§ 231

Civil disorders

Up to 5 years Violence & Threats 47 sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 12 · Civil Disorders

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(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 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 or intending that the same will be used unlawfully in furtherance of a civil disorder; or

(3) Whoever commits or 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 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.

History: (Added Pub. L. 90–284, title X, §1002(a), Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 90 (PDF, 3.7 MB); amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)

3 crimes in this section

(a)(1) 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
Ways to commit
- teaches · demonstrates
Federal basis
- The civil disorder 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
Mental state
- Knowing or having reason to know (or, alternatively, intending) that the same will be unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder
- Or intending that the same will be unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder
Exceptions
- Any act of any law enforcement officer performed in the lawful performance of his official duties
(a)(2) Transports or manufactures for transportation in commerce any firearm, or explosive or incendiary device
Ways to commit
- transports · manufactures for transportation
Federal basis
- Transportation in commerce
Mental state
- Knowing or having reason to know (or, alternatively, intending) that the same will be used unlawfully in furtherance of a civil disorder
- Or intending that the same will be used unlawfully in furtherance of a civil disorder
Exceptions
- Any act of any law enforcement officer performed in the lawful performance of his official duties
(a)(3) Commits any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer
Ways to commit
- obstruct · impede · interfere with
Federal basis
- The civil disorder 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
Conditions
- The fireman or law enforcement officer is lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of his official duties incident to and during the commission of a civil disorder
Exceptions
- Any act of any law enforcement officer performed in the lawful performance of his official duties
Also covers
- + attempt

Applies to all 3 crimes above

Penalty

A fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime to teach or demonstrate how to make or use firearms, explosives, firebombs, or harmful techniques, knowing or intending they will be used unlawfully in a civil disorder (a violent public disturbance, such as a riot). It is also a crime to transport such weapons in interstate commerce, or make them for such shipment, for that purpose, or to obstruct firefighters or police doing their duties during a civil disorder that affects commerce or federal functions.

Official page on GovInfo ↗ PDF ↗