Reading them the riot act, literally
If you ever wondered about the origin of the expression "reading the riot act," Orin Kerr explains its origin. To really read someone the riot act, you proclaim the following:
Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons being assembled immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George for preventing tumultuous and riotous assemblies. God save the King.
That'll really scare them!
11:46:04 PM
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