full-disclosure - Benign Worms

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Date: Fri May 13 23:50:05 2005
From: snowhare at nihongo.org (Benjamin Franz)
Subject: Benign Worms

On Fri, 13 May 2005, Eric Paynter wrote:

> On Fri, May 13, 2005 9:59 am, Michael Holstein said:
>>> 3. If not, what prevents you from doing that?
>> Any worm/virus, regardless of intent, is still illegal -- and I don't
>> think I can get a DSL line in jail.
>
> Not true. Intent is *everything* as far a criminal activity is concerned.

Don't quit your day job to work as a lawyer. There are a many laws that 
turn on facts rather than intent.

   "Lack of criminal intent does not shield a citizen from the BATF. In 
United States v. Thomas, the defendant found a 16- inch-long gun while 
horseback riding. Taking it to be an antique pistol, he pawned it. But it 
turned out to be short-barreled rifle, which should have been registered 
before selling. Although the prosecutor conceded that Thomas lacked 
criminal intent, he was convicted of a felony anyway.[64] The Supreme 
Court's decision in United States v. Freed declared that criminal intent 
was not necessary for a conviction of violation of the Gun Control Act of 
1968.[65]"
       David Kopel, in "Trust The People: The Case Against Gun Control"

Note: This is not intended to bring gun control into the argument, it was 
simply the first clear example I found of a conviction for a crime without 
intent.

-- 
Benjamin Franz

Simple things should be simple, complex things should be possible.
                                          - Alan Kay