I live in the county not out in the country. The property right behind my neighbor is within the city limits.?

Good Lord! I'd be horrified if that guy was even in my State! I have children and we also have a large property that some people mistake for just a public wooded area. We have tried putting up fences and signs that state when they are actually on our property but they just don't seem to get it.

If the guy 'knows the Sheriff" he should be that much more aware of what he is doing is endangering lives. I would go have a talk with that same Sheriff and not stop until he has to go tell the guy to be more responsible.

As far as the son goes...I was taught to shoot high powered weapons at the age of 8. However, it was for the purpose of being responsible, feeling the power in your hands and learning safety. Not to spray and pray as they call it in the Army. Really in Iraq or Afganistan our military is really taught the spray and pray method is unacceptable as it endangers too many civilians. Over there, and any war region, obviously there will be civilian casualties but it is certainly not something The United States of America condones. I was in the Army. Despite the stories you hear about soldiers who just love to go off with their weapons, it's not true. Ok, you have a few idiots who make it through somehow like your nieghbor there but unless you are in a very close and direct combat situation, troops get ammo checked and counted.

Maybe you could try a different tactic with the guy. What would happen if you went over, as a friend, and said something like ya know, why don't you show me how you shoot your weapons, how you are teaching your children etc. and just have a discussion about safety? Rather than an arguement first.

I remember growing up in my town, where having and using a weapon such as a Shotgun was very normal. However, I can also remember as a young child, being in our back yard and having bulletts fly past our heads. We had to put a stop to that and once it was explained to the people who were doing it, although they were seriously stupid to begin with, it wouldn't happen again and everybody just learned which way they could shoot and which way they couldn't.

Also, somebody whose "wife works in records' doesn't necassarily mean they "know" the Sherriff. He's using his wifes employment place as an excuse to scare the Hell out of his neighbors.

I'm sorry. I kind of talked around and around on this one. It's a dificult situation and the guy you are talking about sounds like a real creep. However, I do believe that you should first try to patch it up with the moron on your own first. If that really doesn't work then find who can stop him and don't shut up until you get it stopped. Call this Sherriff friend every single day if that is what it takes.

Good Luck,

SarahJane

I empathize and feel how upset you are however, I would still bring charges against him for endangering lives and disturbing the peace.

It is unfortunate that neighbors are not necessarily civic minded. That increases the risk here. As a civil servant, there is a thing known as the public good which is compromised when a holder of such office is guilty of moral ineptitude. It is the same principle that has the Governor of Illinois in hot water as to do so becomes malfeasance of office.

Although his employees may not be aware, a simply suggestion to the sheriff that you deem this to be the case makes him complicit and responsible to take an action to correct his employee on your behalf. Now it is a personnel issue. Failure to do so grants you the right to bring charges against the Sheriff for not upholding the duties of his office,

Do you want to take it there? Calm down first. There are consequences to breeding ill feeling with neighbors. How serious are you about the issue?

There is a lot you can do. Are you a part of a civic league. What a great project for them. Member of a church or religious organization? Same goes. Why not invite the Sheriff to the school to explain to the kids when it is ok to break the law, Member of the PTA, well surely they are concerned about their facility, students, and grounds? By the way, is there a newspaper? They are always looking for a human interest piece and don't forget the radio & tv station.

Then, that City Manager will be looking for you once you have mobilized your community! Hey, maybe you should run/apply for his position! You have my vote.

You did the right thing. County has nothing to do within city limits. I own woods behind my barn that connects to woods within the city limits. Nobody can gun hunt in the city limits. They would be foolish to try for the fine imposed by the local authorities. I have a neighbor like yours, bullet holes in the barn & pole shed for proof. I too, called the police who had a chat with the neighbor. (It was the neighbor shooting). You were too kind, I would never have told the neighbor, just called the police, as now he knows who complained. Would I feel safe around him, No. That was a year ago, once the police had a chat with him, I no longer have had the problem. If you hear anymore shooting, keep calling the police. A rifle bullet can penetrate your walls.

Why have the cops not done anything about this? Have you called them? Every place I know has a defined limit on how close to buildings a person can shoot a gun. In fact there maybe changes to increase that distance since some hunters are using very high powered guns that easily encroach on buildings despite them following the law. A local building recently had a bullet go through it prompting reconsideration of the parameters of the law. I am all for 2nd amendment rights but only if you are going to be responsible. If what you say is true your neighbors are misbehaving and need to be punished for it.

His comment to you when confronted on this shows his mentality and therefor you must be careful.

You did the right thing in reporting this to the authorities. Let them confront him on it at this time and tell him it has to cease and desist. You though will also need to know from them that they have given this direction to him. Then, should it continue, you need to report it to them again, and again, and again if needed.

Nice that his wife works for the sheriff's department but if he is breaking the law then she sure as heck doesn't have a full understanding of the county ordinances, right?

Some folks are born a$$holes but in this case your neighbor is an a$$hole with weapons. Walk this one carefully and thank goodness you can legally carry concealed.

The city should remove it from the street right away, it does not matter that it is a weekend. In my neighborhood they are there within 20 minutes. Your local police will be able to handle this. As far as the yard, it depends on if it is a city tree or your landlords tree. You can pretty much determine this yourself, all the houses down the street have matching trees that belong to the city.

There are some city limits where this is perfectly legal (scary) but legal. Is there an ordinance in your city that would prevent this?

Check into that, if there is not you could start a petition to limit firearms shooting if homes are within so many feet. Of course if what they are doing is illegal the police will hopefully take care of this.

I wouldn't feel safe around them or you, since you live in a residential area yet seem to feel the need to have a concealed weapon, and also because you simply do not think it worthwhile to call the police when people are hunting illegally on a property that abuts yours. I am sure that golf course is a haven for snipers and so you really need that concealed weapon.

yes, it is not safe what your neighbor is doing, but spare us the 2nd amendment whining unless you are prepared to prove you carry the weapon as a member of a well-regulated militia instead of for your personal glory.

I feel that I would have done the same in your situation, and Im not uncomfortable around guns, but you dont know who people are, its a scary thought when someone ELSE is holding the gun, and yes I would have told him what he was doing wrong first as well, so he would have a chance to quit his actions before resorting to calling in law officials. and i would have called the wildlife ranger because I am an avid hunter and if there is one thing i cant stand it is a poacher.good luck. yes you have every right to be angry

Never raise more Hell than you can lay down.

You might win in court, but if he likes shooting and lives that closely-

what will he do when he gets out?

Just be careful and use your brains.