Stone throwing or rock throwing, when it is directed at another person (called stone pelting in India), is often considered a form of criminal battery. In certain political contexts, stone-throwing can be considered a form of civil resistance.
History
The throwing of rocks or stones is one of the most ancient forms of ranged-weapon combat, with stone-throwing slings found among other weapons in the tomb of Tutankhamun, who died about 1325 BC. Xenophon mentions the petrobóloi (Ancient Greek: πετροβόλοι) in his work Hellenica, and Thucydides and Cassius Dio both mention the lithobóloi (λιθοβόλοι) in History of the Peloponnesian War and Histories respectively. Both terms mean stone-throwers in Ancient Greek, as army units. De re militari (Latin "Concerning Military Matters") by the Roman writer Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus details Roman soldiers training to throw stones as weapons. "Recruits are to be taught the art of throwing stones both with the hand and sling." And "Formerly all soldiers were trained to the practice of throwing stones of a pound weight with the hand, as this was thought a readier method since it did not require a sling." Goguryeo held an annual national seokjeon (stone battle) attended by the king himself. Originally a product of the warlike Goguryeo period, seokjeon gradually evolved into a widely enjoyed pastime during the more peaceful Goryeo and Joseon periods. Historically, stoning was used as a method of human execution in several cultures. In 17th century Lisbon, it was common that war games of stone throwing would take place amongst its citizens. In the 18th century, William Blackstone stated that throwing stones in a town or city on a highway, when it caused a death, was to be defined as manslaughter rather than murder. In 19th century Britain, "stone throwing" was defined as a "nuisance", one of a number of offenses such as "kite-flying" and "doorbell ringing" to be handled by bylaws which differed from town to town. Despite the blatant risks, stones have also been cast amongst children as a game, often with tragic consequences.
Laws Rock throwing during riots is a criminal offense, for which rock throwers can be charged with felony crimes, including assault on a law enforcement officer. Incidents of criminal rock throwing have resulted in arrests during sports riots; especially notable are incidents of rock-throwing football hooliganism.
Australia In New South Wales, Section 49A of the Crimes Act 1900 provides a maximum 5-year prison sentence for "throwing rocks and other objects at vehicles and vessels".
India
Throwing of stones at Indian Armed Forces and Police is frequent in Kashmir. Usually carried out by youths, in the local language it is called "Kanni Jung", which means fighting with stones and the stone pelters are called as Sangbaaz. There are claims that the rocks are thrown in response to killings of Kashmiri separatists at the hands of forces.
New Zealand Individuals who throw rocks at cars can serve 14 years for endangering transport.
Turkey Turkey presses charges and imposes prison sentences for the crime of being part of a group throwing stones at police, even when the rock-throwers are 15 years of age and younger. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) introduced a range of legal measures criminalizing both Kurdish political claims and protest activities by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The harsh sentences handed down against stone-throwing children (taş atan çocuklar) led to a public outcry and to an amendment reducing the length of the sentences on the grounds that it was inappropriate from "a criminal justice point of view."
United Kingdom Expansive legislation on public disorder introduced in 1986 allows stone throwers to be sentenced on average to 3+1⁄2 years in prison if the criminal justice system can prove that the action took place in a riot.
United States In the United States, charges vary by state. Depending upon the facts and jurisdiction, potential charges could include disorderly conduct, assault, and battery. In the United States individuals throwing rocks at another person can be arrested and charged with assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. As a 15-year-old, actor Mark Wahlberg was charged in two separate incidents of throwing rocks and shouting racial epithets at African-American children. Rock-throwing can be a felony and rock-throwers could face criminal charges, dependent on the circumstances that may include second degree murder, aggravated assault, throwing a missile into an occupied vehicle, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment of life, and aggravated assault with a lethal weapon. Punishment upon conviction varies as with all punishments for all crimes. A Florida judge sentenced a teenager to serve life in prison for murder by throwing rocks at cars. A New England judge, ruling on teenagers convicted of throwing stones at the windows of passing trains that resulted in eye injuries to passengers, sentenced the convicted to be kept in an eye-injury ward of a hospital for two weeks with their eyes bandaged to make them understand the consequence of their delinquency. Rock throwers could be charged, tried, and convicted even if no injuries or damage result. Under American law, rock throwers can receive significant sentences and even be sentenced to life in prison. Under American law, individuals who were part of a group engaged in rock-throwing can be convicted and imprisoned even if they did not personally throw any projectiles.
Vietnam According to Article 12, Section 6, Section c of Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP of the Central Government, those who "throw bricks, soil, stones, sand or other objects at people or vehicles participating in road traffic" are fined between 500,000 VND and 1,000,000 VND for individuals, and between 1,000,000 VND and 2,000,000 VND for groups. According to Article 7, Section 4, Subsection e of Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP of the Central Government, those who throw stones at a moving train are fined between 3,000,000 and 5,000,000 VND. Youths convicted for throwing stones at vehicles have been prosecuted, and in serious cases, imprisoned.
Contexts Rock-throwing may occur in a variety of contexts but is often associated with assaultive offenses, demonstrations and riots, and international conflicts.
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