Dealing with a Jerk

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I think you handled it well. When the Deputy explains the situation to the loudmouth, I'm sure he will get the message. If he continues to harass you then file charges.
Until then, kill him with kindness, it's the neighborly thing to do. :)

NCsmitty
 
Great job! Being that you were on your own property I would have had to have invited him to speak with me a little further. If you cant escape to your own property to be free from harassment, where can you go? Im tired of people trying to pass on the liberal quote to "turn the other cheek". Its time to let the idiots know that if you threaten a man on his property that you may not make it out alive.
 
People are only as God made them but a few by a sheer act of will are much worse.

FWIW Years ago I was riding with my Dad, who had a BP revolver on his hip and a Winchester in the saddle boot. When we got to the far end of the farm the city person that was renting the house on the other side of the fence started yelling at Dad about his weapons. He even had the nerve to climb the fence and tell Dad he would in no way shape or form allow weapons to be carried in 'his' neighborhood. Since the guys' yelling was making the horses nervous Dad told the dog to put the guy back on his side of the fence.

The sheriff was called, who called Dad asking him to leave the hardware at the house. Dad's reply is unprintable, use your imagination.
 
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Just out of curiosity, why do you think he angrily sought you out?
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My guess is because the guy's a jerk. Then agian, I tend not to over analyze people who (because they live in the general vicinity) think they can tell everybody what to do
 
though they may move from the city to the countryside, many leave much of their minds behind
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All too true... It is much the same here in UT. Half of California migrated here in the past few years because we "have it so good here". Yet they brought all of their "progressive" CA commie politics with them... the same politics that got CA into trouble in the first place.

If you are going to move somewhere "better", don't try to change it to be more like the lousy place you came from. If the place you came from is so great, stay there.

The deputy offered to file charges on communication of threats of violence but I declined to file.

You should have filed. Then you'd have a permanant record that he started it all.
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Ditto... that way, if he comes back and causes trouble again... either violence, vandalism, harassment, etc... you can really nail him.

...
 
If he had at any time tried to talk to me like a human being I would have been glad to discuss the problem. If I woke him up, or his wife works third shift, or his horse tore down the fence, then HIS obligation is to open dialogue like a real man.

I would even consider the day of the week, time of day for my shooting ect. My rights on my property do not exclude his right to peace and quiet on his property. But since I don't shoot there more than a couple of times a year he has no beef. If he does my phone number and address is in the book.

However, I will not shoot there again without a video camera and tape recorder plus witnesses.
 
You knew it was your property. Did he have any way of knowing that? I've known trespassers on my property to quite confidently tell me that they had permission from the land owner to be there.
You don't shoot there more than a couple times a year. Shall I take it from that that you have never taken the time to learn who your neighbors are?
I've known plenty of jerks in my life, but damned few who angrily ran out seeking armed men to confront just for shiggles. This
Why don't you come up here and I will shoot at you?"
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doesn't sound to me like a threat. It sounds to me like the man believed rounds were crossing the property line.
I'm all for you enjoying your property in any way that doesn't harm your neighbors. Maybe you ought to get to know this guy and find out what had him so fired up. Maybe he's just a jerk. Maybe you aren't as blameless as you think.
 
If he had come up and said "Hey y'all, my horses are getting spooked/my wife works 3rd shift, etc,..." then maybe I would've worked with the guy.
Since he was cussing, being unreasonable, then I would've given him no quarter. File charges, fire at all hours at random. After a few weeks of that, then go up to him and say "I know my firearms disturb you, when would be the best time of the day to fire them?"
No matter what his reply, you could comply (if reasonable) or purposely fire during the times he stipulated.
Try to work with neighbors.
If they won't work with you, then all bets are off and fire for maximum effect.
 
I agree with Joe. If you know he's "your neighbor", you know where he lives.

I would try to find out (with a very concilliatory, non-confrontational tone) what his beef is with you shooting on your own property with a cautious consideration for backstop and line of fire. I'm on 110 acres on the east side of the brushies in NC, and am surrounded by pretty big spreads, but I still feel the need to be very considerate of what direction (and when) I'm fun-shooting, even though I'm habitually deep in the property, in a draw, where anyone would have to walk at least 500 yds to find me.

Being considerate is a big win-win. Maybe the guy's a transplant that doesn't cotton to guns, period. But you'll never know unless you ask.

That said, I also agree that a paper-trail of incidents like this archived in "the system" is a prudent self-protection measure these days.

Les
 
His phone number is unlisted. I know his address but I don't think going up to his door is a good idea. Short of sending him a letter I am somewhat limited.

I do have his father in law's phone number and I know him from the old days. I am actively working to get in touch with him to get some insight on how to deal with this guy. I have not abandoned reason and discussion in this battle yet.

He does know I am the owner. I spend the entire deer season at the property and we cut wood there quite a bit.
 
Possibly he was cruising along the road when a few AK rounds sent him back to Na Trang and the day his buddy got it from ambush on a Deuce and a Half. Nearly went off the road himself and wrecked, looking for the sniper. So he comes over the crest and finally spies the two of you lighting off rounds at nothing in particular.

His language and his position, to say nothing of his tactics, are untenable. But I can imagine how an otherwise reasonable person could get ticked off.
 
Fortunately, the neighbor wasn't carrying a scoped deer rifle, right?!
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At a close distance against two guys with semi-autos? That'd be really stupid. He'd have to drive down the road a ways to even have a chance.
 
I just dont understand why so many people are working overtime to make excuses for this idiot. If he had a problem there is a way to address it. The way he went about it suggested violence. The minute that someone addresses me with violence; I immediately become equally aggressive. I'll be damned if I am going to waste time trying to find out why he did what he did. The fact of the matter is the bad guy was wrong, the son and his dad were right. Nuff said. Enjoy your SAFE shooting and to hell with the guy who is in the bad habit of not minding his own business.
 
All I can say is I am jealous of you and I am angry that I cannot go shoot outside my own house :cuss:. As for the bozo... Well, the guy must be nuts to start cussing out and threatening a couple guys firing weapons out in the woods.
 
range time

Way too many people want to direct other peoples lifes, I had much the same problem on the 50 acres I have up in the mountains in east Arizona, had a fella tell me I was trespassing on my own land, got ugly for a bit, when he came back with the gendarmes, I whipped out my map of property with gps co-ords and explained life.
then kindly asked him to tell this bozo to never trespass on mydirt again.
heheh, I love it when i'm right. hate it when I'm wrong.
you handled it well, except for being a nice guy and not having the leo make a visit.
good luck and good shooting.
 
As a retired LEO, I'd recommend that the next time that you are out shooting on your property that your equipment also include a cell phone as well.

Obviously, he notified the authorities about you and in many localities, he who calls 911 first is the "victim", everyone else after that is a "suspect". You can start with criminal trespassing and menacing threats in such a situation as you encountered and he can spend his time explaining to the authorities why he felt the need to trespass on your property and threaten you.

It shouldn't have to be that way, but it is. Sorry, man.


:)
 
I'm glad to see that you were shooting into a safe backstop.....that alone tells me you were being as safe as can be..... I do see land owners shooting without regard to were the bullet finally ends up....

As long as you are being safety conscious, keep on shooting....and share your sport....
 
If you hunt there and shoot there a couple times a year and he knows you, then it sounds even less like he just decided to be a jerk. If that was the problem, it seems to me he'd have interfered with you in the past. His behavior on this occasion and what he said make it sound more like something happened that set him off. Temper tantrum throwing jerks are pretty consistent in their behavior; you apparently have never known this guy to act this way. Not even on previous shooting trips.
 
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