11 So in original. Probably should be “Attorney General”. in consultation with the Secretary of State, entering the United States on official law enforcement business, and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of this official law enforcement business; or(ii) is a person having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a corporation, partnership, or association licensed pursuant to section 843(a), and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of such power;(C) is a member of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or other friendly foreign military force, as determined by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, who is present in the United States under military orders for training or other military purpose authorized by the United States and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of the authorized military purpose; or(D) is lawfully present in the United States in cooperation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession of the explosive materials is in furtherance of such cooperation;(8) has been discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions; 22 So in original. Probably should be followed by “or”.(9) having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced the citizenship of that person.(e) It shall be unlawful for any licensee knowingly to distribute any explosive materials to any person in any State where the purchase, possession, or use by such person of such explosive materials would be in violation of any State law or any published ordinance applicable at the place of distribution.(f) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee willfully to manufacture, import, purchase, distribute, or receive explosive materials without making such records as the Attorney General may by regulation require, including, but not limited to, a statement of intended use, the name, date, place of birth, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and place of residence of any natural person to whom explosive materials are distributed. If explosive materials are distributed to a corporation or other business entity, such records shall include the identity and principal and local places of business and the name, date, place of birth, and place of residence of the natural person acting as agent of the corporation or other business entity in arranging the distribution.(g) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or permittee knowingly to make any false entry in any record which he is required to keep pursuant to this section or regulations promulgated under section 847 of this title.(h) It shall be unlawful for any person to receive, possess, transport, ship, conceal, store, barter, sell, dispose of, or pledge or accept as security for a loan, any stolen explosive materials which are moving as, which are part of, which constitute, or which have been shipped or transported in, interstate or foreign commerce, either before or after such materials were stolen, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the explosive materials were stolen.(i) It shall be unlawful for any person—(1) who is under indictment for, or who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;(2) who is a fugitive from justice;(3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802));(4) who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;(5) who is an alien, other than an alien who—(A) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act);(B) is in lawful nonimmigrant status, is a refugee admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), or is in asylum status under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), and—(i) is a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government, as determined by the Secretary ¹ in consultation with the Secretary of State, entering the United States on official law enforcement business, and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of this official law enforcement business; or(ii) is a person having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a corporation, partnership, or association licensed pursuant to section 843(a), and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of such power;(C) is a member of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or other friendly foreign military force, as determined by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, who is present in the United States under military orders for training or other military purpose authorized by the United States and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of the authorized military purpose; or(D) is lawfully present in the United States in cooperation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession of the explosive materials is in furtherance of such cooperation;(6) who has been discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions; ²(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced the citizenship of that person 33 So in original. Probably should be followed by a semicolon.to ship or transport any explosive in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or to receive or possess any explosive which has been shipped or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce.(j) It shall be unlawful for any person to store any explosive material in a manner not in conformity with regulations promulgated by the Attorney General. In promulgating such regulations, the Attorney General shall take into consideration the class, type, and quantity of explosive materials to be stored, as well as the standards of safety and security recognized in the explosives industry.(k) It shall be unlawful for any person who has knowledge of the theft or loss of any explosive materials from his stock, to fail to report such theft or loss within twenty-four hours of discovery thereof, to the Attorney General and to appropriate local authorities.(l) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent.(m)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to import or bring into the United States, or export from the United States, any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent.(2) This subsection does not apply to the importation or bringing into the United States, or the exportation from the United States, of any plastic explosive that was imported or brought into, or manufactured in the United States prior to the date of enactment of this subsection by or on behalf of any agency of the United States performing military or police functions (including any military reserve component) or by or on behalf of the National Guard of any State, not later than 15 years after the date of entry into force of the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives, with respect to the United States.(n)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to ship, transport, transfer, receive, or possess any plastic explosive that does not contain a detection agent.(2) This subsection does not apply to—(A) the shipment, transportation, transfer, receipt, or possession of any plastic explosive that was imported or brought into, or manufactured in the United States prior to the date of enactment of this subsection by any person during the period beginning on that date and ending 3 years after that date of enactment; or(B) the shipment, transportation, transfer, receipt, or possession of any plastic explosive that was imported or brought into, or manufactured in the United States prior to the date of enactment of this subsection by or on behalf of any agency of the United States performing a military or police function (including any military reserve component) or by or on behalf of the National Guard of any State, not later than 15 years after the date of entry into force of the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives, with respect to the United States.(o) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than an agency of the United States (including any military reserve component) or the National Guard of any State, possessing any plastic explosive on the date of enactment of this subsection, to fail to report to the Attorney General within 120 days after such date of enactment the quantity of such explosives possessed, the manufacturer or importer, any marks of identification on such explosives, and such other information as the Attorney General may prescribe by regulation.(p)Distribution of Information Relating to Explosives, Destructive Devices, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.—(1)Definitions.—In this subsection—(A) the term “destructive device” has the same meaning as in section 921(a)(4);(B) the term “explosive” has the same meaning as in section 844(j); and(C) the term “weapon of mass destruction” has the same meaning as in section 2332a(c)(2).(2)Prohibition.—It shall be unlawful for any person—(A) to teach or demonstrate the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute by any means information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence; or(B) to teach or demonstrate to any person the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute to any person, by any means, information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, knowing that such person intends to use the teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence.(Added Pub. L. 91–452, title XI, § 1102(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 953; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6474(c), (d), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4380; Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3521, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4923; Pub. L. 103–322, title XI, §§ 110508, 110516, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2018, 2020; Pub. L. 104–132, title VI, § 603, title VII, § 707, Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1289, 1296; Pub. L. 106–54, § 2(a), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 398; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, §§ 1112(e)(3), 1122(b), 1123, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2276, 2280, 2283; Pub. L. 108–177, title III, § 372, Dec. 13, 2003, 117 Stat. 2627.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsecs. (d)(7)(A) and (i)(5)(A), is classified to section 1101(a)(20) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

The date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsecs. (m)(2), (n)(2), and (o), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104–132, which was approved Apr. 24, 1996.

Amendments

2003—Subsec. (d)(7)(A). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(a)(1), struck out “or” at end.

Subsec. (d)(7)(B). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(a)(2), inserted “or” at end of cl. (i) and struck out cls. (iii) and (iv) which read as follows:

“(iii) is a member of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or other friendly foreign military force, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, (whether or not admitted in a nonimmigrant status) who is present in the United States under military orders for training or other military purpose authorized by the United States, and the shipping, transporting, possession, or receipt of explosive materials is in furtherance of the military purpose; or

“(iv) is lawfully present in the United States in cooperation with the Director of Central Intelligence, and the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession of the explosive materials is in furtherance of such cooperation;”.

Subsec. (d)(7)(C), (D). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(a)(3), added subpars. (C) and (D).

Subsec. (i)(5)(A). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(b)(1), struck out “or” at end.

Subsec. (i)(5)(B). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(b)(2), inserted “or” at end of cl. (i) and struck out cls. (iii) and (iv) which read as follows:

Subsec. (i)(5)(C), (D). Pub. L. 108–177, § 372(b)(3), added subpars. (C) and (D).

2002—Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1122(b)(1), (2), added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “other than a licensee or permittee knowingly—

“(A) to transport, ship, cause to be transported, or receive in interstate or foreign commerce any explosive materials, except that a person who lawfully purchases explosive materials from a licensee in a State contiguous to the State in which the purchaser resides may ship, transport, or cause to be transported such explosive materials to the State in which he resides and may receive such explosive materials in the State in which he resides, if such transportation, shipment, or receipt is permitted by the law of the State in which he resides; or

“(B) to distribute explosive materials to any person (other than a licensee or permittee) who the distributor knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in the State in which the distributor resides.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1122(b)(3), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any licensee knowingly to distribute any explosive materials to any person except—

“(1) a licensee;

“(2) a permittee; or

“(3) a resident of the State where distribution is made and in which the licensee is licensed to do business or a State contiguous thereto if permitted by the law of the State of the purchaser’s residence.”

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1123(a)(2), substituted “or who has been committed to a mental institution;” for period at end.

Subsec. (d)(7) to (9). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1123(a)(1), (3), added pars. (7) to (9).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1123(b)(3), inserted “or affecting” before “interstate” in two places in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (i)(5) to (7). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1123(b)(1), (2), added pars. (5) to (7).

Subsecs. (j), (k), (o). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1112(e)(3), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” wherever appearing.

1999—Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 106–54 added subsec. (p).

1996—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–132, § 707, amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any person to receive, conceal, transport, ship, store, barter, sell, or dispose of any explosive materials knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such explosive materials were stolen.”

Subsecs. (l) to (o). Pub. L. 104–132, § 603, added subsecs. (l) to (o).

1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–322, § 110516, substituted “any person” for “any licensee” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 103–322, § 110508, inserted “or possess” after “receive” in concluding provisions.

1990—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 101–647, § 3521(1), substituted “; or” for a period.

Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 101–647, § 3521(2), substituted “; or” for a period.

1988—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6474(c), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: “is an unlawful user of marihuana (as defined in section 4761 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954) or any depressant or stimulant drug (as defined in section 201(v) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) or narcotic drug (as defined in section 4721(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954); or”.

Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6474(d), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “who is an unlawful user of or addicted to marihuana (as defined in section 4761 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954) or any depressant or stimulant drug (as defined in section 201(v) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) or narcotic drug (as defined in section 4731(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954); or”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesChange of Name

Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by sections 1112(e)(3) and 1123 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(b) 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

Amendment by section 603 of Pub. L. 104–132 effective 1 year after Apr. 24, 1996, see section 607 of Pub. L. 104–132, set out as a note under section 841 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 294 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 1971–2025 · leading case: United States v. Wassim Mazloum, 695 F.3d 457 (6th Cir. 2012).

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United States v. Wassim Mazloum, 695 F.3d 457 (6th Cir. 2012). · cites it 18× “In addition, Amawi and El-Hindi were each convicted of two counts of distributing information regarding the manufacture of explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842 (p)(2)(A). Amawi, El- Hindi, and Mazloum were sentenced to…”

Vineland Fireworks Co. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, 544 F.3d 509 (3rd Cir. 2008). · cites it 32× “The Director found that Vineland's failure to keep records of its daily summary of magazine transactions on thirty-six occasions over the course of many months constituted a willful violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842 (f) and 27 C.F.R. § 555.127 .”

United States v. Quiroz, 55 M.J. 334 (C.A.A.F. 2001). · cites it 7× “of Article 81, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 USC § 881 ; (2) wrongful sale of the property, in violation of Article 108, UCMJ, 10 USC § 908 ; (3) unlawfully receiving the property, in violation of 18 USC § 842 (h), as incorporated under Article 134, UCMJ, 10 USC §…”

Kassir v. United States, 3 F.4th 556 (2d Cir. 2021). · cites it 9× “Kassir now argues that one of his convictions— for distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842 (p)(2)(A), which led to 2 a 20-year prison term—should be vacated under the Supreme Court’s…”

United States v. David Wayne Hull, 456 F.3d 133 (3rd Cir. 2006). · cites it 8× “Hull alleges that: (1) mere “possession” of a pipe bomb, as charged in the indictment, does not qualify as a “Federal crime of violence” under 18 U.S.C. § 842 (p)(2)(A); (2) the evidence was insufficient to prove the witness tampering change; (3) the wiretaps should have been…”

United States v. Disney, 62 M.J. 46 (C.A.A.F. 2005). · cites it 9× “He was charged with one specification of larceny of military property and one specification of storing stolen explosives in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842 (h)(2000), violations of Articles *47 121 and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.”

United States v. Joseph Simms, 914 F.3d 229 (4th Cir. 2019). · cites it 2× “§ 1952 (a)(2) (criminalizing travel or use of mail with intent to commit any “crime of violence”); 18 U.S.C. § 842 (p)(2)(A) (prohibiting teaching, demonstration, or dissemination of information intended for use in committing a “crime of violence”); 18 U.”

United States v. Quiroz, 57 M.J. 583 (N.M.C.C.A. 2002). · cites it 8× “He was also convicted, in accordance with his pleas, of unlawfully receiving explosive material and of unlawfully possessing, storing, transporting, and/or selling explosive material, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842 (h), as incorporated under Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.”

United States v. Gregorio Gonzalez-Longoria, 831 F.3d 670 (5th Cir. 2016). · cites it 2× “…violence); § 931(a)(1) (purchase of body armor by violent felons); § 1956(c)(7)(B)(ii) (money laundering); see also 18 U.S.C. § 842 (p)(2) (facilitating use of explosives in connection with a crime of violence); § 929(a)(1) (use of armor-piercing ammunition in connection with…”

United States v. Robert Neal Allen, 798 F.2d 985 (7th Cir. 1986). · cites it 7× “The first count of conspiracy to transport expío *991 sives in interstate commerce was dismissed, but Allen was convicted of the following: Count II: Interstate transportation of explosive material, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 842 (a)(3)(A) and 844(a); Count III: Possession of…”

United States v. Sinks, 473 F.3d 1315 (10th Cir. 2007). · cites it 6× “Calvin Sinks appeals his convictions and sentence for knowingly possessing stolen explosive materials in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 842 (h) and 844(a), and being a *1317 felon in possession of explosives in violation of 18 U.”

United States v. Scharstein, 531 F. Supp. 460 (E.D. Ky. 1982). · cites it 12× “14 18 U.S.C. § 842 states in part that “it shall be unlawful to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials without a license or to transport or cause to be transported into interstate commerce explosive materials without obtaining a license or a…”

Show all 294 citing cases →

— 18 U.S.C. § 842(a)(1) — 1 case

United States v. Curtis Charles Overshon & John Overshon, 494 F.2d 894 (8th Cir. 1974).

— 18 U.S.C. § 842(h) — 1 case

The United States v. James Dawson, A/K/A Roach, 467 F.2d 668 (8th Cir. 1972).

— 18 U.S.C. § 842(i)(l) — 1 case

United States v. Ovie L. Duncan, 870 F.2d 1532 (10th Cir. 1989).

— 18 U.S.C. § 842(p)(2)(B) — 1 case

United States v. Christopher Arthur (4th Cir. 2025).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.