Legal Definitions - armed

In a legal context, "armed" describes an individual who is equipped with a weapon. It also refers to an act or situation that involves the use of a weapon.

The term armed describes either an individual or group possessing a weapon, or an action or event where a weapon is present or used.

• Example 1: A security guard patrolling a high-value facility is typically armed with a handgun and a taser.

  Explanation: This illustrates the term "armed" because the security guard is equipped with specific weapons (a handgun and a taser) as part of their duties to protect the facility.

• Example 2: A dispute between neighbors escalated into an armed standoff when one individual retrieved a baseball bat from their garage.

  Explanation: Here, "armed" describes the situation itself, indicating that a weapon (the baseball bat) was introduced and involved in the confrontation, changing its nature.

• Example 3: Military personnel conducting a training exercise in the field are always armed with their service rifles, even if unloaded.

  Explanation: This example shows "armed" referring to a group (military personnel) who are equipped with weapons (service rifles) as a standard part of their operational readiness, regardless of whether the weapons are loaded or actively being used.