# Preemptive strikes/actions **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 29, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447 "2011-11-29T13:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/1 "2011-11-29T13:57:00Z")
What constitutes a threat significant enough to allow someone who believes they are threatened to take action that would otherwise be illegal? In international law? In criminal law? Is it possible for words alone to reach that level? How about words/threats in combination with actions by others that are in fact occuriing? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/2 "2011-11-29T17:27:58Z")
With respect to your third question: no. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/3 "2011-11-30T13:57:26Z")
Which was my third question…“words alone” ?? Is there no scenario (absent a specific action by someone) where words combined with other knowledge would justify an action in self-defense? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/4 "2011-11-30T15:41:41Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > What constitutes a threat significant enough to allow someone who believes they are threatened to take action that would otherwise be illegal? > > In international law? > > In criminal law? > > Is it possible for words alone to reach that level? In criminal law, in the U.S., the answer varies from state to state – i.e., states vary as to how far “fighting words” may be taken to mitigate a homicide from, say, murder to manslaughter. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/5 "2011-11-30T15:44:12Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Which was my third question…“words alone” ?? > > Is there no scenario (absent a specific action by someone) where words combined with other knowledge would justify an action in self-defense? Sure, if the words constitute an immediate threat and the knowledge is that the threat is real. “I will kill you if you do not cooperate. You know I am armed.” Violence in response would be legally justifiable in most circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preemptive-strikes-actions/604447/6 "2011-11-30T16:41:58Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Which was my third question…“words alone” ?? > > Is there no scenario (absent a specific action by someone) where words combined with other knowledge would justify an action in self-defense? Yes, words alone. Certainly words in combination with other knowledge might support self-defense.