I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6691 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the definition of ‘‘crime 
of violence’’, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 31, 2018 
Mrs. HANDEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the 
definition of ‘‘crime of violence’’, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Safety and 
Security Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. CRIME OF VIOLENCE. 
Section 16 of title 18, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 16. CRIME OF VIOLENCE DEFINED. 
‘‘(a) The term ‘crime of violence’ means an offense— 
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‘‘(1)(A) that— 
‘‘(i) is murder, voluntary manslaughter, as-
sault, sexual abuse or aggravated sexual abuse, 
abusive sexual contact, child abuse, kidnapping, 
robbery, carjacking, firearms use, burglary, 
arson, extortion, communication of threats, co-
ercion, fleeing, interference with flight crew 
members and attendants, domestic violence, 
hostage taking, stalking, human trafficking, pi-
racy, or a terrorism offense as described in 
chapter 113B (other than in section 2332d); or 
‘‘(ii) involves the unlawful possession or 
use of a weapon of mass destruction; or 
‘‘(B) that involves use or unlawful posses-
sion of explosives or destructive devices de-
scribed in 5845(f) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986; 
‘‘(2) that has as an element the use, attempted 
use, or threatened use of physical force against the 
person or property of another; or 
‘‘(3) that is an attempt to commit, conspiracy 
to commit, solicitation to commit, or aiding and 
abetting any of the offenses set forth in paragraphs 
(1) and (2). 
‘‘(b) In this section: 
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‘‘(1) The term ‘abusive sexual contact’ means 
conduct described in section 2244(a)(1) and (a)(2). 
‘‘(2) The terms ‘aggravated sexual abuse’ and 
‘sexual abuse’ mean conduct described in sections 
2241 and 2242. For purposes of such conduct, the 
term ‘sexual act’ means conduct described in section 
2246(2), or the knowing and lewd exposure of geni-
talia or masturbation, to any person, with an intent 
to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or 
gratify the sexual desire of any person. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘assault’ means conduct de-
scribed in section 113(a), and includes conduct com-
mitted recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘arson’ means conduct described 
in section 844(i) or unlawfully or willfully damaging 
or destroying any building, inhabited structure, vehi-
cle, vessel, or real property by means of fire or ex-
plosive. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘burglary’ means an unlawful or 
unprivileged entry into, or remaining in, a building 
or structure, including any nonpermanent or mobile 
structure that is adapted or used for overnight ac-
commodation or for the ordinary carrying on of busi-
ness, and, either before or after entering, the per-
son— 
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‘‘(A) forms the intent to commit a crime; 
or 
‘‘(B) commits or attempts to commit a 
crime. 
‘‘(6) The term ‘carjacking’ means conduct de-
scribed in section 2119, or the unlawful taking of a 
motor vehicle from the immediate actual possession 
of a person against his will, by means of actual or 
threatened force, or violence or intimidation, or by 
sudden or stealthy seizure or snatching, or fear of 
injury. 
‘‘(7) The term ‘child abuse’ means the unlawful 
infliction of physical injury or the commission of any 
sexual act against a child under fourteen by any per-
son eighteen years of age or older. 
‘‘(8) The term ‘communication of threats’ 
means conduct described in section 844(e), or the 
transmission of any communications containing any 
threat of use of violence to— 
‘‘(A) demand or request for a ransom or 
reward for the release of any kidnapped person; 
or 
‘‘(B) threaten to kidnap or injure the per-
son of another. 
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