# Legally, how much force may I use to escape a kidnapper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637 "2010-07-22T20:26:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/21 "2010-07-23T10:32:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That’s nothing. I once [kidnapped the Pope!](http://www.theatre64.org/plays/ShowPages/Main.asp?show=/plays/2000s/2000/TDTKTP) Luxury. We used to dream about kidnapping the Pope. We only ever got to kidnap the Archbishop of Canterbury, and we were happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/22 "2010-07-23T13:10:12Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > That seems weird. What kind of kidnapping doesn’t fit one or more of those criteria? Something like a non-custodial parent kidnapping his or her kid(s) from the custodial parent? I remember a case in the UK where a housewife refused to let a washing machine repairman leave until the machine was fixed. It was a nearly new machine and a succession of repairmen had failed to fix the problem due to lack of parts, failure to diagnose the problem correctly etc. Irrc the machine got fixed and no charges were brought, although police were called. I think what makes the difference in a case like that (aside from the sympathy one feels toward the frustated owner of the broken washing machine) is that she used no force, merely locking the door and hiding the key, and that he could have got away at any time if he _had_ been prepared to use minimal force. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/23 "2010-07-23T13:55:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That’s nothing. I once [kidnapped the Pope!](http://www.theatre64.org/plays/ShowPages/Main.asp?show=/plays/2000s/2000/TDTKTP) Have to say, this sounds like a medieval euphemism for a certain solitary vice. “Thou couldst hear it all through the dormitory; Brother Anselm did kidnap the Pope last night.” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/24 "2010-07-23T15:47:08Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Have to say, this sounds like a medieval euphemism for a certain solitary vice. “Thou couldst hear it all through the dormitory; Brother Anselm did kidnap the Pope last night.” I’m relieved someone else though so, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/25 "2010-07-23T16:25:21Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I’m relieved someone else though so, too. Apologies for now completely hijacking the thread, but here’s a [picture](http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/56493538.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FDEA0F15B6548F6517FC126AA20C501835716040F9FF8C5AF4B01E70F2B3269972) of the Pope in a red glans-shaped hat. (SFW) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/26 "2010-07-23T19:06:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.The law’s proven its worth. New York has one of the lowest rates of fairy changelings in the country. That’s exactly what the Unseelie Court wants you to think. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637/27 "2010-07-23T19:44:16Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Apologies for now completely hijacking the thread, but here’s a [picture](http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/56493538.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FDEA0F15B6548F6517FC126AA20C501835716040F9FF8C5AF4B01E70F2B3269972) of the Pope in a red glans-shaped hat. (SFW) Wow. How tall do you suppose he is when he’s fully erect? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legally-how-much-force-may-i-use-to-escape-a-kidnapper/547637.md?page=1)