852
Opinion of the Court
Constitution, Art. I, § 8, cl. 3. Courts of Appeals have divided both on the question whether § 844(i) applies to buildings not used for commercial purposes,2 and on the constitutionality of such an application.3 We granted certiorari, 528 U. S. 1002 (1999), and framed as the question presented:
"Whether, in light of United States v. Lopez, 514 U. S. 549 (1995), and the interpretive rule that constitutionally doubtful constructions should be avoided, see Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. v. Florida Gulf Coast Building & Constr. Trades Council, 485 U. S. 568, 575 (1988), 18 U. S. C. § 844(i) applies to the arson of a private residence; and if so, whether its application to the private residence in the present case is constitutional."
Satisfied that § 844(i) does not reach an owner-occupied residence that is not used for any commercial purpose, we reverse the Court of Appeals' judgment.
II
Congress enacted 18 U. S. C. § 844(i) as part of Title XI of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, Pub. L. 91-452, § 1102, 84 Stat. 952, "because of the need 'to curb the use, transportation, and possession of explosives.' " Russell v.
2 Compare United States v. Gaydos, 108 F. 3d 505 (CA3 1997) (vacant, uninhabitable house formerly rented not covered by statute), United States v. Denalli, 73 F. 3d 328 (CA11) (owner-occupied residence not covered), modified on other grounds, 90 F. 3d 444 (1996) (per curiam), United States v. Mennuti, 639 F. 2d 107 (CA2 1981) (same), with United States v. Ryan, 41 F. 3d 361 (CA8 1994) (en banc) (vacant former commercial property covered), cert. denied, 514 U. S. 1082 (1995), United States v. Ramey, 24 F. 3d 602 (CA4 1994) (owner-occupied residence covered), cert. denied, 514 U. S. 1103 (1995), and United States v. Stillwell, 900 F. 2d 1104 (CA7) (same), cert. denied, 498 U. S. 838 (1990).
3 Compare United States v. Pappadopoulos, 64 F. 3d 522 (CA9 1995) (application to owner-occupied residence unconstitutional), with 178 F. 3d 479 (CA7 1999) (decision below), and Ramey, 24 F. 3d, at 602 (application constitutional).
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