I am LIVID!!!

[Texasgal]

My tea-bagging neighbor is outside sitting on her back porch shooting a BB Gun at the squirrels and birds!!!

I have two dogs, one that is blind and elderly that goes outside to use the bathroom. If one of those BB's were to hit my dog, all hell would be breaking loose over here!

I yelled over the fence for her to stop, and she flipped me off!

Things haven't been pleasant since she put a "repeal the bill" and "Rick Perry for Governor" in her yard. I haven't been shitty, but I stopped the pleasantries, waving... saying hello etc. Rick Perry? That was a dealbreaker.

What kind of person sits on her back porch with a BB GUN shooting birds??? ARRRG!

[Warpy]

1. What do the cops say about her?

Tell them you're afraid for kids and your dogs.

Likely the old bag has a snootful.

[Texasgal]

4. Is it legal to have a BB gun?

This is why I haven't called the police, I figured they would just laugh at me!

Yeah, I am gonna call right NOW!

[blondeatlast]

8. Dunno--but the shooting of it, especially at wildlife (who may or may not be

in her yard) certainly is a threat to the neighbors.

[Texasgal]

10. Calling now.

:mad:

[TheMightyFavog]

145. Depending on your local hunting regs, she may be breaking the law,

Particularly if she's shooting out of season.

[Warpy]

9. It's perfectly legal to have a BB gun

and most people go out in the sticks to plink cans and bottles or at least set them up in front of a wall or fence the BBs can't go through.

That old gal is being reckless enough with it that I really do suspect she's got a skinful of Old Popskull as well as too many birds on her antenna.

[Texasgal]

14. Sending officer out now.

She is still shooting as of three minutes ago.

Dogs are safely inside and any outside activity will be done in the front yard!!!

[proteus_lives]

90. I was plinking away at cans with my nephew last week.

Legal and fun.

[mjane]

16. depends on the jurisdiction

as to what the laws are.

Asking a blanket question like that is useless because the laws vary significantly from state to state city to city etc. when it comes to stuff like air gun use.

Where I live, it is legal to shoot a FIREARM in one's backyard (let alone a BB gun), given a reasonable backstop, etc.

[a la izquierda]

20. Hey, in Oklahoma you cannot shoot...

anything like that off in city limits. My old neighbors used to shoot armadillos, until we called the cops one day. My husband wanted to shoot the neighbors, but my cooler head prevailed.

[blondeatlast]

5. Yup. nt

[warrior1]

2. call the cops

[Texasgal]

7. I just assumed it was legal

I am in Texas after all. GRRRR!

Calling now. Thanks.

[RandomThoughts]

3. People can be trained to think that way.

It is a lack of respect for all life. Although people can also grow to learn things like that are wrong.


Some people make mistakes, what is important is that people think on why it feels like a mistake, and learn from that.


I use to hunt when I was a child, and took awhile to learn the difference of life for life, and sports hunting. Part of learning I figure.

[lpbk2713]

6. Check your windows for damage.

She might have gone over the edge. :shrug:

[panader0]

11. Turn some big stereo speakers toward her house

and play some Hendrix loud (or whatever).

[L0oniX]

30. ...and some Black Sabath.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cleita]

13. I don't know where you live, but where I do shooting

animals even with pellet guns is against the law. Call the sheriff or whatever animal control you have in your community and for good measure try some animal rights group like the Humane Society as well if law enforcement can't help. Years ago I was able to get the sheriff to straighten out the parents of two young boys who were allowed to kill birds with sling shots. We live in an area where birds you never see in the city migrate through and stop to feed and rest. Some of the species are protected so no killing or harming with anything is allowed for any species.

[nosmokes]

15. You're in Texas- count your blessings it ain't a .22...

j/k sorta

[Texasgal]

18. Right?

Uggg... she is so disgusting!!!

BIRDS??? I mean we are not talking grackles here, pretty birds... we back up to a greenbelt, our entire backyards are woods! Cops are coming. Feeling better now, Thanks all.

[murielm99]

17. Are you in the country?

Even in the country, there are laws and restrictions on how guns can be fired.

I live in the country, but along the highway. Technically, we are not allowed to fire our shotguns to shoot varmints like marauding skunks and coons. We are supposed to ask animal control to trap them and release them elsewhere. If we want to target shoot, we usually go to our farm property that is far from the highway and people.

Am I saying we have never shot at anything on our three acres around our house? Hmmmm....well...

We are law abiding. We respect guns and gun laws. Why would anyone shoot at birds and squirrels anyway? We hunt. But we only hunt for ourselves, and we hunt things we later eat.

[Texasgal]

24. I have no issues with guns.

My family are law abiding gun owners. I do own a firearm, but I respect the right to use one responsibly.

I am in the city of Austin... in a residential neighborhood. Our homes back up to a greenbelt that is wooded. We get deer and plenty of wildlife back there. The thing that bothers me is that she is shooting RANDOMLY at the trees... No rhyme or reason, just shooting. I just don't think it's safe! That's my main issue.

[TexasObserver]

85. Austin is most likely to have some ordinance about it.

Of all the cities in Texas, Austin would be most likely to have an ordinance prohibiting shooting at squirrels or birds. In a city environment, the safety issue is paramount. You could put somebody's eye out!

[xultar]

19. Shooting in residental areas is not legal.

[blaze]

21. All ok?

looking forward to an update.

[Snotcicles]

22. For a peace offering send over a mason jar full of flies she can pull the wings off of. nt

[cleanhippie]

23. "What kind of person sits on her back porch with a BB GUN shooting birds??? "

One that can.


I am not seeing what the issue is here. Not that I am condoning shooting birds that one cannot eat, but you seem pretty upset over a non-issue that really is not your concern or business.


I would have flipped you off too (If I had a BB gun and was shooting squirrels in my backyard)

[Texasgal]

27. My concern is safety.

If a BB hits my dogs there will be HELL to pay.

I don't give a shit what she does, just do not make it UNSAFE for your neighbors.

[Alameda]

32. Wild creatures belong to everyone and nobody, so they are her concern....

BTW...Ummm....are you in the right forum?

[cleanhippie]

123. Are you?

in the right forum?

[Enthusiast]

130. You don't sound anything

like a hippie, clean or otherwise. I've never known a hippie that was a fan of irresponsible cruelty.

[cleanhippie]

139. Thats because I never said that I was.

Try not to but words in my mouth, ok?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

151. Are you?

Pee Wee Herman?

[blaze]

51. Yeah!!! WTF!!!!!

Just let her shoot them!!!! http://www.pbase.com/dadas115/txbirds

[AnArmyVeteran]

80. Can I ask you a serious question?

What feeling do you have when you realize you ended the life of a beautiful creature? Do you feel joy, power or a thrill to end another creature's life or maim it forever? Just curious.

[cleanhippie]

124. Can I ask you a serious question?

Are you serious?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

83. Um, "clean" hippie,

how did you arrive at that telling moniker?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

148. Obviously, by applying an adjective to a noun that's clearly not so.

Next names will be "nonlazyliberal" and "gaywhosnotapedophile".

[NutmegYankee]

93. Shooting birds in suburbia indicates a person needs serious help.

It is often said that someone who harms animals will shortly harm people. This isn't hunting - It's indiscriminate killing of wildlife for sheer personal gratification.

[cleanhippie]

126. If you say so.

[Enthusiast]

129. A BB is an inadequate round

for hunting. Even a Squirrel struck in a vital spot would suffer an unnecessarily cruel death. I don't see this as a non-issue.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

149. I find it impossible to write an appropriate response to this that won't blow away forum rules.

So I leave it to your imagination. Hint: whatever you imagine -- it's worse than that. :mad:

[cleanhippie]

155. Self restraint.

Its a virtue.


:applause:

[Codeine]

25. It's a BB gun. Get a grip.

You and your dogs will be fine.

[Texasgal]

29. Really?

Sure about that?

Should I just stay inside along with dogs while she has her fun?

[Codeine]

35. I'm quite sure she's not going to shoot you or your dogs. nt

[katandmoon]

39. HTF do you know?

[neverforget]

42. mind reading

[Texasgal]

40. Well, let's see..

we live in a wooded area that is not proteced by fencing.

Is it possible that she could hit one of my dogs as they go out to shat?

my brother was shot by a BB back in the 70's on a camping trip, he was shot in the chin and had to obtain medical help to dig BB out along with stiches.

The cops are here. gotta go.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

64. i thought you yelled over the fence to tell her to stop

and now you're saying there is no fencing? i'm a tad confused.

sP

[tammywammy]

76. Me too.... n/t

[Texasgal]

77. It's a small waist high fence

that is wire. It is not a protected privacy fence.

Sorry to confuse you.

[bbinacan]

66. What did the cops do? n/t

[Xenotime]

47. I'm with you. It should be illegal.

[agtcovert]

152. I knew someone injured by a BB

A young boy where I grew up was accidentally hit when a BB ricocheted and entered his ear. He sustained brain damage and requires around the clock care to this day.

[katandmoon]

37. What about the squirrels and birds?

[Codeine]

43. What about them?

It isn't anything I'd do, but in a country where hundreds of millions of animals get killed on factory farms the life of an unlucky tree squirrel in Texas isn't exactly something to get livid about.

[LanternWaste]

141. I imagine many different people...

I imagine many different people each have a threshold of frustration, joy, anger, etc. unique to them, which appears by its nature to preclude any condemnation in a collective context of what may or may not contribute to one's emotion.

Some people may get upset by viewing squirrels getting shot while other may not. I myself certainly do not posses an ethical absolutism implying what we may get upset about and what we may not.

[CherokeeDem]

54. Let's see you get hit in the eye with a BB...

won't be so flippant then, will you?

[Forkboy]

61. I'd pull the trigger.

[Codeine]

88. Dude.

Come on now.

[Forkboy]

92. It's only a BB gun....what the fuck are you worried about?

[Codeine]

100. LMAO!

Nice.

[Trajan]

101. LMFAO ....

Fuckin touche MFer ...

How ya doin FB ? ... You still play guitar in a band ? ... I think that was you ....

[Forkboy]

106. I only play air guitar, though I AM a diva on it.

;)

[Enthusiast]

131. One time

I was told my cousin's BB gun was unloaded. I had no experience with BB guns and my cousin wasn't around. His parents thought it was fine that I was messing around with it. I believed I was dry firing the BB gun when to my dismay the entire rear window glass of my dad's car shattered. BBs can in fact leave you blinded.

[blaze]

55. And fuck the birds

http://www.pbase.com/dadas115/txbirds

[Forkboy]

59. My old neighbor shot two of my cats with his BB gun.

One of the BB's went into my cats chest, and then worked it's way out in a bloody mess three inches away from the initial wound a couple of weeks later. The infection almost killed him.

For once, could you stop trying to puff out your chest and can the poser act?

[Pithlet]

63. Same thing happened to my cat when I was a kid.

We don't know who did it. BB guns aren't harmless.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Codeine]

91. Puff out my chest?

I just think it's an odd thing to get all worked up over. :shrug: I spent the first half of my childhood in a rural environment; this just doesn't peg my Lividity Meter. Not sure exactly how that relates to engaging in a "poser act."

[Forkboy]

111. Yeah, puffing out your chest. Acting like empathy isn't cool.

All the while trying to show how cool you are by default.

You're smart enough to get this. The question is, will you?

[Codeine]

112. I think you've badly misread me.

Or I've presented myself poorly. Or (most likely) a bit of both.

[Forkboy]

113. An answer I can accept either way.

;)

[AnArmyVeteran]

70. Teenagers in my area went to a pasture and blinded 12 cows with a BB gun.

Those cows were blinded the rest of their lives. How would you feel if a diseased person did that to you?

People who shoot at animals for fun are mentally ill.

[NutmegYankee]

97. +1

"People who shoot at animals for fun are mentally ill." Totally Agree!

[Maru Kitteh]

119. + another 1

[Enthusiast]

132. I agree.

BB guns are far from harmless. I don't mind BB guns, but BB guns in the hands of idiots are not a good idea.

[Warpy]

We had a kid in intensive care for 2 weeks

who was shot in the chest at close range with a BB gun. That BB entered between ribs and at just the right angle to do a hell of a lot of internal damage. He was just lucky it entered on the right side, the left could have been fatal.

Those things aren't harmless. Only a total idiot would think they are.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

150. See #149. -nt

[boppers]

26. A visit from the police should help.

Discharging a weapon of *any* caliber, or force, in a neighborhood area, is reason for alarm.

[AnArmyVeteran]

28. Why do RWs love violence, guns, killing and conflict.

I've seen so many real life examples of this it's frightening. They aren't mentally competent.

Check your house for damage and dings, broken windows or any other damage and KEEP calling the cops on her. She doesn't sound like she is sane.

Also call the SPCA because she is torturing animals. If you can, videotape her shooting and what she is shooting. She is just as bad as Michael Vick in my opinion. She gets joy from killing and maiming poor, defenseless animals. No one in their right minds does that.

Keep calling the police on her any time she displays a weapon and tell them you feel threatened. In my community I don't have to disclose who I am unless I file charges.

[Dappleganger]

49. If she's not sane the OP has a bigger problem...

because the neighbor won't respond well to the cops, either. Sane people realize their mistake and back down. Shooting birds and squirrels will certainly not get her committed.

The OP needs to figure out how to dial things down and get out of the neighbor's target zone, if possible.

[AnArmyVeteran]

58. You're right about the dangers if the neighbor is insane.

While shooting animals won't get her committed she is definitely not mentally stable. I would report any of the neighbor's actions that seem bizarre, or at least keep a written journal of strange behavior. I certainly wouldn't want to provoke her, but a lot of things can be done covertly.

In my city I can call the SPCA to report animal cruelty and I can remain anonymous. The neighbor sounds very sick.

[bbinacan]

31. Interesting.

:popcorn:

[southernyankeebelle]

33. This woman is trying to get you. If I were you I would make sure to have a video camera pointed in

your back yard. Also aim one at her when she is shooting a rifle or gun. She is going to hurt someone. Do it now before it gets really serious.

[Dappleganger]

44. Yes, however...

the neighbor gets her jollies from overreacting neighbor, too. If OP wants an escalation I have no doubt the neighbor will be more than happy to make her dreams come true.

If it was me I would not interact with the neighbor at all. If a dog does get shot sue them in civil court. The less the neighbor sees how upset you are, the better.

[AnArmyVeteran]

62. But I would not wait until after one of my pets was harmed or killed.

I would do everything I could to prevent a psycho from doing any harm to a living creature.

I agree with you about not wanting to escalate the situation but I wouldn't wait until it is too late either.

[Codeine]

45. "Get you"?

She's plinking at birds. People do that every day. Jesus.

[Dappleganger]

50. Actually, I disagree.

They really don't and it's stupid to think that's normal.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

60. and you would be wrong

depending on your location...

sP

[AnArmyVeteran]

67. People who kill or maim animals for 'joy' are mentally sick.

I don't care if they are in the city or the country. They are mentally I'll.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

69. if she is shooting at things with a BB gun

then the chances of killing them is remote...we used to shoot rabbits out of our garden with a BB gun. more than once they'd take a hit and just look at us like we were nuts...and the OP seems to think they are just shooting at trees as well...i am quite sure you cannot kill a tree with a BB gun.

sP

[AnArmyVeteran]

There are other ways to protect your produce than resorting to torture or killing.

And yes, I consider blinding an animal torture because if it can't see it will die a gruesome and lonely death. I don't understand why so many people believe guns are the answer to every problem. God gave us brains to use and if people were more creative they wouldn't resort to killing others or animals.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

84. yep...I am just a murdering ass... (though not one was ever injured)

and I can assume that you are a dedicated vegan? if so...bully on you. if not...

sP

[Dappleganger]

87. No, but it does seem sick.

I have guns and shoot them regularly at a range, and the thought of plinking at birds and squirrels is disgusting to me.

[AnArmyVeteran]

89. What I eat has nothing to do with people who love to kill.

I didn't call you a 'murdering ass'. I don't understand why humans love to kill. Almost every serial killer started by torturing and killing animals. GW Bush's childhood friends recalled how George loved to kill animals too. It's not normal.

[HughMoran]

137. A common method of dealing with chipmunk infestations is self-drowning

People set up a 5 gallon pail half filled with water and with seeds on the top. Chipmunks will inevitably drown themselves in their zeal to eat the floating seeds. What is your opinion of this practice?

[Old Codger]

95. Sorry but

You are slightly out of touch there , you can kill a rabbit easily with a BB gun, birds squirrels and other small critters also.

[wcast]

103. When I was a kid, young and dumb, we killed things with BB guns all the time

Pigeons, song birds, squirrels, possums (took a lot of shots). Not something I would do today, or even condone, but at 15, seemed like a good idea at the time. Also, I don't know about Texas, but in PA there are hunting laws, doesn't matter where you live. Shooting squirrels, which is considered a game animal, is only legal during season, if you have a license, and there is a limit.

[AnArmyVeteran]

135. You can kill a tree with a BB gun!!!

A dwarf willow is considered the world's smallest tree. It is so tiny a BB could easily rip through its base and kill it. So theoretically, you CAN kill a tree with a BB gun. Not to mention that any damage to the outside of any tree can leave it vulnerable to parasites, microorganisms or critters to invade the tree and kill it no matter how big or old the tree is.

(But to be honest, I doubt if there were many dwarf willows where that insane, crackpot right winger was shooting.)

[backwoodsbob]

154. depends on the air rifle

most people refer to any air rifle as a bb gun.Some are daisy red rider harmless.On the other hand a have a breakbarrel pellet gun I wouldn't want to be shot with.more powerful than a .22

[Dappleganger]

86. You really think that shooting birds form a back porch is 'normal'?

I don't even want to ask where you live.

[Codeine]

94. I grew up in Wyoming, Colorado, and Oklahoma.

Nobody would have even noticed somebody plinking in the backyard.

Here in urban Southern California the neighbor kids shoot Coke cans in their backyard with BB guns in the spring and fall (too bloody hot in the summer.) Overshots hit their back fence.

[Kceres]

109. I live in Colorado. No one would dare shoot BBs at birds or squirrels in my neighborhood.

Too many animal lovers in this suburb. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure they'd be shunned for doing so. Animal cruelty is animal cruelty regardless of where you live. Geesh.

[laylah]

121. FFS!

Even "plinking" at birds sucks! Why would ANYONE be okay with killing another living thing? Damn!:wtf:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

127. What an Asshole!

Have not put anyone on ignore for years but you get the honor. And oh by the way, I love my guns but you are just an asshole.

[Enthusiast]

134. I was deer hunter for years,

a very successful deer hunter. But I agree with you completely. Wanton animal cruelty is just plain sick.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

128. What an Asshole!

Have not put anyone on ignore for years but you get the honor. And oh by the way, I love my guns but you are just an asshole.

[Enthusiast]

133. Plinking at birds is fine?

Please, join the Republican Party, you would fit RIGHT in.

[Alameda]

34. probably the same type of person who destroys roses...I would be upset too.

[rucky]

36. Repeal what bill?

[NutmegYankee]

98. healthcare. nt

[foxfeet]

38. Songbirds are generally protected by Federal law.

You're not even allowed to have in your possession feathers that the birds may have shed during molting. Call the SPCA for info/assistance over the long term.

[katandmoon]

41. Good point.

[malaise]

46. When I was a graduate student my neighbour was an

old Chinese Jamaican. We lived like family - when he was sick I'd cook for him and as soon as he was well he'd let me know by cooking for me. I promised his youngest daughter that I'd keep an eye on him when she migrated.
When he died they asked me to do the eulogy and I began by saying that the one thing we can't choose in life is our neighbours and sometimes we are just lucky.

Unfortunately you are very unlucky. I feel your pain sis.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. When I was a kid some kids were shooting a BB gun and shot through a neighbor's window

BB hit the man in the eye and blinded him. Just sitting there watching TV in his own house and got hit by a random BB.

You have every right to be concerned. Stupid teabaggers are no smarter than kids when it comes to weapons.

[Dappleganger]

52. Actually, my kids ARE smarter...

teabaggers typically do things with malice while a child's foolishness is typically intended with no malice.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

53. Get video of her shooting at the birds and squirrels

and then put the video on YouTube. :evilgrin: Sick the world of animal lovers on her!

[tkmorris]

122. Post that on 4chan...

Then sit back and watch the fireworks.

[Fumesucker]

56. I had two neighbors some years back that set up targets for bow hunting practice..

In their FRONT yards and then shot off the front porch so that any arrows that missed the target would end up going across the street into someone else's yard, including mine..

This was in a subdivision.

Consider yourself lucky..

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. Years ago when we were first married, we had 2 kids who lived next door

They used to stand in the front yard and throw an axe at each other's feet. Freaked me out. I had also forgotten all about it till I read your story. LOL

[tammywammy]

65. So did the police stop it? n/t

[Texasgal]

82. here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9122157&mesg_id=9122530

[RKP5637]

71. I haven't checked, but around here I'm pretty sure they would run her in for

endangerment, something like that... in the city here they fortunately take a pretty dim view of crap like this.

[Texasgal]

72. Update:

Cops came out.

They told her to stop. She agreed and has put the BB gun away for now. She even apologized from across the yard.

I am still not sure what the law is, but atleast she has stopped.

Thanks for all the advice DU'ers. :)

[RKP5637]

73. This is great to hear!!! n/t

[Bigmack]

75. See my post below... nt

[stuntcat]

105. right on!

someday you oughta commend her for setting the perfect example she does x(

[slackmaster]

116. Awesome. I'm glad it worked out.

Too bad the cops had to be brought in over something like that.

[HughMoran]

138. That's great!

I hate when people kill animals for no reason. When I was a teenager, I went with some friends shooting in the town dump. They let me use a pump BB rifle and I was able to pick off a bird from a tree branch. At first I was excited that I was able to hit it at all, then I felt guilty about it and have ever since. I haven't shot anything but a target since.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

153. And some posters must be indignant at that infringing on her "freedom" by police.

You... you... SNITCH! :thumbsup:

[Bigmack]

74. If the cops don't help... call...

Call Texas Parks and Wildlife. Even if the cops do come, they'll just tell her not to do that.

Call the Poaching Hotline at 1-800-792-4263

What she is doing is illegal.

"Protected Birds: Hawks, owls, eagles, and all other nongame birds and songbirds (except for the few unprotected birds listed below) are protected by various state and federal laws and may not be killed, taken from the nest, picked up, or possessed for any reason, and their feathers may not be possessed or sold. Arts and crafts may not include these protected species under any circumstances."

[GentryDixon]

78. A red-necked hillbilly.

We had one of those two doors down from our place in North Carolina, only it was a large gun or rifle. The first time I heard the shots I thought someone was shooting at us.

This same guy had a Pot Bellied Pig named Petunia that he beat with a stick because she got out of his fence. Low life scum. His wife finally kicked his ass to the curb, so we don't have his ilk around. I am sure Petunia feels better for it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

79. so what happened with the neighbor? did the cops leave?

UPDATES !!!1

[Texasgal]

81. The cops are gone

see this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9122157&mesg_id=9122530

[NCarolinawoman]

104. Killing songbirds has been a federal offense since 1941.

bb guns are specifically mentioned in the law. Big time fines can ensue, as well as jail time. This would be good information to have, in case she starts up again.

Or to be pre-emptive, you could say something like, "I'm glad you stopped shooting the songbirds. you know you can be fined up to $500.00 or more, and even serve time in jail...." :evilgrin:

[RedCloud]

96. maybe she is hungry?

[NutmegYankee]

99. Being a zombie does that to a person...

[RedCloud]

102. And explains when she eats the squirrels' nuts she goes crazy!

[AngryAmish]

107. Squirrels have it coming

If my wife would leave for the day....

0 tomatoes for 2 years in a row.

Death to squirrels.

[lumberjack_jeff]

108. With all due respect, you wouldn't last very long in my neighborhood. n/t

[Texasgal]

110. I wouldn't live there then.

I have dogs. I will protect them. If my neighborhood wasn't dog friendly I would not live here. PERIOD.

[demmiblue]

117. You need to ignore some...

taking out a songbird would make them think that they have nether-regions the size of an elephants trunk.


:shrug:

[madfloridian]

114. It's illegal to shoot bb guns in our area.

And I would call the police right away. Once I did when a BB from a neighbor boy hit our tree while my daughter and I stood next to it. I called them then, and then his dad took his gun away.

[hunter]

142. Nobody plays with BB guns in my neighborhood.

Too much chance either the police or the gangsters will accidentally shoot you with something much, much worse.

[slackmaster]

115. Yelling at her may not have been the most effective approach to get her to stop her bad behavior

I've found that politely asking people to stop doing something works much better than yelling at them.

Things haven't been pleasant since she put a "repeal the bill" and "Rick Perry for Governor" in her yard. I haven't been shitty, but I stopped the pleasantries, waving... saying hello etc. Rick Perry? That was a dealbreaker.

A difference in politics is a rather petty reason to drop basic courtesy toward a neighbor, IMO. It's not like the woman started flying a KKK flag and burning crosses in her yard.

What kind of person sits on her back porch with a BB GUN shooting birds??? ARRRG!

An asshole.

Either the shooting was lawful or it was not. I haven't read most of the rest of the thread, but obviously if it was unlawful then calling the police was the proper thing to do in light of her lack of cooperation with your ham-handed request to cease and desist.

Even if it's legal to shoot at that location, and she wasn't shooting protected animals, it's still a shitty thing to do. It's legal for me to shoot an air gun in my back yard, but I don't do it because it disturbs my neighbor's dogs. I did shoot at some cans a few times shortly after I bought the house, but my neighbor politely asked me not to do it. He only had to ask once. We are good friends now.

[TBF]

118. I'd stop waving to a lot of neighbors if I went by the Perry signs,

so I just ignore their ignorance. I also wouldn't yell at someone to stop shooting (especially in this state) - I'd just call the police directly and have them deal with it. Nothing like annoying someone holding a gun ...

But I am in a typical suburban area and our houses are pretty close even with big backyards - much different than having a place in the country. When I was a kid in Wisconsin my brother spent a lot of time shooting at cans. Our property was several acres & nobody lived very close beyond that.

[slackmaster]

120. Not taking politics very seriously seems to be the biggest difference between me and many DUers

I tend to judge people mainly by how they behave in one-on-one contact, by how they treat other people and animals in general, their manners, ability to hold a conversation, respect for nature, whether they bother to recycle; things like that.

Political views may be fluid. I live in California, and wouldn't think of changing the way I treat a neighbor who put a Meg Whitman flag on display. In the event she becomes our next Governor, I want to give her supporters an opportunity to reconsider their decision after she screws things up worse than they are, if such a thing is possible.

[Swamp Rat]

125. Call animal control and the police

Install video cameras ASAP!!!

This happened to me, and it ended with the neighbor shooting my cat causing him to lose a kidney and me to receive a huge vet bill. I got the neighbor evicted, but he returned and destroyed all the windows and mirrors on our cars and a bunch of other neighbors who had nothing to do with it.

People who do this are likely very dangerous.

[CTyankee]

136. I had a Chinese woman (in my Advanced ESL class) ask me if it was legal to shoot squirrels

in the city. That really stopped me in my tracks. I told her it was probably more of a question about whether she could have a gun and shoot it in a public place.

I couldn't for the life of me understand why this question was asked...but I simply answered it best I could. She was not an uneducated individual. She had an advanced degree and was in New Haven because her husband was a post doc at Yale...

[Warpy]

143. Protein is protein and it's scarce in China

People keep songbirds in cages and fatten them up for a good meal. I've known scientists and university professors to do this. With protein that scarce, the Chinese cuisine based on using it as a flavoring along with a majority of vegetable and grain makes a lot more sense.

Another response would have been to tell her that it's not necessary in this country, that there is plenty of meat to be had and it's reasonably priced so that everybody can afford it. Also explain that a lot of Americans are sentimental about park squirrels and that she'd make enemies if she made a habit of depleting their numbers for her dinner.

However, mentioning that it is illegal to shoot a gun in a city is probably the best bet, although you might want to mention trapping in a city park is also illegal.

However, do recognize where she's coming from. They are simply not used to having vast quantities of meat available, let alone cheap, and that cuts across all intellectual and class lines.

[CTyankee]

144. That could very well be. OTOH, as I recall I got the distinct feeling that

she and the others in my class felt that squirrels were a form of vermin. They didn't mention eating them...but perhaps she was looking for a way to find out if we did...someone did say she was surprised to see them all running around so freely.

It was an interesting class. They also wanted to know if we had an indigenous monkey in the U.S. I didn't think we did, or at least in temperate zones in North America...

This group also were dedicated watchers of "Sex and the City." They would watch it each week and write down the idioms they didn't understand. One of these idioms was "holy shit." One woman was incensed because the phrase made no sense. "how can this be?" she asked. I didn't have an answer for that either.

[Warpy]

146. Tell them the truth

and that is the best bet on confronting an alien culture is to assume everyone is just a little bit insane and make allowances for them and that no matter how polite they are within their own culture, they're going to look like clods to someone from another culture.

I had a great time explaining slang to ESL people on IRC. Explain "holy shit" as a juxtaposition of extreme opposites that indicates one is surprised to the extent of not being able to make any rational sense.

If you're ever stumped for an explanation, PM me. I've got a million of them and they're nearly all accurate.

[CTyankee]

156. Of course, I managed to convey that....eventually!

We had some wide, far flung discussions, I can assure you!

Thanks for your offer. I have a Turkish class now. I am wanting to allay any of their concerns about feelings about Muslims, but my job is to teach them English, which is why they are there.

I AM thinking of bringing a head scarf in and asking my female students to help me put one one...however, we have a wonderful "anchor" in the Turkish community, a Turkish woman who has been a US citizen for many years now and helps us by being our community representative (Literacy Volunteers). I might consult her first...I can see how this might not be just the right thing to ask them to do...

[Javaman]

140. If I recall correctly...

there is an ordinance regarding "porch hunting".

Which means, while you might like to hunt deer, rabbit, squirrel or what have you, you have to do it with 1) a license 2) in a area that condones hunting

otherwise, anyone with a rifle or pistol would be shooting deer out their back window.

North Austin here, btw. Howdy, neighbor! :hi:

[Liberal_in_LA]

147. call the cops!

[bvar22]

157. Thats really stupid.

A 12 Ga would work so much better....
.
.
.

Just kidding
really


And for your enjoyment,
a photo of one of my favorite Texans:


(Texas Governor's Mansion, occupied by Rick Perry