# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/41 "2005-01-03T11:28:15Z")
I think I’d drive fast on drugs while getting my wing-wang squeezed and not spill my drink. 33/44 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/42 "2005-01-03T16:14:11Z")
40.5/44 I wouldn’t kill anyone, but there are a few people I’d probably smack around if I saw them. And peeing on the governor. Can’t forget that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/43 "2005-01-03T17:07:26Z")
Steal as much cash as I could get away with, but without hurting or killing anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/44 "2005-01-03T17:22:32Z")
40.5 I’d steal back replacements for broken crap I’ve gotten at Best Buy that they refused to exchange. Bastards. Probably speed. And screw waiting for red lights at 2 in the morning! (As long as there’s no traffic). That’s pretty much all I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/45 "2005-01-03T17:45:51Z")
I’d kill my brother-in-law, who is abusive to my sister-in-law. Except I’d never get to do it, because my husband would kill him first. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/46 "2005-01-03T18:07:02Z")
33.5 I’d lock all my doors and windows, hide my family and everything valuable, and then hide myself. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/47 "2005-01-03T18:16:11Z")
Steal a shit ton of my favorite pharmaceuticals from every pharmacy I could find. Then I would obtain a gun, and shoot the first person who was rude to me. Y’all asked, and that’s what I’d do. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/48 "2005-01-03T18:18:46Z")
40/44 I’d troll. Using a sock puppet. In the wrong forum. With a 6 line sig. Well, what other US laws _can_ I break?? Don’t hate me! ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/49 "2005-01-03T18:34:23Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I’d kill my brother-in-law, who is abusive to my sister-in-law. Except I’d never get to do it, because my husband would kill him first. Well, using that moral reasoning everyone likes so much, I’d suggest each of you half kill him. Share the love! ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/50 "2005-01-03T18:35:58Z")
In the fantasy, I’d be getting a really big discount on lots and lots of electronics 🙂 In real life, I’d probably speed. And, maybe park in a “NO Parking” zone. **Futile Gesture** , maybe having a sock puppet isn’t illegal but it causes _really, really_ bad karma. I’d watch out if I were you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/51 "2005-01-03T19:31:15Z")
I’d be invisible and fly around a lot. What? Oh, MAN made laws… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/52 "2005-01-03T20:04:14Z")
I’d paint the White House Fuchsia. Just to hear Dan Rather say: " Today in the Fug-…fush-… In the purple House today, President …" ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/53 "2005-01-03T22:08:05Z")
Having a lawless day might actually turn out to be a good thing in the long run. I think most good people would stay home and defend their lives and property; all the stores and the wealthy would hire armed security forces; only bad people would be out in the streets committing mayhem, and they would all get killed. At the end of the day, society might be a whole lot better off. I say let’s do it! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/54 "2005-01-03T22:12:46Z")
The only laws I want amnesty from right now are more store policies than laws. I owe both Blockbuster and my local library so much in overdue fines that I’m ashamed to go in there and pay them (I did return all the materials so as not to rack up further fines, but still.) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/55 "2005-01-03T22:29:39Z")
> [@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 42.5/44 Doesn’t say what Kohlberg number it is, but says it’s the “highest category of social reasoning.” Thanks for posting this link. I’ve often wondered where I lie. And no murders for me, not so much 'cause there’s noone who deserves it, but because I’d rather spend my “free day” having harmless fun and skip the laundry bills. Killing just takes too much energy. But, yeah, I could use amnesty on my library fines. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/56 "2005-01-03T22:46:29Z")
I’d steal the neighbor’s dog. And find it a good home SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY FROM ME. They keep this shepherd/dobie mix ‘for protection’, which seems to mean tied out in their yard almost all the time. The poor thing howls and howls and barks at everyone on the street and so on – my guess is he’s gone mad from boredom/loneliness, but may some kind person could rehab him. Oh, and then I’d strip my neighbor naked and chain him to one of the trees in the far back of the yard where no one could hear him calling to be let free. Maybe I’d unchain him the next day. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/57 "2005-01-04T00:10:13Z")
Realisticly? Board up my doors and windows, turn all the lights off, and hide in my attic with a fire extinguisher and as many guns as I could get my hands on. Failing that… -Form a temporary militia of people/friends who could be trusted not to kill each other. (For mutual protection, and/or select vigilante acts. Maybe we could get a “Megans Law” list of local sex offenders, and do a little “cleansing.”) Probably wouldn’t steal anything, though, (I’d feel guilty), and I certainly wouldn’t rape anyone. And I wouldn’t just run around killing random people for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-if-there-was-general-amnesty-from-all-laws-for-a-day/282647/58 "2005-01-04T01:08:44Z")
Firstly, i’d AVOID THE ROAD If there was ever any law that someone would have no trouble breaking it would HAVE to be traffic laws… Imagine people driving at the speeds of those driving on the Autobahn, without the skills or proper equipment. Massive fatalities, I tell ya. Murder? Nah, not really, I don’t dislike someone that much. Theft? Hmm… that’s tougher… It depends on who I am stealing from… I don’t know if I’d have a huge problems stealing from DeBeers. They don’t seem so benevolent, and it could help me out a lot. Honestly, I’d try to engage in some sort of “Robin Hood” type activites. That is if I could actually manage to get enough stuff stolen. Honestly, I’d probably steal lots of money electronically (if I knew how to do it( from a couple of those rich ceo crooks and give it to some poor folks. Anything else? Nah, most laws are okay by me. [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=2)