07-21-2023, 11:11 PM
Check with your lawyer, it's legal
I checked with Google, Esq. and there's a short answer, and long answer, and one that allows "it depends."
“The falsely shouted warning, while technically speech, could potentially violate a state's criminal laws against disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct, whether or not it provokes a stampede, for instance.” And if there's a stampede in which somebody dies, you could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. In other words, even if there's no law in your state that explicitly prohibits you from crying “Fire” in a theater, there are other laws you might still have to worry about.
It's too bad the Akebono Theater isn't around anymore. It would be the perfect place to discuss this philosophical conundrum further. I miss that place.
I checked with Google, Esq. and there's a short answer, and long answer, and one that allows "it depends."
“The falsely shouted warning, while technically speech, could potentially violate a state's criminal laws against disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct, whether or not it provokes a stampede, for instance.” And if there's a stampede in which somebody dies, you could be charged with involuntary manslaughter. In other words, even if there's no law in your state that explicitly prohibits you from crying “Fire” in a theater, there are other laws you might still have to worry about.
It's too bad the Akebono Theater isn't around anymore. It would be the perfect place to discuss this philosophical conundrum further. I miss that place.