Originally posted by Chairboy
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=loot
Main Entry: 1loot
Pronunciation: 'lüt
Function: noun
Etymology: Hindi lut; akin to Sanskrit luntati he plunders
1 : goods usually of considerable value taken in war : SPOILS
2 : something held to resemble goods of value seized in war: as a : something appropriated illegally often by force or violence b : illicit gains by public officials c : MONEY
3 : the action of looting
synonym see SPOIL
well he obviously has no clue on anything
The Longstanding Criminal Law Defense Of Necessity
The law allows people to use the defense of necessity to commit acts that would be criminal if there was no necessity.
Yes, some victims of Hurricane Katrina stole. It was not their property and it was a crime: theft. But necessity is a defense.
Of course, there are certain restrictions. You cannot kill another person and invoke the defense of necessity - no matter what the circumstances might be. But you may commit burglary or theft to protect yourself from death or serious bodily harm.
There are limitations on the defense, however: There has to be an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm. That threat has to be caused by nature, not man-made (and especially, not created by the individual invoking the defense). There can be no reasonable alternative means to prevent the impending threat, other than the theft.
And finally, the individual is only permitted to do what is needed to ward off the impending threat; the necessity of stealing bread or baby food is not a license to steal books and magazines, too.
