4 ms·

>1) Why didn't he dispose of the shotgun shells? Surely someone told him that as a convicted felon he wasn't supposed to possess firearms or ammunition? I'm no

>1) Why didn't he dispose of the shotgun shells? Surely someone told him that as a convicted felon he wasn't supposed to possess firearms or ammunition? I'm not sure that a "why not?" like that is a gap. I'm also not convinced that anyone would have told him that. You're generally just supposed to know the law. Nobody necessarily tells it to you.

Sauer_Kraut 13y ago
"You're generally just supposed to know the law. Nobody necessarily tells it to you." If no one tells you, then how are you meant to know? How?
- aeontech 13y ago
  That's been the practice since Roman times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorantia_juris_non_excusat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorantia_juris_non_excusat
  - Gormo 13y ago
    That was a reasonable principle up to about a century ago, when statutory law started growing out of control and drowning out other more stable and sensible sources of law. When legislatures churn out volumes and volumes of bills every single year, "ignorantia juris non excusat" non excusat. On top of that, what ever happened to mens rea being a necessary element of culpability? Why are all of these malum prohibitum laws strict liability offences?
    - aeontech 13y ago
      Kafka wrote something about that ;)
- mistercow 13y ago
  An excellent question. Basically, the law is absurd and horrible in almost every conceivable way, and designing a system of law that is otherwise is nontrivial.
- anigbrowl 13y ago
  Go read it in a book, or consult a lawyer and pose questions to him/her. Most cities and countries operate free law libraries where you can peruse these topics in as much detail as you care to. Like most things these days, it's incredibly easy to look it up online if you don't feel like going to a library.
jack9 13y ago
> You're generally just supposed to know the law. Nobody necessarily tells it to you. When you're paroled, put in and released from prison, etc YOU ARE TOLD REPEATEDLY WHY AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR PAROLE ARE. This guy was in jail long enough to know, also he was the burglar or was, at least, a theif. The judge has no control over minimum sentence laws, but does not get steamrolled by the DA if it's improperly applied. This whole story is garbage.
rayiner 13y ago
If you're exiting prison, someone does generally tell you of the terms of your release. I'd also imagine that sort of knowledge becomes common among prisoners and ex-convicts.

Sauer_Kraut 13y ago

"You're generally just supposed to know the law. Nobody necessarily tells it to you." If no one tells you, then how are you meant to know? How?

aeontech 13y ago
That's been the practice since Roman times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorantia_juris_non_excusat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorantia_juris_non_excusat
- Gormo 13y ago
  That was a reasonable principle up to about a century ago, when statutory law started growing out of control and drowning out other more stable and sensible sources of law. When legislatures churn out volumes and volumes of bills every single year, "ignorantia juris non excusat" non excusat. On top of that, what ever happened to mens rea being a necessary element of culpability? Why are all of these malum prohibitum laws strict liability offences?
  - aeontech 13y ago
    Kafka wrote something about that ;)
mistercow 13y ago
An excellent question. Basically, the law is absurd and horrible in almost every conceivable way, and designing a system of law that is otherwise is nontrivial.
anigbrowl 13y ago
Go read it in a book, or consult a lawyer and pose questions to him/her. Most cities and countries operate free law libraries where you can peruse these topics in as much detail as you care to. Like most things these days, it's incredibly easy to look it up online if you don't feel like going to a library.

jack9 13y ago

> You're generally just supposed to know the law. Nobody necessarily tells it to you. When you're paroled, put in and released from prison, etc YOU ARE TOLD REPEATEDLY WHY AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR PAROLE ARE. This guy was in jail long enough to know, also he was the burglar or was, at least, a theif. The judge has no control over minimum sentence laws, but does not get steamrolled by the DA if it's improperly applied. This whole story is garbage.

rayiner 13y ago

If you're exiting prison, someone does generally tell you of the terms of your release. I'd also imagine that sort of knowledge becomes common among prisoners and ex-convicts.