United States Code TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 29 - MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE KNIVES Section 1241. Definitions As used in this chapter - (a) The term ''interstate commerce'' means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term ''switchblade knife'' means any knife having a blade which opens automatically - (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both. Section 1242. Introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation or distribution in interstate commerce; penalty Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Section 1243. Manufacture, sale, or possession within specific jurisdictions; penalty Whoever, 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), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Section 1244. Exceptions Sections 1242 and 1243 of this title shall not apply to - (1) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (2) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces; (3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty; or (4) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by any individual who has only one arm. Section 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. ______________________________ United States Code TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE PART I - CRIMES CHAPTER 83 - POSTAL SERVICE Section 1716. Injurious articles as nonmailable (a) All kinds of poison, and all articles and compositions containing poison, and all poisonous animals, insects, reptiles, and all explosives, inflammable materials, infernal machines, and mechanical, chemical, or other devices or compositions which may ignite or explode, and all disease germs or scabs, and all other natural or artificial articles, compositions, or material which may kill or injure another, or injure the mails or other property, whether or not sealed as first-class matter, are nonmailable matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or station thereof, nor by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. (b) The Postal Service may permit the transmission in the mails, under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe as to preparation and packing, of any such articles which are not outwardly or of their own force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property. (c) The Postal Service is authorized and directed to permit the transmission in the mails, under regulations to be prescribed by it, of live scorpions which are to be used for purposes of medical research or for the manufacture of antivenom. Such regulations shall include such provisions with respect to the packaging of such live scorpions for transmission in the mails as the Postal Service deems necessary or desirable for the protection of Postal Service personnel and of the public generally and for ease of handling by such personnel and by any individual connected with such research or manufacture. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the transmission in the mails of live scorpions by means of aircraft engaged in the carriage of passengers for compensation or hire. (d) The transmission in the mails of poisonous drugs and medicines may be limited by the Postal Service to shipments of such articles from the manufacturer thereof or dealer therein to licensed physicians, surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, druggists, cosmetologists, barbers, and veterinarians under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe. (e) The transmission in the mails of poisons for scientific use, and which are not outwardly dangerous or of their own force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property, may be limited by the Postal Service to shipments of such articles between the manufacturers thereof, dealers therein, bona fide research or experimental scientific laboratories, and such other persons who are employees of the Federal, a State, or local government, whose official duties are comprised, in whole or in part, of the use of such poisons, and who are designated by the head of the agency in which they are employed to receive or send such articles, under such rules and regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe. (f) All spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquors of any kind are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried through the mails. (g) All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe - (1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; (2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; (3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of any State, or any political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and (4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). The Postal Service may require, as a condition of conveying any such knife in the mails, that any person proposing to mail such knife explain in writing to the satisfaction of the Postal Service that the mailing of such knife will not be in violation of this section. (h) Any advertising, promotional, or sales matter which solicits or induces the mailing of anything declared nonmailable by this section is likewise nonmailable unless such matter contains wrapping or packaging instructions which are in accord with regulations promulgated by the Postal Service. (i)(1) Any ballistic knife shall be subject to the same restrictions and penalties provided under subsection (g) for knives described in the first sentence of that subsection. (2) As used in this subsection, the term ''ballistic knife'' means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism. Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail, according to the direction thereon, or at any place at which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, anything declared nonmailable by this section, unless in accordance with the rules and regulations authorized to be prescribed by the Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail, according to the direction thereon or at any place to which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, anything declared nonmailable by this section, whether or not transmitted in accordance with the rules and regulations authorized to be prescribed by the Postal Service, with intent to kill or injure another, or injure the mails or other property, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. Whoever is convicted of any crime prohibited by this section, which has resulted in the death of any person, shall be subject also to the death penalty or to imprisonment for life. (j) For purposes of this section, the term ''State'' includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. Section 1716 - Notes SOURCE (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 781; May 8, 1952, ch. 246, 66 Stat. 67; June 29, 1955, ch. 224, 69 Stat. 191; Pub. L. 85-268, Sept. 2, 1957, 71 Stat. 594; Pub. L. 85-623, Sec. 5, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562; Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 92-191, Sec. 1, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 647; Pub. L. 99-570, title X, Sec. 10003, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-167; Pub. L. 103-322, title VI, Sec. 60003(a)(7), title XXXIII, Sec. 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1969, 2147; Pub. L. 104-294, title VI, Sec. 607(g), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 340 (Mar. 4, 1909. ch. 321, Sec. 217, 35 Stat. 1131; May 25, 1920, ch. 196, 41 Stat. 620; Jan. 11, 1929, ch. 53, 45 Stat. 1072; June 19, 1934, ch. 650, 48 Stat. 1063). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of ''principal'' in section 2 of this title. The maximum of ''twenty years'' was reduced to ''ten years'' as more consistent with such comparable sections as sections 111 and 1113 of this title. Minor changes were made in phraseology. AMENDMENTS 1996 - Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 104-294, Sec. 607(g)(1), substituted ''State'' for ''State, Territory, or the District of Columbia''. Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 104-294, Sec. 607(g)(2), which directed substitution of ''any State, or any political subdivision of a State'' for ''the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or territory, or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State'', was executed by making the substitution in text which contained the word ''Territory'' rather than ''territory'', to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104-294, Sec. 607(g)(3), added subsec. (j) at end. 1994 - Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 330016(1)(H), substituted ''fined under this title'' for ''fined not more than $1,000'' in first undesignated par. after subsec. (i). Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 60003(a)(7), in last par., struck out before period at end '', if the jury shall in its discretion so direct, or, in the case of a plea of guilty, or a plea of not guilty where the defendant has waived a trial by jury, if the court in its discretion, shall so order''. 1986 - Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 99-570 added subsec. (i). 1971 - Subsecs. (a) to (g). Pub. L. 92-191 designated existing seven paragraphs preceding the penal provisions as subsecs. (a) to (g), respectively. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 92-191 added subsec. (h). 1970 - First par. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(B)(ii), substituted ''officer or employee of the Postal Service'' for ''letter carrier''. Second par. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(A), substituted ''Postal Service'' and ''it shall prescribe'' for ''Postmaster General'' and ''he shall prescribe''. Third par. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(A), substituted ''Postal Service'' for ''Postmaster General'' in two places, ''prescribed by it'' for ''prescribed by him'', ''antivenom'' for ''antivenin'', ''necessary or desirable'' for ''necessary or advisable'', and ''Postal Service personnel'' for ''Post Office Department personnel''. Fourth par. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(A), substituted ''Postal Service'' and ''it shall prescribe'' for ''Postmaster General'' and ''he shall prescribe'', respectively, and struck out the comma after ''veterinarians''. Fifth par. Pub. L. 91-375 Sec. 6(j)(25)(B)(i) substituted ''Postal Service'' for ''Postmaster General'' in two places. Seventh par. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(B)(i), (iii), substituted ''Postal Service'' for ''Postmaster General'' in three places, and ''officer or employee of the Postal Service'' for ''postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service'', respectively. Eighth to tenth pars. Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(25)(B)(i), substituted ''Postal Service'' for ''Postmaster General''. 1958 - Pub. L. 85-623 inserted paragraph prohibiting mailing of switchblade knives except in connection with Armed Forces or other Government orders. 1957 - Pub. L. 85-268 reduced penalty from two to one year for mailing nonmailable articles; increased penalty from ten to twenty years for mailing nonmailable matter with intent to kill or injure another or injure the mails or other property but where death does not result; and provided death penalty or life imprisonment for mailing nonmailable matter resulting in death. 1955 - Act June 29, 1955, inserted paragraph to permit the transportation in the mails of live scorpions for certain purposes. 1952 - Act May 8, 1952, inserted fourth paragraph to extend the Postmaster General's authority as it relates to the transmission of poisonous drugs through the mails for scientific purposes. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99-570 effective 30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, see section 10004 of Pub. L. 99-570, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1245 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1971 AMENDMENT Section 3 of Pub. L. 92-191 provided that: ''The amendments made by this Act (amending this section and section 3001 of Title 39, Postal Service) shall become effective at the beginning of the third calendar month following the date of enactment of this Act (Dec. 15, 1971) or on the date section 3001 of title 39, United States Code, becomes effective (July 1, 1971) pursuant to section 15(a) of Public Law 91-375 (set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of title 39), whichever is the later.'' EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1970 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 91-375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1958 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 85-623 effective on sixtieth day after Aug. 12, 1958, see Effective Date note set out under section 1241 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES Federal Hazardous Substances Act as not modifying this section, see Pub. L. 86-613, Sec. 17, July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 380, set out as a note under section 1261 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. CROSS REFERENCES Mailing of packages containing any plant or plant product into a State maintaining terminal inspection thereof, without marking the contents of such package on the outside, prohibited, see section 166 of Title 7, Agriculture. Seizure and disposition of nonmailable matter, see section 3001 et seq. of Title 39, Postal Service. SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS This section is referred to in title 39 section 3001.