Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 82.djvu/268

 226

PUBLIC LAW 90-351-JUNE 19, 1968

[82 STAT.

62 Stat. 743.

youthful criminal beliiivior, and that such firearms have been widely sold by federally licensed importers and dealers to emotionally immature, or thrill-bent juveniles and minors prone to criminal behavior; (7) that the United States has I)ecome the dumping ground of the castolf surplus military weapons of other nations, and that such weapons, and the large volume of relatively inexpensive pistols and revolvers (largely worthless for sporting purposes), imported into the United States in recent years, has contributed greatly to lawlessness and to the Nation's law enforcement problems; (8) that the lack of adequate Federal control over interstate and foreign commerce in highly destructive weapons (such as bazookas, mortars, antitank guns, and so forth, and destructive devices such as explosive or incendiary grenades, bombs, missiles, and so forth) has allowed such weapons and devices to fall into the hands of lawless persons, including armed groups who would supplant lawful authority, thus creating a problem of national concern; (9) that the existing licensing system under the Federal Firearms Act does not provide adequate license fees or proper standards for the granting or denial of licenses, and that this has led to licenses being issued to persons not reasonably entitled thereto, thus distorting the purposes of the licensing system. (b) The Congress further hereby declares that the purpose of this title is to cope with the conditions referred to in the foregoing subsection, and that it is not the purpose of this title to place any undue or unnecessary Federal restrictions or burdens on law-abiding citizens with respect to the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms appropriate to the purpose of hunting, trap shooting, target shooting, personal protection, or any other lawful activity, and that this title is not intended to discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms by law-abiding citizens for lawful pui"poses, or provide for the imposition by Federal regulations of any procedures or requirements other than those reasonably necessary to implement and ett'ectuate the provisions of this title. SEC. 902. Title 18, United States Code, Is amended by inserting after section 917 thereof the following new chapter:

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Chapter 44.—FIREARMS

52 Stat. 1250. 15 USC 909.

"Sec. "5)21. ^•922. "923. "924. '•925. '•920. "927. "928.

Definitions. Unlawful acts. Licensing. Penalties. Exceptions: Relief from disabilities. Rules and regulations. Effect on State law. Separability clause.

"§921. Definitions '"(a) As used in this chapter— "(1) The term 'person' and the term 'whoever includes any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or joint stock company. "(2) The term 'interstate or foreign commerce' includes commerce between any State or possession (not including the Canal Zone) and any place outside thereof; or l)etween points within the same State or possession (not including the Canal Zone), but through any place outside thereof; or within any possession or the District of Columbia.

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