Skip to main content
Law

Return to Question

Adding tag.
Link
edit approved Apr 8, 2023 at 19:06
Vikki
edit approved Apr 8, 2023 at 19:06
Vikki
  • 955
  • 4
  • 10
  • 25
Added juristiction.
Source Link
John B
John B
  • 183
  • 1
  • 6

CanIn the US, can attaching a condition to a threat have any bearing on whether it's a true threat or not? In other words, is there are difference between the following threats, in terms of criminal law:

  • I'll hit you! (unconditional)
  • If you speak to me again, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something that the other person is perfectly entitled to do)
  • If you try to steal my car, I'll hit you! (conditioned on the other person's criminal behavior)
  • If you violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something impossible)

Can attaching a condition to a threat have any bearing on whether it's a true threat or not? In other words, is there are difference between the following threats, in terms of criminal law:

  • I'll hit you! (unconditional)
  • If you speak to me again, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something that the other person is perfectly entitled to do)
  • If you try to steal my car, I'll hit you! (conditioned on the other person's criminal behavior)
  • If you violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something impossible)

In the US, can attaching a condition to a threat have any bearing on whether it's a true threat or not? In other words, is there are difference between the following threats, in terms of criminal law:

  • I'll hit you! (unconditional)
  • If you speak to me again, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something that the other person is perfectly entitled to do)
  • If you try to steal my car, I'll hit you! (conditioned on the other person's criminal behavior)
  • If you violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something impossible)
Source Link
John B
John B
  • 183
  • 1
  • 6

Is a conditional threat still a true threat?

Can attaching a condition to a threat have any bearing on whether it's a true threat or not? In other words, is there are difference between the following threats, in terms of criminal law:

  • I'll hit you! (unconditional)
  • If you speak to me again, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something that the other person is perfectly entitled to do)
  • If you try to steal my car, I'll hit you! (conditioned on the other person's criminal behavior)
  • If you violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, I'll hit you! (conditioned on something impossible)