Quote Originally Posted by js207 View Post
Unfortunately, I don't think that's enough to stop politicians trying to do exactly that - and doing damage in the process. Indeed, existing laws refer to things like making you feel threatened.
LOL! Yeah, there's little short of the end of the world that could stop politicians from making stupid laws!

There's usually an exception for "exceptional circumstances", or indeed much broader discretion, for exactly that reason - and of course stealing a loaf of bread wouldn't be a felony anyway:
The point is, there have been several documented cases where a judge was required by the law to issue a sentence far worse than he actually thought applicable.