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Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by arethuza on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @06:43AM (#5637250)
I hope she didn't use more than 4 ounces of chemicals otherwise it would be a WMD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon_of_mass_destruction#Crim...

Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by uxp on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @09:14AM (#5637650)
You're kind of stretching the truth here. There really isn't a limit as to how much explosive material can be contained in a stationary "bomb" before it's considered a WMD because the definition itself takes in account intention of use.

The Wikipedia article cites the FBI's definition of a WMD, which includes rockets that contain more than 4 ounces of propellant. For comparison, an Estes D size rocket engine is less than a single ounce (~0.8oz). It also states that any rocket with an incendiary charge of more than one quarter ounce is a WMD, but if you actually read the statute and not Wikipedia's summary you'll read that the charge has to be a known explosive substance like C4 or ANFO, not something silly like Draino and aluminum foil or dry ice in a plastic bottle, unless there is a clear intention of causing harm, injury or death. Here's a video of 10 grams of C4, which is about a third of an ounce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdhuR2rJJIU

These definitions of a WMD aren't that crazy.

Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by arethuza on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @09:29AM (#5637728)
I think it's pretty crazy that the term WMD is used for devices of that scale.
Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by solistice on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @07:33AM (#5637346)
Wait, 4 ounces makes it a weapon of mass destruction? That is....ridiculous.
Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by kefka on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @02:02PM (#5639662)
4 oz of botulism or some hemorrhagic flu is most CERTAINLY a weapon of mass destruction.

I can only imagine someone with evil enough intent to put a canister like that in one of those Glade "bathroom smelly" devices. In a public restroom, you'd be spreading death.

Re:Florida Teen Charged With Felony After Science Experiment... by Dylan16807 on Wednesday May 01, 2013 @04:43PM (#5640660)
4 oz is ridiculous overkill for direct infection of certain diseases at the same time it's not enough explosives to harm much more than one room. It's a pretty useless threshold to have.