North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

What is the term for an assault committed on another person with a deadly weapon?

1. Attempted murder

2. Assault with a deadly weapon

3. Battery

4. Aggravated assault

The correct answer is: Assault with a deadly weapon

The term for an assault committed on another person with a deadly weapon is recognized as "assault with a deadly weapon." This designation is crucial in legal terms, as it specifically refers to the act of threatening harm or causing injury to another individual using a weapon that could potentially cause serious injury or death. This categorization serves not only to identify the severity of the offense but also to reflect the intention behind the action; it underscores the dangerous nature of the act and the potential for lethal consequences. The phrase indicates that while the intent may not necessarily be to kill, the use of a deadly weapon places the act in a more serious light compared to other forms of assault. Other terms such as attempted murder would imply a specific intent to kill, which may not always be present in cases of assault with a deadly weapon. Battery typically refers to the actual physical act of harming someone, while aggravated assault can encompass a broader scope of violence or the intent to inflict serious harm. In essence, "assault with a deadly weapon" precisely captures the interaction of intent and the use of a dangerous instrument, making it the correct term for the scenario described.