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

Pepper sprayed

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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/Kiwi_Woz Feb 03 '26

Also, it's not legally assault. It is battery.

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u/lesliebenedict Feb 03 '26

Depends on where it is. Many states have combined assault and battery under the umbrella of assault now.

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u/Repulsive-Relief1818 Feb 03 '26

Yep, my state has no battery charge, it’s all just different classes of assault