Bad Neighbor...

[JAG1]

What do you guys do with a neighbor that shoots off guns after 11:00pm. He keeps doing it but waits till you are about to sleep again, approx. 20-30 mins, and then shoots off another. He does this fairly often, they are about 2-3 acres away.

 

 

This guy used to be a real idiot but after his mom died in her sleep he inherited the place and is being an idiot again.

 

What would you guys do?

[Mopar1973Man]

I would make a call to the police for disturbing the peace.

[JAG1]

That's what I am doing. Deputy is supposed to call me this afternoon.

I am in a position to really screw up the bad neighbors lives. I know a few building inspectors.

The neighbors did two additions, a pole building turned into another house with people livin there. No permits or anything. A motor home with a fulltimer in there on the side.

I'm going to try the nice tactics... go and talk with them... if that doesn't work it's county building dept time.

Over the years I've put up with this crap of golf balls flying at me, mortars, bottle rockets, dirt clods shot on top of the rv, howling into the wee hours. This guy is an idiot. Now this shooting a different gun or illegal firework mortar but waiting every half hour for the next one. You don't know if it's ever stopped and can sleep.

Don't know about you guys... if I'm woken up enough times in one night I can never get to sleep.

[LiveOak]

What do you guys do with a neighbor that shoots off guns after 11:00pm. He keeps doing it but waits till you are about to sleep again, approx. 20-30 mins, and then shoots off another. He does this fairly often, they are about 2-3 acres away.

 

 

This guy used to be a real idiot but after his mom died in her sleep he inherited the place and is being an idiot again.

 

What would you guys do?

 

The police should be your LAST option.  Maybe you have already but if not, I strongly recommend that you try and talk to the guy first.  Yeah, he may be an idiot but you never know, he may just listen and knock it off.  At least you will have reached out and talked to your neighbor FIRST.  The police WILL only make matters worse.  They will rat you out to the guy doing the shooting as well as label you a trouble maker/whinner  and then idiot neighbor will really be pissed.  I have tried the police.........been there.......done that.........got the T-shirt, sweat pants, & baseball cap. 

 

If being neighborly and reasonable fails I would up the anti and light up the .50 when he is trying to sleep.  Trust me on this, the .50 will get his attention and probably everyone else's attention for a few miles.  Then if need be you can move up to 4 lb. or even 20 lb. shockwave exploding targets. 

 

It is NICE and quiet around these parts now.  A call and visit to the district attorney also was a big help. 

 

I strongly recommend the peaceful, neighborly, and out reach path first and ALWAYS.  Sometimes you are left with no options and you must reluctantly do what you have to do.  That AmeriKa in 2014.  Morons who think "I know my rights"  "Horray for me and $#@! on you". 

 

TRUE freedom and liberty begins between the ears when one understands and applies VOLUNTARY SELF GOVERNANCE out of concern for the values of your neighbor and vice versa. 

[anoldbiker]

The old woman who lived next door moved to her daughter home so she could be cared for. Her house is about 400+ feet from my house. Her grand daughter moved in with her live-in boy toy. This guy is an idiot. He loves to play loud rap / thumping music for hours and late into the night. Even with the windows closed and the air conditioner on, you feel the thumping through the walls and windows. After having words, it still went on and I called the cops.

 

The local cop asked if I would see if there was a pattern on times for what days. Then he happened to be driving by and after one warning, started issuing tickets. Seems the guy got several tickets before the 1st court date and they weren't paid. The cop testified and the judge totaled the tickets up, gave him a warning of one more time, jail time, if tickets not paid in a certain time, a bench warrant and an arrest for not complying with the court order, and possible more jail time, and since it always happens with his car stereo, (nothing from the home radio) the car could possibly be confiscated. 

 

The cop gave me his telephone number and said is there was more problems, call and he would be by.

 

No more problems so far.

[flagmanruss]

I'm supposing he's drunk or otherwise a problem & will not listen to reason.  Give it a try & write down the date & time & any witnesses.  Is it legal to record in your state?  Record the request...  especially if he's likely to give the F U. 

Since the A** H*** will quickly figure out who complained...  expect retaliation.  My experience (years ago) with local PD...  start keeping a log.  Report every violation.  Document it.  Get recordings if you can.  The longer you wait, the first reported becomes the First Incident"  If you don't report it in a timely fashion, it didn't happen.  Be sure what you are doing is a violation.  Don't waste the Police time with things that are not actionable.  

It is possible to be as big a jerk as he is but it's not likely to work...  and he can use any violation you do against you.  He has to look like the sole AH.   

 

A neighbor always resented us when we built the house on the lot next to his.  Too bad he didn't buy the lot when it was available.  Anyway, he came over & stood in my driveway & made a fuss.  The second time & took a recorder with me...  I whipped it out & held it up when he threatened me "I'll blow your f-ing head off!"  The State Police responded... I plaid the tape.  The Trooper asked if I wanted him arrested.  I said no but I never wanted him in my yard again...  trooper said I couldn't go over there.  I said Good.  20 years later, the guy died but he never came here again.  Wives & kids went back & forth...  it was worth it.   

I didn't say my shotgun (riot gun) was as big as his & backed up with my 45...   that would have been messy. 

 

    

[rancherman]

I got JUST  the  thing to  have  when you  go and  knock on his door!   I  could   loan it to you!  http://forum.mopar1973man.com/index.php?/topic/8694-body-armor-test-1/

[JAG1]

I drove around and talked with other neighbors. I now have 3 others that were kept awake. The 4th neighbor was driving out so I stopped him but,.couldn't help thinking,  'Oh $#it.... here's the typical scenario of the typical 'me myself and I'  type of rude guy. I know it's not good to be judgementle but this guy had the shaved head, mean looking beard, driving a jacked up Ford truck. What else could you ask for in a situation like this?   He did not admit to being the guy doing it but said , 'so what, it's good for you to not sleep'! Telling him of the others also affected last nite he gave the same response. I suspect it is him and another guy doing this together.

 

My wife has heart problems along with many others getting older health problems around here. Me with a touch of flu, don't need to loose sleep.

 

I will drive out with my wifes very quiet Subaru and sneak around and find him in the act tonight or any other nite this happens. I won't wait for it to end in the morning hours next time I'll even shut off my headlights if need be.

 

I will keep you guys updated.

Edited June 29, 2014 by JAG1

[Mopar1973Man]

Not exactly a wise idea. A guy is firing a weapon at night and your going to to sneak around trying to catch him in the act. You are asking to possibly be shot at. This is why I would suggest law enforcement before. Like my neighbor had some kids doing the same thing I step out and yell at them to cut it out. The bullets start flying my direction. People do weird things when intoxicated or on drugs so I would do the smart thing and just notify the law before sticking your own neck out.

[hex0rz]

Not exactly a wise idea. A guy is firing a weapon at night and your going to to sneak around trying to catch him in the act. You are asking to possibly be shot at. This is why I would suggest law enforcement before. Like my neighbor had some kids doing the same thing I step out and yell at them to cut it out. The bullets start flying my direction. People do weird things when intoxicated or on drugs so I would do the smart thing and just notify the law before sticking your own neck out.

 

Did any pieces of lead about the size of 9mm in diameter reciprocate in their direction, I wonder?

 

Also, depending on where you are at, noise ordinance is 10pm around here. We do not live in town, out in the county, I dunno if that still applies. We also have a few people closer to us though and don't appreciate gunfire in the night either, lol.

 

If I got to bust one off because of a critter, its going to happen. But this is obviously for other circumstances and not just acting like donkey.

 

Personally, I would have never let it be known that I was aware of his shenanigans. Make the anonymous call to the local LEO and notify them. Neighbor wont know exactly who it is...

 

Obviously this must be close enough to you that it wakes you up. Closest neighbor to me is about 300 ft or so. Shes a busy body...

 

I have learned from a young age to take up the art of white noise. I sleep through earthquakes and the train that passes by many times a night behind our house.

[flagmanruss]

This guy is being down right un-neighborly.  If LE gets involved, the guy will quickly figure out who called.  Unfortunately, he seems to be a F U kind of guy. 

 

One of my ex-inlaws, we'll call Johnny, had a garage in his backyard...  built before zoning...  he worked out there long into the night, fixing peoples cars & trucks.  He stopped work by 11, if not before & was asleep by 12.  Some work was done in the evening when it was cooler & friends would gather to chat...  who could be enlisted to help.  Garages & air compressors can be noisy but he did not try to piss people off.  Long about mid-night, the across the street neighbor lit off loud fireworks which woke Johnny up.  After a week or so, the fireworks became the topic of conversation & one of the guys volunteered, he'd make it stop. 

He got a balloon & set the cutting torch flame & filled the balloon, a used paper cup, half full of gasoline.  When it became apparent they were going to ignite this devise, I took off (as a newly minted part-time Police Officer, I didn't want to have to give a statement).  I had the 454 a half mile down the road when I heard it.

First the Police showed up, then the Fire Department. 

I don't know how they ignited it... 

A bang?  Yes, they had an air hose fail, they said.  Several front windows on the house across the street were cracked.   When I was there the next day, there were no marks on the patchwork of pavement.  (Someone in the family ran a paving company.)  But the scattered gravel that had been on the pavement had all vanished.  Now they might even have sent them across the street to check for fireworks!  Hmmm! 

I don't recommend such a thing...  I don't know if you could get away with it then or now.   But the neighbor quit the fireworks.   

 

I can think of a couple of people who seemed normal except at times they were crazy.  I can not say for sure but I'd not have dared either one. 

 

As I sit here thinking on this...  Why would anyone be shooting late at night?  Are they Poaching?  Maybe the Police should check it out?   Drunk & disorderly with a gun?  Cops hate calls like that...  dangerous...   It's not a good idea to Piss Off the cops.   

[ISX]

For every shot he fires, shoot something he owns that he is looking at.  Lamp, tv, windows, lol.  Hell shoot his mirrors off when he is looking in them to back up. 

[JAG1]

I found out more information;

 

Basically two closest neighbors are lying, covering for each other denying everything. Won't give me the kids name causing the trouble. They tried blaming the gunshots on the Ford guy way down the canyon (1/4 mile away) who was lighting off mortars on the same night. I suspect there is drugs involved here as things just don't look nor seem right. You know..... you walk away with that bad taste in your mouth and feel dirt. One of these neighbors (neighbor on the other side) had a bad attitude and was pretending to be nice definitely lying about the gunshots too.

Edited June 29, 2014 by JAG1

[rancherman]

get your video tape  going,  and   document  this.