NRS202.446. Certain acts related to weapons of mass destruction, lethal agents, toxins and delivery systems prohibited; penalties.  


Latest version.
  •       1.  A person shall not knowingly:

          (a) Develop, manufacture, produce, assemble, stockpile, transfer, transport, acquire, retain, store, test or possess any weapon of mass destruction, any biological agent, chemical agent, radioactive agent or other lethal agent, any toxin or any delivery system for use as a weapon; or

          (b) Send, deliver, disperse, release, discharge, disseminate or use any weapon of mass destruction, any biological agent, chemical agent, radioactive agent or other lethal agent, any toxin or any delivery system:

                 (1) With the intent to cause harm, whether or not such harm actually occurs; or

                 (2) Under circumstances reasonably likely to cause harm, whether or not such harm actually occurs.

          2.  A person shall not knowingly:

          (a) Attempt to do any act described in subsection 1; or

          (b) Assist, solicit or conspire with another person to do any act described in subsection 1.

          3.  A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of a category A felony and shall be punished:

          (a) If the crime does not result in substantial bodily harm or death:

                 (1) By imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $20,000; or

                 (2) By imprisonment in the state prison for a definite term of 25 years, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $20,000.

          (b) If the crime results in substantial bodily harm or death:

                 (1) By imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000;

                 (2) By imprisonment in the state prison for life, with the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 20 years has been served, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000; or

                 (3) By imprisonment in the state prison for a definite term of 40 years, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 20 years has been served, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $50,000.

          4.  A person who violates any provision of subsection 2 is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years, and shall further be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

          5.  In addition to any other penalty, the court shall order a person who violates the provisions of this section to pay restitution:

          (a) To each victim for any injuries that are a result of the violation; and

          (b) To the State of Nevada or a local government for any costs that arise from the violation.

          6.  The provisions of this section do not apply to any act that is committed in a lawful manner and in the course of a lawful business, event or activity.

      (Added to NRS by 1999, 3; A 2003, 2949)