Laws against verbal threats are in effect in all 50 states. Threatening a person with immediate or pending harm is an arrestable offense. Forcing someone to do something under verbal threat is likewise an arrestable offense. For example, a disgruntled customer may tell a cashier at a store, "I hate this store. I'm going to come back here with a gun and then we'll see if I get my refund!"
. This person can be arrested. However, the law is looser around vague threats, such as, "I hate this store. I'll bet if I came back with a gun I'd get my refund." However, repeated vague threats can form the basis of a restraining order or civil suit.
