Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/247?qt-us_code_tabs=0
Timestamp: 2016-02-14 04:31:42
Document Index: 593999705

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 247', '§\u202f1', '§\u202f60006', '§\u202f320103', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f601', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f605', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f601', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f605', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f601', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f3', '§\u202f320103', '§\u202f60006', '§\u202f320103', '§\u202f320103', '§\u202f4002', '§\u202f2']

18 U.S. Code § 247 - Damage to religious property; obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
(Added Pub. L. 100–346, § 1, June 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 644; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60006(d), title XXXII, § 320103(d), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1971, 2110; Pub. L. 104–155, § 3, July 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 1392; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §§ 601(c)(3), 605(r), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3499, 3511; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(c)(1), (e)(4), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1808, 1810.)
2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(c)(1), repealed amendment by Pub. L. 104–294, § 605(r). See 1996 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(e)(4), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(c)(3). See 1996 Amendment note below.
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(1), substituted “subsection (d)” for “subsection (c) of this section” in concluding provisions.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(3), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are that—
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–294, § 605(r), which directed the substitution of “certification” for “notification” in subsec. (d), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(c)(1).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(C), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(A), (B), redesignated par. (2) as (3), inserted “to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this section,” after “bodily injury” and substituted “20 years” for “ten years”. Former par. (3) redesignated (4).
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(B), redesignated par. (3) as (4).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(c)(3), as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(e)(4), substituted “certification” for “notification”.
Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2), (5), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f), inserted “, including fixtures or religious objects contained within a place of religious worship” before the period, and substituted “religious real property” for “religious property” in two places.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(6), added subsec. (g).
1994—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(1), inserted “from acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill” after “death results”.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 60006(d), inserted “, or may be sentenced to death” after “or both”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(2), struck out “serious” before “bodily” and inserted “from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire” after “injury results”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(3), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “As used in this section—
Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(e)(4), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1810, provided that the amendment made by section 4002(e)(4) is effective Oct. 11, 1996.
Pub. L. 104–155, § 2, July 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 1392, provided that: “The Congress finds the following:
The incidence of arson or other destruction or vandalism of places of religious worship, and the incidence of violent interference with an individual’s lawful exercise or attempted exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship pose a serious national problem.
The incidence of arson of places of religious worship has recently increased, especially in the context of places of religious worship that serve predominantly African-American congregations.
Changes in Federal law are necessary to deal properly with this problem.
Although local jurisdictions have attempted to respond to the challenges posed by such acts of destruction or damage to religious property, the problem is sufficiently serious, widespread, and interstate in scope to warrant Federal intervention to assist State and local jurisdictions.
Congress has authority, pursuant to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, to make acts of destruction or damage to religious property a violation of Federal law.
Congress has authority, pursuant to section 2 of the 13th amendment to the Constitution, to make actions of private citizens motivated by race, color, or ethnicity that interfere with the ability of citizens to hold or use religious property without fear of attack, violations of Federal criminal law.”