[Clanan]

This is not a difficult experiment. If you keep a weapon, you should familiarize yourself with the relevant local laws. RTFM, as they say. If someone makes a threat against you that is not immediate, you should contact the police. Yes, you would be put on trial for deliberately going outside and shooting someone not on your property. Duh.

[rhacker]

Yeah I tend to agree with you on this thought experiment, a more appropriate response obviously - but if you take away the faulty variables like that and the call does in fact require you to defend yourself in the manner described, then yes, it it was a hoax then the caller should be responsible (if they figure out who obviously).