If so, would it be unpunishable when I returned to Earth? How far do our laws reach or does it depend on the victim’s nationality?
2006-09-16 00:51:04 · 33 answers · asked by Mike N 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I cannot understand why people like johnno K or Mark are so gratuitously offensive in response to an interesting question. Perhaps they have no worthwhile opinion to give. Or did they really think that Mike N believes he can go to the moon?
This is an interesting hypothetical question, really about the nature of criminal jurisdiction. In theory the moon is not subject to the laws of any nation, so in that case there are no laws there, so nothing can be a crime. Yet in practice you can be pretty sure that doing things that are serious crimes on earth would lead to punshment when you got back. And probably rightly so.
There is at least a concept of international law. Another person has already suggested that you can take a boat into international waters. If you and someone else did this in separate boats, and you attacked and killed the other person, you can bet that they would get you somehow, under piracy laws maybe.
It seems pretty sure that serious crimes against the person would be dealt with back on earth, regardless of the nationality of the "criminal", or the culture of their country. However, social crimes that different countries have different views about in the first place might well be left alone.
Perhaps that is just wishful thinking. It is what I think *should* happen, and with luck it is what they *would* do..
2006-09-17 08:53:21 · answer #1 · answered by Philip N 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this is a very good question!
Raises an interesting hypothetical point.
Would the U.S.A. have jurisdiction because they(NASA)
supplied the delivery vehicle, the shuttle presumably. I think not. PanAm may deliver you to Europe, but would not then have any jurisdiction over you, should you commit a crime 'abroad'. But would that happen because another government then takes 'charge' of you? All to do with border controls, methinks.
What crime would you commit? Murder of a fellow astonaut, assaulting him/her, sabotage of your spaceship.(crazy thought!). Limited stuff, no shoplifting. Theft?
But supposing it was murder, could not any living relatives then bring a private prosecution?
Actually, all the above crimes could be punished for, when you got back to earth. Unless you stayed 'up-there'.
So until we get 'buildings' as such, every crime would be punishable on return to earth.
Whatever country's flag you 'fly' under would surely have jurispudence(?) over you.
Got there!(phew).
Great question.
2006-09-16 01:43:45 · answer #2 · answered by Moorglademover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes It Would Be Out Side The Jurisdiction,
But The Moon Police Would Get You Instead... lol.
2006-09-17 11:22:18 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really wanted to commit a crime and be outside legal jurisdiction all you need to do is buy a boat and sail out about 15km (9 miles) into international waters. That said I think its safe to say that the moon and any other celestial body is out of any national and legal jurisdiction.
2006-09-16 15:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by LenV 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I may not know the answer exactly, but I don't think your question is at all stupid...like some others are saying.
I think that it might depend on how you got to the moon...if you are as a US citizen on a rocket from the US, I would assume you are working for NASA and under the laws of the US.
I think the law would be punishable.
Like say, you strangle a fellow astronaut while on the moon. I think you would be convicted and sentenced in the US if that is where you are from.
2006-09-16 01:00:00 · answer #5 · answered by lorgurus 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Erm, i suppose you would be outside most durisdiction, however, the UN declared that the Moon could not be claimed by one country, so by a loophole one person claimed it for himself.
That one person would have the power whether to prosecute and in whose court.
(more than likely the US Courts as the person who bought it was an american)
However the victim's nationality could be a double blow in that if the owner wanted to you could be sentenced in The US and then the victim's country, and then have your sentence spent in whatever country the owner liked (within reason)
2006-09-16 11:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by ireland_wins_quidditch_world_cup 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a British Citizen, I think you could be tried in a British court upon your return. You hear of paedophiles being tried back in Britain for offences they committed whilst overseas.
Also, if the spacecraft itself was registered to a particular country, then the laws would probably still apply especially if you committed the offence whilst on board the spacecraft.
2006-09-16 01:10:04 · answer #7 · answered by nemesis 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you commit a crime in moon, you will be tried, according to the prevailing law, of the country, of which, you are citizen, when you come back. If the crime is committed in the Space Vehicle, you can also be tried, according to the country, which it belongs.
2006-09-16 03:07:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, in order to be on the moon, you would have to be sponsored by a country. People don't just go to the moon for vacation... So I'm sure that whatever country sent you would prosecute you according to their laws.
2006-09-16 01:00:41 · answer #9 · answered by JT 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sir, To commit a crime on the moon, you are in essence telling us that you are considering commiting a crime against yourself. I don't believe there are any laws, in any civilized nation, that provides penalties regarding crimes against oneself. So, have at it.....
2006-09-16 04:58:49 · answer #10 · answered by onabluehighway 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋