When is it okay to punch a kid in the face?
Is it ever acceptable to clench your fist, cock your arm back, and smash a kid right in the jaw? No? What if he's 17, taller than you, and he just stole an old lady's purse then knocked her to the ground? See, I knew I could convince you.
There are plenty of scenarios that could fall into this gray area. Just think of some crazy shit - like a teenage serial killer who took your family hostage. You might be ethically justified in teaching him a lesson.
Hmmm... Is that even legal though? Let's say you see your daughter's 16-year-old asshole boyfriend punch her in the jaw like that dude who socked Snooki. Could you get arrested for punching him back? What if you catch a teenager trying to steal your wallet? Could you face jail time for giving him a black eye?
The thought came to me recently on the way home from work. Center City Philly. It's dark out and I'm walking through a sketchy part of town. I see a group of questionable teenagers roughhousing on in the street. I thought - what if these kids decide to start fucking with me? A lone white guy quietly walking through their neighborhood with no other adults in sight. Truth is, they'd destroy me in a fight. But I could probably manage to land a couple of jabs.
So in that scenario - what happens legally? A group of 15 and 16-year-old boys. A couple of them with black eyes, maybe even one with a broken nose. Then a 34-year-old yuppie beaten to a pulp. Would I face charges?
Okay, that's enough setup. Most of you probably agree there are instances where a kid might deserve an uppercut to the jaw. Now that I've roped you in - consider these situations:
- You're on the bus and you see a kid call an old lady a bitch.
- Two kids walk up to you yelling racial slurs then start pushing you, trying to start something.
- You walk outside late at night and catch a kid reaching the broken glass of your car's window, trying to steal your shit.
- You're walking on the sidewalk, when a car full of teenagers drive by slowly and throw a bag of shit at your face - then they are forced to stop half a block ahead because of traffic.
Punch or no punch? And what's the age limit? For any of the scenarios above? Maybe it's easy to say you'd knock out a 17-year-old thug. But what if he's 16, 15... 14?
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February 1st, 2010 - 23:54
If you’re being threatened, or at risk of serious injury. Then yea. Kick their asses.
There was a problem here with young punks swarming people at night. One fella landed in the hospital for a month because they swarmed him.
The way I see it, is that if they touch you, then age is not a factor.
I mean if a 15 year old kid pulled a gun on a cop, they’ll shoot the little fucker right? Because their defending themselves. Same thing goes for regular old people like us.
OK, now Jason… spill the truth here now. That last bullet point was what really happened to you now didn’t it.
This whole post was to just say you had a bag of shit thrown in your face isn’t it? LOL
February 7th, 2010 - 23:27
MacBros is good. He said “age is not a factor.” He’s legally correct. I don’t know where this old myth that an adult can’t punch a minor came from. It seems all fifty states agree. Age is not a factor. Of course, there are “child abuse” laws that prohibit adults from abusing kids. Doesn’t matter if they’re related. An adult beats a minor without cause and it’s child abuse, a felony. But if there IS a good reason, that’s different. An adult shatters a minor’s skull because the mook is mugging an old lady or simply menacing anybody, the adult is golden. Age is not a factor, legally. So if I catch a fifteen year old breaking into my car and I have a chance to bash his ribs in with a baseball bat, I will. Because he lunged at me. I swear under penalty of perjury.
.-= NHB´s last blog ..My trip to Philly =-.
February 8th, 2010 - 10:18
This is great news.
March 9th, 2010 - 15:51
There’s a kid the same age as my son who lives down the street. His older 17 y/o sister doesn’t like my son. She’s always yelling, cursing, and saying fucked up shit to him. One day he went by there to see if the kid wanted to come out and play. The sister jumped his shit, called him a little douche bag asshole, and told him to get off of their property or she was going to beat his ass for trespassing.
That was it!
He came home and told me what she’d said. I had had a glass of wine in me so I was feeling good, but not too good to drive (it was faster than walking). I jumped out of my car and the bitch was still sitting her fat ass in the driveway. I proceeded to get up in her face and rip her a new asshole, HOPING she would swing on me. No luck. But yeah, that was a time when I wanted to punch a minor.
I know that sounded really immature and I’m not going to make any excuses for my actions.
May 8th, 2010 - 02:10
What if a group of douchebag kids decide to screw with you without outright menacing you in front of your girlfriend? You know, you’re in the movies and let’s say one starts tossing popcorn at the back of your head. It’d be really humiliating to let something like that fly, right Is it okay to deck the fucker then?
Seriously, I’d love a very clear and concise guide that shows when you have good reason to kick the shit out of some asshole kids.
June 3rd, 2010 - 09:20
I say beat the shit out of the little fucker..then go find his parents..and proceed..well..you know..