2256

(a) Any person who is not:\n(1) a licensed firearms or ammunition dealer; or\n(2) officer, agent or employee of the Virgin Islands or the United States, on duty and acting within the scope of his duties; or\n(3) holder of a valid firearms license for the same firearm gauge or caliber ammunition of the firearm indicated on such license; and\n(4) who possesses, sells, purchases, manufactures, advertises for sale, or uses any firearm ammunition\nis guilty subject to imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine not more than $10,000 to both fine and imprisoned.\n(b) Any person who, unless authorized by law possesses, sells, purchases, manufactures, advertises for sale, or uses armor piercing or exploding ammunition for use in a firearm shall be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not less than $15,000 and imprisoned not less than fifteen years.\n(c) As used in this section—\n(1) 'Firearm' means any firearm as defined in title 23, section 451(d) of this Code.\n(2) 'Firearm ammunition' means any self-contained cartridge or shotgun shell, by whatever name known, which is designed to be used or adaptable for use in a firearm.\n(3) For purposes of this section, the following are excluded

ns any self-contained cartridge or shotgun shell, by whatever name known, which is designed to be used or adaptable for use in a firearm.\n(3) For purposes of this section, the following are excluded from the definitions contained herein:\n(A) Any device or ammunition exclusively designed for use with a device used exclusively for signaling or safety and required or recommended by the United States Coast Guard; and\n(B) Any device or ammunition designed exclusively for use with a stud or rivet driver or other similar industrial ammunition.\n(d) For purposes of this section 'armor-piercing' shall mean that with a penetration resistance equal to or greater than that of 18 layers of aramid, and 'exploding' shall mean that which is designed to enter an object and explode without regard to whether it strikes another object.\n(e) The provisions of this section regarding the acquisition and possession of firearm ammunition and armor-piercing or exploding ammunition do not apply to law enforcement officials for use in their employment or in the exercise of their duties as defined by law.\n(f) An information based upon a violation of this section need not negate any exemption herein

enforcement officials for use in their employment or in the exercise of their duties as defined by law.\n(f) An information based upon a violation of this section need not negate any exemption herein contained. The defendant shall have the burden of proving such an exemption.