# Is this legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475 "2013-07-14T14:56:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/1 "2013-07-14T14:56:29Z")
I always though threatening someone with a gun was illegal, this woman did it and it apparently in the clear [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8xIi04Y9Q](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8xIi04Y9Q) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/2 "2013-07-14T15:05:14Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I always though threatening someone with a gun was illegal, this woman did it and it apparently in the clear [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8xIi04Y9Q](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8xIi04Y9Q) It was private property, and it was something she considered a serious health and safety issue, if only because she would be forced to go without power. Also, she was assaulted and so could use ‘stand your ground’ at that. I was here first, I am not moving… you pushed me away, thats my ground, give it back.. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/3 "2013-07-14T15:11:35Z")
You need to ask a few questions about the details of the situation, such as whether the worker installing the meter had a statutory or contractual right to be on the property installing a new meter. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/4 "2013-07-14T16:36:25Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > It was private property, and it was something she considered a serious health and safety issue, if only because she would be forced to go without power. > > Also, she was assaulted and so could use ‘stand your ground’ at that. I was here first, I am not moving… you pushed me away, thats my ground, give it back.. First off ‘stand your ground’ in only in florida and second it only applies if a felony is being commited against you. Someone "swatting your hand away " is not a felony. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/5 "2013-07-14T16:39:54Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > First off ‘stand your ground’ in only in florida No, it’s _not_ only in Florida. [Here](http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2265/) is a press release about the law in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/6 "2013-07-14T16:48:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No, it’s _not_ only in Florida. [Here](http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2265/) is a press release about the law in Texas. The woman in the video did not live in FL or Texas ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/7 "2013-07-14T16:51:51Z")
The anchorman says that she’s “a Houston-area woman” and it’s being broadcast on KHOU. Where do you _think_ she lives? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/8 "2013-07-14T16:58:35Z")
Usually a condition of being provided with electric power is that the electric company be allowed access to the meter for reading and maintenance, in which case she was interfering with someone legally on her property. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/9 "2013-07-14T17:37:26Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > It was private property, and it was something she considered a serious health and safety issue, if only because she would be forced to go without power. So if an IRS agent comes to audit me and I consider it a serious threat to my health and safety, I can threaten him with a gun? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/10 "2013-07-14T17:43:06Z")
Realistically, do IRS agents show up on your doorstep? Or do they send you a letter asking you to appear at their offices? ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/11 "2013-07-14T18:37:10Z")
Brandishing a firearm at someone who has ignored a gajillion “no trespassing” signs doesn’t seem too far off the deep end, particularly in Texas with their castle doctrine and all. Believing the power company is spying on you and causing you to become ill with radio waves stinks of tin foil hats and black helicopters though. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/12 "2013-07-14T18:40:00Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > Brandishing a firearm at someone who has ignored a gajillion “no trespassing” signs doesn’t seem too far off the deep end, particularly in Texas with their castle doctrine and all. In what way is a power company employee servicing their equipment in compliance with the agreement with the customer trespassing? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal/663475/13 "2013-07-14T18:52:52Z")
This is probably better suited to Great Debates than GQ. However, since the title and OP are vague I’m going to suggest that a new thread be started in the appropriate forum and close this one. Colibri General Questions Moderator