WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

BROADER DEFINITIONS

LENGTHY AND WELL-DELINEATED DEFINITION OF WMD IN A STATE STATUTE — MORE THAN FIVE POUNDS

11417. (a) For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) "Weapon of mass destruction" includes chemical warfare agents, biological warfare agents, nuclear agents, or radiological agents, the intentional release of industrial agents as a weapon, or any destructive device or explosive in excess of five pounds or 2.26 kilograms. "Weapon of mass destruction" does not include the development, production, transfer, acquisition, retention, or possession of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system utilized for prophylactic, protective, or peaceful purposes by any university, research institution, private individual, or hospital which is registered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pursuant to Part 113 (commencing with Section 113.1) of Subchapter E of Chapter 1 of Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor provisions.

WMD DEFINED IN AN INDIANA STATE SENATE BILL — VERY BROAD, INCLUDING MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEAPONS

(1) A device that contains:

(A) an explosive;

(B) an incendiary; or

(C) a toxic or poisonous chemical, biological disease, organism, or virus.

(2) A bomb.

(3) A grenade.

(4) A rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces.

(5) A missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than twenty-five hundredths (0.25) ounce.

(6) A mine.

(7) An aerosol spraying mechanism or other device capable of

disseminating a poisonous chemical, biological disease, organism, or virus.

(8) A weapon designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life."

MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF WMD — INCLUDES INCENDIARIES

Conventional Weapon of Mass Destruction (CWMD): A destructive device that contains only explosives or incendiary material. This category can be subdivided based on the material into the following categories:

* Explosive Weapon of Mass Destruction (EWMD): A destructive device that contains only explosives.

* Incendiary Weapon of Mass Destruction (IWMD): A destructive device that contains only incendiary material; May be called a fire bomb or flame weapon.

* Enhanced Weapon of Mass Destruction (EnWMD): A destructive device that contains both explosives and incendiaries.

* Special Weapon of Mass Destruction (SWMD): A destructive device that contains poison gas, a disease organism or radioactive materials. This category can be subdivided into the following sub classifications:

* Chemical Weapon of Mass Destruction (ChWMD): A destructive device which contains a poison gas (chemical agent).

* Biological Weapon of Mass Destruction (BWMD): A destructive device which contains a disease organism or toxin (biological agents).

* Radiological Weapon of Mass Destruction (RWMD): A destructive device which contains a radioactive material. This category is itself subdivided into two parts:

* Radiation Weapon of Mass Destruction (RdWMD): A destructive device which is designed to scatter a radioactive material.

* Nuclear Weapon of Mass Destruction (NWMD): A destructive device which is designed to create a nuclear detonation.

CONVENTIONAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY DEFINITION IS REALLY BROAD.

Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996, Public Law: 104-201 (09/23/96) (cited at http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1996/pl104-201-xiv.htm)

"The term `weapon of mass destruction' means any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or impact of--

(A) toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors;

(B) a disease organism; or

(C) radiation or radioactivity."