Can you help me with some answers?

[humor me]

I was reading in a discussion on another board about a worker that was assaulted and the people that had assaulted him actually wanted to press charges against the victim. This happened at a box store, so of course it didn't work out the way they planned and they were arrested. In the process of the assault they made terroristic threats saying that they were going to blow up the store. The whole thing started when the store greeter asked to check the receipt.

One of the posts argued that if a store greeter asks, you are not required to show a receipt. If a customer became belligerent, at that point, would security then be allowed to ask?

[direct quote] "oh, and yeah, from what I understood of the american 'law', if you threaten to blow something up or murder someone you end in jail asap"

I'm pretty sure that's not true. It might be more true of a business, however. Can someone correct me?

[direct quote] "There's even states were it's illegal, in a work of fiction, to harm a character or say something that someone would find disturbing ( Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Chicago )"

Wow. That sounds like total BS! If that were true Ginger never would have died in Black Beauty! Where do people come up with this stuff?! (I love it that Chicago is a State!)

Thank you for any help.

[Samuel]

Depends on store policy.

Yes, you can go to jail for terrorist or criminal threats - depends on local statutes/laws.

Possible, you never know. "Blue Laws" are often strange.

Tell the person to back up his/her opinions with actual laws/codes - then google...

[marinepilot]

(I love it that Chicago is a State!)

State of Confusion and Corruption maybe, and I'm originally from there!!

[humor me]

Sorry, this happened in Elyria, Ohio.

[Joeyd6]

Refuse to show your recipt as you leave Costco or Sams Club in my area, and they terminate your membership fee, thus kicking you out of the club. I have seen it happen a few times.

I do get pissed when I get in, get my items and get through the checkout in 20 minutes, and get to the door to see a ten minute line of non-sense reciprt checking.

[ET109]

'round here the store can ask to check your receipt, but has no authority to physically stop you just for that purpose. Just because a place says that bags etc are subject to search by private employees doesn't mean you enter into a legal contract to have your person searched... but they can order you to leave the premises and give you a trespass warning so as to prevent you from returning. At that point you have to leave. It's sort of like when an employer has you sign something saying you'll give urine samples; they can't force you, but it gives them reason to terminate you.

I'm not going to wait in line twice at Wal Mart, so I'll just pass on by. No club membership to revoke!
I've never had someone actually press the issue anyway, though. If someone actually did grab me or with no authority that would be a simple assault and I could use reasonable force to stop them- but that doesn't include beating them over the head with a toaster or something. I'll usually indulge them and let them look if it's no inconvenience, as if they can count everything in those 5 seconds anyway.

There are laws about threats, but it depends on the states... my state doesn't have much to work with in that regard... unless you phone in a threat or arson or a bomb or something.

[scott715us]

Stores can detain someone for shoplifting, but certain criteria have to be followed before they do so. As the others have already stated, you are not required to show the receipt, but places like Sam's and Costco have contracts/terms that you must abide by in order to keep their membership. Refusing to show the receipt may lead to termination of the membership and you're no longer welcome there.

As far as "terroristic" threats, you can be arrested for it in my state. If you claim a false report (of a bomb, fire or other emergency) that puts someone in fear and/or causes an emergency response by police/fire/EMS, it's a felony.

TCA 39-16-502

.... (3) Intentionally initiate or circulate a report of a past, present, or impending bombing, fire or other emergency, knowing that the report is false or baseless and knowing:

(A) It will cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with those emergencies;

(B) It will place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or

(C) It will prevent or interrupt the occupation of any building, place of assembly, form of conveyance, or any other place to which the public has access.