18 U.S.C. § 36 (2024)

This is the official text of 18 U.S.C. § 36 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.

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Drive-by shooting

Official statutory text

(a) Definition.—In this section, "major drug offense" means—

(1) a continuing criminal enterprise punishable under section 408(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 848(c));

(2) a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances punishable under section 406 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 846) section 1 1013 of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 963); or

(3) an offense involving major quantities of drugs and punishable under section 401(b)(1)(A) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A)) or section 1010(b)(1) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960(b)(1)).

(b) Offense and Penalties.—(1) A person who, in furtherance or to escape detection of a major drug offense and with the intent to intimidate, harass, injure, or maim, fires a weapon into a group of two or more persons and who, in the course of such conduct, causes grave risk to any human life shall be punished by a term of no more than 25 years, by fine under this title, or both.

(2) A person who, in furtherance or to escape detection of a major drug offense and with the intent to intimidate, harass, injure, or maim, fires a weapon into a group of 2 or more persons and who, in the course of such conduct, kills any person shall, if the killing—

(A) is a first degree murder (as defined in section 1111(a)), be punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, fined under this title, or both; or

(B) is a murder other than a first degree murder (as defined in section 1111(a)), be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.

(Added Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60008(b), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1971; amended Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §604(b)(30), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "408(c)" for "403(c)" in par. (1) and "Export" for "Export Control" in par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
.

(Added Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60008(b), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1971; amended Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §604(b)(30), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "408(c)" for "403(c)" in par. (1) and "Export" for "Export Control" in par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.

Short Title

Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60008(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1971, provided that: "This section [enacting this section] may be cited as the 'Drive-By Shooting Prevention Act of 1994'."

1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by "or".

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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