Olympia Wash. cop shoots 2 unarmed men in chest for shoplifting beer at safeway

a reply to: rossacus

When you're using any object aggressively it is a weapon.

A car is not a weapon unless you try to run someone down.

Must always wait for the "rest of the story" on these sensational news stories.

I'll check back.

a reply to: alienjuggalo
My main point being the title isn't misleading. You cannot say someone with a skateboard is armed. You can say he assaulted the cops but in no way shape or form is he armed. You would look ridiculous if you ran screaming flailing your hands in the sky if someone entered a shop with a skateboard, simply because it is not threatening.

a reply to: Greathouse

Just pointing out the title is not misleading. You are saying that anyone with an object that can be used aggressively constitutes as being armed. You see my point?

I constantly have my knuckles attached to my hands. However I am not armed

a reply to: alienjuggalo

I saw that video too.

I'm not pro police, I am offended by their normally aggressive stance. It's just the doublestandard threads like this apply.

For Michael Brown and Freddie Gray everyone was worried about due justice. But sensationalized headlines and biased content deny police officers due justice.

BTW before I get jumped. I believe the officer in the Michael Brown case and I disbelieve the officers in the Freddy Gray case.

originally posted by: rossacus
You would look ridiculous if you ran screaming flailing your hands in the sky if someone entered a shop with a skateboard, simply because it is not threatening.

If said person is swinging that skateboard around trying to hit something or someone, it is threatening. I'm fairly certain a skateboard can do a lot of damage to someone's face.

Any person that presents an object in a matter that is threatening has turned that object into a weapon. A person with a weapon is armed.

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: Greathouse

Just pointing out the title is not misleading. You are saying that anyone with an object that can be used aggressively constitutes as being armed. You see my point?

I constantly have my knuckles attached to my hands. However I am not armed

You are saying that anyone with an object that can be used aggressively

No I don't see your point. You also misunderstood my reply. I said when you use an object aggressively it becomes a weapon.

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: thesaneone

Where's the line drawn as armed? Is me have saliva in my mouth constitute as being armed?

Anything can be a weapon. Anything around you.Take the pencil as noted above. It would be considered as armed if you either go to attack or attack someone with it. And , yes, under certain circumstances your saliva can be seen as armed and a deadly weapon if say you have something like HIV or Ebola.Then that can be a charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon .

a reply to: EternalSolace
Missing the point. Would you say someone is armed if they had a skateboard. Simple question. Yes used as a weapon but would you say he is armed or unarmed. The title is not misleading. The simple point of what I was saying. Of course you hit someone with an object it's threatening....is the object threatening before the hitting..is leave that for you to decide

Big Momma should have taught her boys better than that.

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: Greathouse
Would a bicycle be deemed a lethal weapon? Does the word armed not mean a weapon?. You could use anything as a weapon. But you cannot say they are armed with anything

It would appear that you are ignorant* to what "armed" means. ANYTHING used as a weapon, to include your fists, can make you an armed individual in the eyes of the law. Nothing says it has to be a conventional weapons.

If I beat someone with a roadkill raccoon, I'm armed with a raccoon.

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: Greathouse
Just pointing out the title is not misleading. You are saying that anyone with an object that can be used aggressively constitutes as being armed. You see my point?

I constantly have my knuckles attached to my hands. However I am not armed

The title is misleading--you really need to do some research as to what "armed" means in the eyes of the law, not just in your own personal opinion. Your knuckles can be weapons, but they're not weapons until you use them as weapons (i.e.: Punching someone in the face). My gun I carry on my hip is not a weapon until it's used as one...while it sits there dormant and forgotten about, it's just a thing.


*ignorant is meant to be used in its definitive sense, not a derogatory one.

a reply to: rossacus

If someone has a skateboard in their arms, no they are not armed.

If that same person begins to attack with that skateboard, he is armed.

It's all about context. The second they swung that skateboard at the officer, they became armed with skateboards.

a reply to: SlapMonkey

OK this is clearly my misunderstanding of armed...maybe different in america, in terms of the law. In my eyes, by saying that a person is armed when assaulting a person, you are saying he is armed prior to the assault. That is my point. If you have a gun, you are armed before and after the assault. With a skateboard I cannot see you being armed prior to the assault. You can arm yourself with the skateboard, but your not armed with a skateboard when you leave your house. Iran Iraq I suppose. Did not take ignorant as offensive, just different definitions. I do see your points guys.

a reply to: rossacus

Yeah, here in America (at least most states I've lived in and in the military), once you use ANY object offensively to cause harm to someone else or something, you are considered armed--the object doesn't matter, nor does it matter when you acquired the object.

a reply to: EternalSolace
I think my perspective is based on the definition of a weapon. There are 2 . My one comes from one definition. Yours another. Unarmed is the absence of a weapon....a weapon in my eyes is a tool designed to inflict harm....yours is using anything to gain an advantage in conflict. I think that solves that dispute. Different definitions. Both wrong/right

a reply to: rossacus

It's pretty simple, and why this is dragging on for as long as it is is beyond me

Armed: equipped with or carrying a weapon

Weapon: a thing designed or USED for inflicting bodily injury or death.

As far as the law is concerned, that's the definitions. So is a kid riding his skateboard down the road armed? Nope, not at all. Is the same kid swinging his skateboard at your dome now armed? Absolutely and unequivocally yes.

I really can't understand why this is turning into a debate about what "armed" means. There's many free online dictionaries, both legal and standard. If people are that confused about what armed means, I suggest they look it up. It's not rocket surgery.

a reply to: Shamrock6
Did look it up. 2 meanings. In america under law you have merged the two definitions. Simple. No rockets needed. When you search online for definition you don't get the Oxford dictionary, you get the American equivalent. English and American language are different

I apologise for diluting the thread but I am a victim of the definitions in the English language

originally posted by: alienjuggalo

originally posted by: thesaneone

originally posted by: alienjuggalo

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: alienjuggalo

Your title is misleading, I would not describe them as unarmed.

Well all they had were skateboards.

A pencil can be used as a weapon.

Well anyone that shoots someone because they are scared of a pencil is a gigantic pussy.

Pencils are all fun and games until someone loses a eye.

Tell me would you have shot Joe Pesci in this scene if you had a gun?



If you take the position that this was from a movie. You are also taking the position that it's never happened in the real world.

originally posted by: rossacus
a reply to: Greathouse

Just pointing out the title is not misleading. You are saying that anyone with an object that can be used aggressively constitutes as being armed. You see my point?

I constantly have my knuckles attached to my hands. However I am not armed

The optimal word is when used as a weapon not can be used as a weapon.

a reply to: Greathouse
I think the jokers magic trick in batman highlights how deadly a pencil can be