Someone recently said to me the following line, "The law clearly states that you must do this ..." well, it wasn't too serious :) but never the less a breach of the law.
This really annoys me about life, do people assume that everyone is born with the full law inscribed in there brain. Ok in most cases common sense fills 75% of the book, attacking someone, theft etc.. is all clearly breaking the law, but there's a few that are less obvious and some that no one can possibly expected to know.
2007-12-17 22:50:39 · 16 answers · asked by thedaveidentity 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
"ignorance is no defence."
That's true in most cases, and i'm a full supporter of the law, however if you simply didn't know that you had to do something (finiacial related) in the first place this isn't ignorance. In fact i'm sure there's many laws that people don't know about.
And i'm not talking about the ovbious, in most cases you can judge when somethings breaking the law by common sense, if it feels wrong then it probably is a breach of the law. But sometimes, especially with finances not everythings very clear.
I think this applies to many things in life, you're expected to know this and that without every been told or educated about these things.
2007-12-17 23:08:17 · update #1
People responding to this are beginning to weigh towards violence, yes violence of any kind is clearly wrong and breaking the law, this isn't the same as say, walking across a street! I once heard it was illegal to cross a road, is this true? if it is then how can i be expected to know this, there's no signs that says it's illegal.
2007-12-17 23:14:03 · update #2
Some laws are obvious and other, esp money things, are not. But that is why it is important to educate yourself on these issues before taking action, or inaction.
2007-12-18 01:21:40 · answer #1 · answered by FaerieWhings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old adage 'Ignorance of the law is no excuse' is OK up to a point.
As you say some laws are so obvious that it is impossible to mistake them or not know about them and therefore any one who breaks them deserve what they get.
However some laws are so obscure that very few know of their existence and ignorance of them should not be held against someone who inadvertently breaks them.
Some laws have been in existences since the year dot and it is about time these were given a thorough overhaul and brought up to date.
You may find it amusing to read some example of these outmoded and nonsensical laws.
It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.
In England, all men over the age of 14 must carry out two hours of longbow practice a day.
In the UK, a man who feels compelled to relieve himself in public can do so but only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle.
In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.
As you can see these laws are extremely important in todays modern times (LoL).
If you want to see more of these please visit:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2251280.ece
Poseidon
PS - One law I simply love is:
The head of any dead whale found on the British coast is legally the property of the King; the tail, on the other hand, belongs to the Queen - in case she needs the bones for her corset.
2007-12-17 23:19:36 · answer #2 · answered by Poseidon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our society does have the principle that ignorance of a law is no defence to breaking it.
You can understand this, as otherwise every defendant would claim to be ignorant of the law he is accused of breaking.
Imagine Ian Huntley claiming that he didn't know that murdering two little girls was an illegal act?
2007-12-17 22:55:00 · answer #3 · answered by MarkEverest 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes... Law is law.
Let's say, someone from another... world, comes to visit Earth and then decides he doesn't like the color of your Mom's hair. So he kills her. He then says, sorry I didn't know it was against your laws to kill people.
Should we just let him go? He's from another world. Where he comes from it's no big deal to kill someone. It's a common day practice. Why should he be punished for not knowing some silly law from another world.
2007-12-17 22:57:08 · answer #4 · answered by Nick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
id say yes. cos even if people do know about the law, they may say they dont to not get a fine or go 2 jail or wotever. maybe they shud like say once u can say tht but then a 2nd time even if u dont no bout the law then u hve 2 get punished
2007-12-17 22:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
All you can do is hire a lawyer and ask the judge for leniency. I would call the media so that this unknown law will become public knowledge and no one else will suffer. Good Luck..
2007-12-18 03:38:06 · answer #6 · answered by Sunshine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ignorance of the law is not an excuse
2007-12-17 22:56:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ignorance that a law exists does not entail amnesty from said law.
2007-12-17 22:57:11 · answer #8 · answered by Mister Ambulance Driver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ignorance of a law is not a defence, only a mitigation.
What did you do?
2007-12-17 22:54:01 · answer #9 · answered by The Drunken Fool 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
sorry i don't know much about the law . i only know not to do anything i feel in my heart is wrong.
2007-12-18 05:15:13 · answer #10 · answered by sadeyes40 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋