Daily Kos :: Comments Physician who told off Cheney lost home in Katrina, detained, selling video on eBay

Derogatory speech is not assault. (4.00 / 3)

An assault is a threat to harm someone (if you want to be picky about it) and battery is actually doing it. Modern English includes both threats to harm and harming someone as assaults.
But, simply saying something derogatory is not an assault.
You can question anyone if they are willing to speak to you, but you can't arrest them in order to get them to speak to you without probable cause to believe that they have committed a crime.

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" -- Voltaire

by ohwilleke on Fri Sep 09, 2005 at 04:19:16 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
- yeah, I want to be picky about it (none / 0)
  
  and you did a real good job of picking the nits
  assault is saying you will do violence, and battery is actually doing it
  Dr. Marble simply suggested (in the common vernacular) that Mr Cheney fornicate himself. It might not be legal in Mississippi, but I think it's still legal in Lousianna, and it must be legal in Washington DC, right ???
  
  by knowthings on Sat Sep 10, 2005 at 12:30:48 AM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]

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