# What would you do if there was general amnesty from all laws for a day? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647 "2005-01-02T04:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![the4thmooncat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce7236/32.png) [@the4thmooncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the4thmooncat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/21 "2005-01-02T21:00:19Z")
> [@Spongemom](#): > > I’d be getting quite a bit of free stuff from Wal-Mart. Quite a bit. Oh yeah. > > Not that I’m a shop-lifter or anything. > > Just, no laws and all, yeah, lots of free stuff. 😃 Seconded. I think I have a defective conscience. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/22 "2005-01-02T21:55:27Z")
Not really. First, anyone that would commit anything worse than theft isn’t going to out themself in this thread… would be social suicide. Second, most people in here are saying they would hide, which would be the smartest decision, and third, the others, who are saying they wouldn’t do anything for moral reasons, are the ones with the strange consciences. If everyone thought like them, we wouldn’t need laws in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/23 "2005-01-02T22:21:44Z")
> [@Insomniactress](#): > > I think I’m more disturbed by the implication that the only reason some of us _haven’t_ killed already, is simply because it’s against the law. > > That, to me, is terrifying. > > Exactly what are the criteria for deciding who “deserves” to be killed, just out of interest? I thought the same thing. “First, I’d kill someone”, What the hell is that about? I may dislike a lot of people, but killing them first hand is not my idea of a lawless day. If you’re planning on killing someone, they might have the same idea as you, dumbass. Even so, the family would sue you in civil court the next day. So scratch that. I might blow through some tolls. I mean, what else can you do? Maybe do some things **Ellis Dee** suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/24 "2005-01-03T00:03:09Z")
I’d get a gun ahead of time and stay home with the family. Or maybe head for some rural area and then stay in with the family, and gun, of course. ---
**Author:** ![BytopianDream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BytopianDream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BytopianDream)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/25 "2005-01-03T00:26:06Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It is announced that **March 15th** will be a day of amnesty for all illegal offenses in your state and the U.S. in general. You can do whatever you want on that day with no legal repercussions for that day and that day only? What would you plan and do? Kill Caesar? Otherwise, not much… marry a man just because I could and thumb my nose at some people. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/26 "2005-01-03T00:32:28Z")
> [@Insomniactress](#): > > I think I’m more disturbed by the implication that the only reason some of us _haven’t_ killed already, is simply because it’s against the law. > > That, to me, is terrifying. > > Exactly what are the criteria for deciding who “deserves” to be killed, just out of interest? Well, I have a little list, starting with the guy who poisoned my dog when I was about 15, and then there’s the virus writers, and the spammers…I can think of quite a few people who need killing. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/27 "2005-01-03T00:50:08Z")
I will admit that if this Amnesty Day came at certain times in my life, there were people I would have possibly or maybe even likely slain. I’m not proud of it, but it would be a lie to say there weren’t people who I had felt, at the time, had ruined my life and happiness, and deserved to die. I honestly do not know if it was my own moral code or fear of legal reprisals that kept my hand. Hopefully it was both. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/28 "2005-01-03T00:58:39Z")
Well, I would get my family safe and squared away in the hills, then I’d go visit Certain Wealthy Individuals whose wealth was amassed in ways I disapprove of (but society does not disapprove of) and I would relieve them of as much of that wealth as I could. If violence is involved, so much the better. But the important thing is to hurt their pocketbooks. A simple beating would be just, but would not have the added advantage of benefitting me personally. Ken Lay would be one possibility. But the law is already on his case. There are others who have Gotten Clean Away With It and everybody knows about it, and they would outrank Lay. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/29 "2005-01-03T01:40:51Z")
I would: - Go on a spree renting video tapes… _and return them without rewinding them!_ - Use the account of a major-league baseball game, _without the prior, written consent of Major League Baseball_ - Remove a _whole buncha_ tags from pillows - And just to prove I’m not a _total_ wimp: leave a few former grade-school bullies toothless (Seriously, my day would probably be spent copying and distributing mp3 files). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/30 "2005-01-03T01:47:01Z")
**F. U. Shakespeare,** allow me to put your mind at rest. You are ALREADY allowed to remove tags from pillows and mattresses, if you are the consumer. Those tags are only meant to be kept on the items until they are sold to a user. So get out your scissors or utility knife, and remove tags to your heart’s content! ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/31 "2005-01-03T01:48:59Z")
I’m not the OP, but I think you folks who are answering “I’d hide from the other crazies” or “I’d do nothing because you’d be sued the following day” are totally missing the point of the question; the OP seems to be asking “what activity are you prevented from engaging in _only_ by the fact that it’s illegal?” I could be wrong. My answer: Well, I’m not sure exactly, but it would involve _massive_ amounts of fireworks. I’d probably also jaywalk a lot, which I’m generally too chicken to do in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/32 "2005-01-03T01:52:39Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > - Use the account of a major-league baseball game, _without the prior, written consent of Major League Baseball_ What about implied, oral consent? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/33 "2005-01-03T02:17:40Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > I’d probably also jaywalk a lot, which I’m generally too chicken to do in real life. Come to Montreal! We must be the jaywalk capital of the world. You’ll learn to jaywalk real quick. It’s so much more _efficient_! ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/34 "2005-01-03T05:18:48Z")
I think this thread gives insight into one’s inner workings better than any of those fancy psychiatrist tests. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/35 "2005-01-03T05:50:10Z")
Murder. Just a few select lucky folks, mind you… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/36 "2005-01-03T06:54:18Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Not really. > … the others, who are saying they wouldn’t do anything for moral reasons, are the ones with the strange consciences. > > If everyone thought like them, we wouldn’t need laws in the first place. Yes. And wouldn’t that be wonderful? I wouldn’t say I have a “strange” conscience. Just a strong and fairly abstracted one. On [Kohlberg’s Scale of Moral Stages](http://www.southernct.edu/~brownm/koh.html) I’m a Six. Most adults don’t go past Four. Here’s an [interesting self-test](http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/morals/index.shtml) you can use to gauge your own stage of moral reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/37 "2005-01-03T07:04:22Z")
I’d go to a gun dealer, buy a .50 caliber machine gun, build a machine gun nest in a strategically located place on my roof, put on my uniform all the way down to my flak vest, and get ready to repel attackers. They may be able to break the law with impunity on that day, but that doesn’t mean that there will be no consequences. ---
**Author:** ![RazzBaronZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@RazzBaronZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RazzBaronZ)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/38 "2005-01-03T08:36:44Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Come to Montreal! We must be the jaywalk capital of the world. You’ll learn to jaywalk real quick. It’s so much more _efficient_! What? You mean NYC isn’t the jaywalking capital of the world? Funny story: I once had a friend from LA visiting. I jaywalked all over the place, and he crossed at the crosswalk on every street. I was always the hypotenuse and he the 2 other sides of the triangle. He just couldn’t do it because people over ther get tickets all the time. I started doing it on purpose after I realized this. Classic. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/39 "2005-01-03T10:14:29Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > Here’s an [interesting self-test](http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/morals/index.shtml) you can use to gauge your own stage of moral reasoning. I got 38.5 out of 44. I tried to think of something that I would want to do but am prevented from doing by law… and came up empty. I would be one of the ones who stay home and try to protect my loved ones and my property. A day without laws is something I’d fear, not rejoice in. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/40 "2005-01-03T10:29:52Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > Yes. And wouldn’t that be wonderful? > > I wouldn’t say I have a “strange” conscience. Just a strong and fairly abstracted one. On [Kohlberg’s Scale of Moral Stages](http://www.southernct.edu/~brownm/koh.html) I’m a Six. Most adults don’t go past Four. > > Here’s an [interesting self-test](http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/morals/index.shtml) you can use to gauge your own stage of moral reasoning. It would be nice but the only way it will eve happen is if we’re all lobotomized at birth. I got a 30/44 on that test despite being mostly amoral, by the way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647.md?page=3)