Only in California

[Pistol Ranch]

A couple in California had a pair of handguns stolen from their home while they were away.
Of course, they reported the theft to the police...One of the nosy neighbors with a connection to the police, found out about it and reported the theft to the homeowners asssociation.
The homeowners assn.decided to sue and sent the couple a note that they must post a notice on their front door stating "There are firearms in this home".
The suit was dropped when the couple sued to get a similar notice posted on all homes in the homeowners district..
The other note?? There are NO firearms in this home!:banghead:

P.R.

 

[cleardiddion]

/facepalm

 

[Nugilum]

Do you have a reference?

I would love to see it!

 

[Big_E]

This is why I avoid homeowners associations... and CA in general.

 

[RS14]

The lesson here is that joining a homeowners association is a good way to be subject to the idiotic whims of your neighbors.

Interestingly, rights aren't incorporated to HOAs. If your neighbors want to vote to ban guns entirely in the neighborhood... well, they probably can. One--Nashboro village-- did exactly that, even in private homes. Political speech is the same deal. Searches and seizures? Probably.

As far as I'm concerned, putting property under such a covenant is a good way to sink the value of it through the floor. Don't buy HOA property, and let the fools trying to sell it know why not.

 

[mgregg85]

Those homeowners associations give me the willies. I would never, ever move into a neighborhood run by one of those little fascist groups.

Got a link for this original story?

 

[9MMare]

I avoided homes with homeowners associations when home buying like the plague.

 

[1911 guy]

The wife and i passed up on a nice house last year for that very reason, it was bound by a HOA. So be just bought a nicer one for less money this year. Worth the wait.

 

[ZCORR Jay]

I have no idea why anyone would willingly move into a neighborhood that is run by a select few. The LAST thing I want is someone else telling me what I can or can't do on my own property... the town and state do it enough as it is.

 

[Sam1911]

I've heard and seen the "No Guns Here" signs printed up as a gag or to make a point before.

How about we pause for a bit and let the OP produce a citation that this really happened before we waste more electrons vilifying HOAs.

Pistol Ranch, send me a PM with a citation if you have one. Thanks.

[ETA: PR has sent me his source, which he will post here shortly.]

 

[Pistol Ranch]

Verification

FWIW, the California homeowners story appears on page #4 of the May issue of Gun World. The article is by Steve Quinlan, the editor.
Title of the article is "Illinois Scarlet Letter". The second half of the article exposes some stupidity by the Illinois Attorney General.

P.R.

 

[Usmc-1]

Thats funny as hell! The bad guys dont even have to be that smart , just drive up and down a few nieghborhoods? "Hey Tommy , that guy has guns in his house, but the guy next door doesnt and he has 2 Mercedes , we'll be hitting his house later on"

Yep you guys are so lucky to have re-elected Govenor Moonbeam and to have all those stupid assembly members (who passed a law that states they can all have ccw's without going through the process the way citizenry must and any calbre), Yep what a great place to live!

 

[loadedround]

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but this the the third time I have heard this story. First time in was in New Jesey and the second time in Florida I believe. Not fact to it, but does make a funny story to tell around a campfire.

 

[henschman]

I hate homeowners associations about as much as I hate democracies and republics. Any time your neighbors (or representatives) have the power to vote away your liberty on a whim it is a bad thing IMO.

I recently bought a home. My girlfriend and I made it very clear to our realtor that we weren't interested in homes under a HOA. Neither one of us are interested in one more layer of idiots claiming authority over us and our property. We are trying to live as free as possible from such things, in fact.

The home we ended up buying is in a neighborhood where there is a voluntary neighborhood association, but there is no restrictive covenant requiring membership or anything like that. They are mostly just a group that puts together a neighborhood watch and tries to keep the place clean, keep the signage up to date, etc... not a bad thing.

 

[Pigoutultra]

I don't understand why some hoa make you have the same color house as everyone else. I would think that it would increase property value to be different instead of competing with ten different homes exactly like yours.

I've never had to deal with them personally, though I understand that they pretty much can violate your rights whenever they feel like it. I also don't understand how the presence of a firearm on a property lowers the value of everyone else's homes.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but this the the third time I have heard this story. First time in was in New Jesey and the second time in Florida I believe. Not fact to it, but does make a funny story to tell around a campfire.

So give us YOUR verification...i.e. New Jersey and Florida

P.R.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

On the otherhand, can you envision a development/home owner assn. created by gun owner and avid shooters? Maybe a range nearby instead of a pool, lower insurance rates due to everpresent neighborhood watch, etc. Make it a violation to complain about shooting. MAke it MANDATORY to have a firearm in the home (like Kennesaw, GA).

 

[loadedround]

PR: I have no way to verify since these are stories that were presented verbally and had been repeated severa timesl. There even has been a cartoon shown on THR at least a half dozen times depicting the same story. Subsequently, where is your verification, or are you just repeating an old wives tale". It is evident to me that you are needlessly spreading an unfounded rumor!

 

[Sam1911]

Ok, woah! Let's not get heated over this. Pistol Ranch has explained where he "got" the story: An editor of a gun magazine printed it. That is neither confirmation nor denial that it actually happened, and it isn't reasonable to demand that PR verify that editor's sources.

Certainly at this point is has circled the internet enough times to become legend, and whether it really happened, this time -- this way, really probably doesn't matter. There's a moral to the tale and it is: pay attention to any documents you sign or agreements you enter into, especially when buying property.