The Boston Globe @BostonGlobe
US Attorney: Dzhokar Tsarnaev charged: conspiring to use weapon of mass destruction against persons and property in U.S. resulting in death.
This makes me curious - what's a "weapon of mass destruction?" Found a definition at Cornell Law. Feel free to correct me if this is wrong:
LINK
(C )
Definitions.— For purposes of this section—(1) the term “national of the United States” has the meaning given in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(22));
(2) the term “weapon of mass destruction” means—
(A) any destructive device as defined in
section 921
of this title;
(B) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
(C ) any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178 of this title); or
(D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life; and
(3) the term “property” includes all real and personal property.
Section 921 (from 2, B of the above definition) states in part:
(4) The term “destructive device” means—
(C ) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device described in subparagraph (A) or (B) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.
The term “destructive device” shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section
4684
(2)
,
4685
, or
4686
of title
10
; or any other device which the Attorney General finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes.
This definition seems broad, and probably is - intentionally so. But that also means the pipe bombs we used to make to throw onto the Platte river ice jams when I was a kid would count as "weapons of mass destruction."
It would also mean that any IED found in Iraq during the Gulf War II, Electric Boogaloo would justify the stated purpose invasion, unless I'm mistaken.
I'm mistaken. See zoogies' post two below this one.
