# Blasting a Fire Extinguisher at Someone: Assault? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398 "2022-12-12T15:54:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398/21 "2022-12-13T01:18:27Z")
Friend of mine had a small secondhand clothing shop next to a planned parenthood, and got peeved at the asshats protesting and decided to pressure wash the sidewalk in front of her store. All she did was blast the pavement with water, got the feet and ankles of the protesters wet - cops didn’t do anything, she was aiming it at the sidewalk. No chemicals involved other than water. Probably if there had been soap or some other chemical in the liquid used it would have been battery. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398/22 "2022-12-13T01:51:42Z")
When David Letterman sprayed Richard Simmons with a fire extinguisher an ambulance was involved. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398/23 "2022-12-14T04:20:29Z")
The OP was certainly referencing _Young Sheldon_ episode 6.8, and I was wondering the same thing; I was aghast they actually showed that since it is indeed an assault. Then I remembered it was set about 1990 when times were slightly different. Also, it’s not a documentary. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398/24 "2022-12-14T05:50:31Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > In evolving modern usage, where even touching someone in a non-violent manner leads to screams about “Assault!”, this would almost certainly qualify. The intent is to cause sufficient discomfort as to inspire the person to end their protest, and that discomfort, however mild, would certainly be more than merely laying a hand on them, or poking them in the chest with a finger. Nothing “evolving” or “modern” about this; assault has meant an unlawful attack upon the person of another since about the fifteenth century, and can consist of menacing words or actions without any physical contact at all. If there’s physical contact it become battery as well as assault. Turning a hose or fire extinguisher on somebody with hostile intent can be an assault (and battery), no question. The issue here is not whether the business owner could be charged with assault, but whether he would have any justification or defence to offer, if charged. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398/25 "2022-12-15T01:55:52Z")
Yes, that’s been the definition in Canada’s _Criminal Code_ since forever: > [@](#): > > - **265** (1) A person commits an assault when > > - (2) This section applies to all forms of assault, including sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm and aggravated sexual assault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-a-fire-extinguisher-at-someone-assault/976398.md?page=1)