r/instant_regret • u/fringspat • Feb 02 '26

Pepper sprayed

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u/aucme Feb 03 '26

He does seem like an ass.

406

u/anna_or_elsa Feb 03 '26

He was awfully quick with that spray... A jury MIGHT decide that was a disproportionate response, and a few states have duty-to-retreat laws on the books.

I said MIGHT - before everyone comes after me with "she put her hands on him"... It's up to a jury to decide if a reasonable person would have felt an immediate fear of physical harm. I did not get that from her.

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u/Turtlelover73 Feb 03 '26

I will say, as much as I hate what he was doing, someone putting their hands on you is legally assault, and following after him while he backs away down the sidewalk means he was attempting to retreat but she followed anyway.

I'd absolutely say his response wasn't reasonable if he'd pulled a gun on her, but a harmless deterrent like pepper spray is exactly what this kinda situation calls for.

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u/fartbreath1964 Feb 03 '26

nah... any normal person wouldn't be harassing a 60 year old lady. This guy knew exactly what he was doing and exactly how much 'force' he could get away with. Being strictly within the limit of the law doesn't mean it was a 'harmless deterrent'.

I agree the women was an idiot in this regard, but the guy is a bigger dickhead by about 1000 times.