Discharging Firearms - Your Advice

Although I have a problem with neighbors who trash their own place, as long as it isn't causing a health or safety hazard to me, I realize that I have no control over it. If the trash is drifting onto my property, I do have a problem with it and feel justified in trying to stop it. As long as the bullets are remaining on the neighbors property, I would have no control over that situation. If they come onto mine, then there is a problem.

I do understand that being considerate of your neighbors is a good thing, but it is not something that you can force. If I want to be completely insulated from the people around me, I understand that I have to buy enough land or buy the right land to put myself in that position.

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Only the paranoid survive.

I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

Dispatches From The Conservative Underground

As cruel as this sounds it isn't meant to be cruel, but "move back to the city" I have the same problem, but I am the one shooting along with friends and family. They built a 240 home development abutting the corner of my 21 acres that I've had since '91. Now everytime we go down to the range and shoot the city fools call the police. Of course the police come out and tell me, but since I'm not doing anything illegal and have a safe range there isn't much they can do. Also since the development is in a different township the laws of that township don't apply in my township. I'm not disturbing anyones livestock except the critters we have and they don't mind.
I'm amazed that those who move from the cities and towns to the country think they can control what one does on their own property.
Just because the city folk have conceded a lot of their freedoms doesn't mean those of us in the country will do the same....

So my advice is either go the the neighbors and shoot with them or just learn to live with it...

I can only assume that the next thing is someone is going to complain about the odor from the manure... typical......

Remember you moved to the country!

PS Are there now going to be complaints because of the farmers tractors running more then 4 hours a day?

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Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 21 "The Right of the Citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned"
www.pafoa.org
http://www.45thpacok.com

First, why is doing something perfectly legal, on your own property, considered obnoxious? (whether 3-4 hours is excessive is an *opinion*)

As to the comparison... there is none:

Properly contained trash is neither a health hazard nor is it illegal.

Properly discharging firearms is neither a health hazard nor is it illegal.

Uncontained trash (as described in the other thread) is both a health hazard and illegal.

Improperly discharged firearms is both a health hazard and illegal.

The OP for this thread said nothing about about the firearms being a hazard, other than the *opinion* that the shooter didn't have enough land. The deputy obviously disagreed as did most responses here. The OP also said nothing about guns going off 24 hours a day, nor late at night, nor very early in the a.m. So, given the information provided, the gunfire is neither illegal nor a health hazard... the OP just didn't like the noise.

In the blowing trash thread, the OP described "NASTY" trash (dirty diapers, rotted veggies, etc.) blowing onto her property, obviously creating a health hazard and being illegal. A real situation... not merely an opinion or a dislike.

Whether it's true or not is yet to be determined, but the OP in this thread came across as an antigun towny that moved out to the country and then complained about country life (at least the gun aspect of it)... hence the comment about going back to the city.

Up to now, the OP also has not been back to clarify or defend their position, so one can assume that the above is true. THE OP didn't get the answer they wanted from the deputy, nor did they get the answer they wanted here. As described the gunfire was not illegal, unsafe, nor excessive... some people may not like it but it is a fact.

At least that's the way I see it.

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"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid".

In both cases, the neighbors are being obnoxious...
But one case elicits sympathy while the other "go back to the city"

I guess I'm just not going to see it.

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

Then I have to ask again:

and I'll add... in the trash thread the issue was brought up with the neighbor, a solution was provided (at the OP's expense) and the neighbor choose not to use the solution (the wire cage). Obviously obnoxious!

In this thread, the OP hasn't even spoken with the neighbor nor is it likely the deputy did, why would he...no law was being broken. It is very possible that the neighbor doesn't even know this is disturbing the OP. If the neighbor has been shooting there for who knows how long and not had complaints from other people... and another neighbor shoots regularly... then how are they to know that it is disturbing anybody?

I can't post anymore about this... I'm not running from this thread, but I am running. I have to pack to leave in the a.m. to go purchase my own 40 acres in the country... and I'll not complain about shooting or animals stinking or farm equipment running... though I may complain if somebody dumps their poopy diapers in my yard

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"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid".

I debated with myself on responding but here goes. I knew this topic would receive some strong comments. Good, that's what a discussion forum is for -right? I appreciate the comments - keep them coming. We can all learn from a diversity of opinions. First off, I am a guy not a gal. I first moved to rural Arkansas some 37 years ago. I have not lived in rural Arkansas all that time but between parents and in laws have had a connection to rural life. As a matter of fact I have even lived in rural Texas. I admit to being a Texan. I own guns. My children are studying to receive their hunter education so they can hunt. Nothing wrong with guns. I will say that I have never in Arkansas or Texas ever heard any shooting like this. Hunting is one thing - this is something else. I do know my neighbors. I am not crazy. I have lived in current locaton since 2003. The shooting has just started recently. One side is that they just moved there. The other side I am not sure. Maybe they got a new gun - maybe they are teaching a son or daughter to shoot. I do not know alot about guns I will admit. One neighbor that knows more than me said they thought the firing was coming from a 9mm. Maybe, I know it was loud and long. I am not sure that anyone will convince me to like rapid non stop firing for hours at a time. I don't believe you would like it either.

Thank you for your post.
To answer your question on the tractor noise, yes the so-called "Country Estate" as they inappropriately name their community, or the "Bridle Path", but they don't allow horses, are complaining to the County board of Commissioners in many states about the noise from the Tractors and Mowers. Some places want to ban the motor noise which means people that make their living and always have made their living on a Tractor , mowers or with a chain saw would ultimately be out of work. For the neighbors that still have land next to these City dweller communities couldn't maintain their place. You can't mow 40 acres of pasture with a reel mower. Yes, they do complain about the manure or the Rooster in the morning. Although, when they are looking for country vine ripe tomatoes were do you think they go?

If I was you then, I would go over and ask if you could shoot with them a time or two. See what it is thats going on since its something new. Maybe they are practicing for something short term and it will be over soon. Or maybe their new hobby is rapid fire shooting competitions and you will be in for hours of practicing every day for the rest of your time there. When me and my brother shoot, it sounds like world war 3. Aside from the neighbor who consistently calls the police, there have been three other neighbors who have inquired about it and expressed interest in joining us next time. We have told them they are welcome any time they here us. The county law are very familiar with us and comes out and just says he has to if they call even though we are legal. He has told this neighbor there is nothing wrong with the shooting and we are shooting safely but they still call them every time we shoot. And, they have never talked directly to us about the shooting. Some people just enjoy shooting. I know I do. Ive probably gone through 10,000 rounds in the last few months combining all my guns. Its very enjoyable and a stress reliever. My brother and I shoot just to shoot. Half the time we dont even aim and anything other than the back stop. Other times we bring things down there to shoot at. We dont do it to annoy others. We do it because its enjoyable. Im sure there are things that you yourself greatly enjoy and how would you feel if someone told you to only do it on certain days or certain times even though by all rights you could do it whenever you pleased? I do think if it was going on all hours of the night, then that would not be reasonable. But during daylight hours, I would say its fine. Maybe you can rearrange your work schedule so you wont be home when they shoot. Or when it starts up, go for a drive or put in ear plugs. Livestock although frightened at first will adapt very quickly and not even flinch after a while. Dogs though, some are terrified of it and will never adapt. I have a 100lb black lab that curls up in a corner and shakes anytime it thunders or fireworks go off or gunfire erupts. If your dog is like this, they do prescribe doggy xanax which will help it relax. I would not do any of the revenge type things suggested so far like the foghorn and whatnot. Things escalate very quickly and you may end up with someone who will take it too far. Good luck with your problem though.

we moved out of the city and boy one of our neighbors shoots all the time, big bore smokeres. (muzzle loaders). Sound one step above thunder, the cows are used to it and the neighbors horses are to. I dont have a problem with it because there are enough people who have a problem with to many things, but the kid comming on to your land would be another issue, a good talking with the neighbors then the police, (for the record incase any animals get shot). Yet even at that it hard to prove who shot the animal. Its a hard thing to find good neighbors all around you, and sometimes its hard to be a good neighbor to everyone around you. The first time I meet one of my neighbors, my dog was chasing her herd of thirty cows with calfs. She came over and her first words to me were did you know it was legal to kill a dog if its endangering a herd animals, and then told me my dog was chasing her herd. Oh did I mention that her herd was eating my grass on my property by my permission. I looked at her and kindly said in a soft voice get your animals off my property now and dont bring them back, to say the least her son in law came over and I was loaded for bear but he did the right thing, He appologized and did so well, then carol came over and did the same, have been great neighbors since, they helped me just deliver a cow, and by the way there cows are eating my grass right now and when there done the neighbor comes over with his tractor and mows the ten acre feild. yes its hard to find good neighbors but its better to be a good neighbor.

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www.thegeracifamily.blogspot.com

I whole-heartedly agree that these "homes" are inappropriately named. I am also aware that they complain about the chain saws and have heard them complain about the manure. I haven't heard about them complaining about the noise of the tractors yet, but am sure they will. I will never figure it out I guess. If you don't like what goes on in the neighborhood don't move there(I'm referring to legal things). I don't like the odor of a paper plant, so I would never move to Spring Grove, PA or down wind of that area, others I know love the area... and that is fine.

All I can say to those just moving to the rural areas; spend some time there before you move there, it may be a beautiful looking place, but there may be things you can't deal with. Don't expect the local farmers to bow to your desires for your convience..They already have enough to worry about and tend to. If you decide to move there be polite and respectful to your neighbors, at least until you get to know them.

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Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 21 "The Right of the Citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned"
www.pafoa.org
http://www.45thpacok.com