A Tough Night

[cewright]

About 10:30 pm tonite I caught 6 teenagers in my back pasture throwing firecrackers and shooting Roman candles at my and my neighbors horses. Four boys and two girls. I must have scared the p**s out of them because when I told them to freeze and kiss the ground they did. At the time I was afraid they might even have a gun! One boy was very confrontational. Ended up calling 911 because of him. Boys father was an Army colonel just back from Iraq. He was also confrontational. I thanked him for his service.

I was very disappointed the parents were more upset with me for calling 911 than at the kids for trespassing on my property and shooting off contraband (fireworks are illegal in my town) and terrorizing the horses. The kids thought it was funny until I confronted them. The same parents would have been glad to sue me if one of their spoiled brats had been hurt on my property during their escapade. No telling how they would have reacted if a major vet bill had resulted from the stampede. The police filed charges. Apparently they had been responding all night to complaints about this group of hooligans.

How would you all have handled it?

Thanks

Chuck

[emmad]

My partner would have marched out to yell at them while I ran to get the cops lol.
We had some young fellas four houses down setting them off two nights ago. Had our mare with 2 month old babe screaming round the paddock. Couldn't do much as was on their own property but gheez come people don't think.

[Sam]

How would you all have handled it?

CCW on a well maintained S&W .357 in Nevada and allowed to 'protect life and property with terminal intent'.

I'd have shot them in the ass.

They were trespassing and you had no way of knowing how much of a threat they really were to you or your horses. They're lucky you didn't kill them and the father just back from Iraq doesn't excuse him from being responsible for the pain in the ass he raised, especially if he also was acting like a shithead. His serving in Iraq is a totally separate issue from his clear lack of parental skills. Screw 'em.

People want to act like animals, they have no right to bitch when they are treated like one. I don't view humans harassing horses any differently than I view a coyote chasing cats.

[BJ]

Sounds like you did a great job in a world gone crazy!

[BJ]

They're lucky you didn't kill them and the father just back from Iraq doesn't excuse him from being responsible for the pain in the ass he raised, especially if he also was acting like a shithead. His serving in Iraq is a totally separate issue from his clear lack of parental skills. .

Agree Sam, in principle. But in reality, the men and women in combat, over there in Iraq, are on high alert 24/7. They haven't been here to raise their kids for quite a while and you don't know what the kids have been through while the father has been gone. The mother has probably been trying to scrape by on much less than the family is used to, and less able to be there for the kids too. So, while it doesn't excuse the kids or the father's behavior, there is a valid reason for their less than "normal" behavior. Unfortunately, life just isn't as black and white and simple as we might like it to be. I'm first in line to wish it was!

Luckily no one (horse or child beasts) were hurt and the men kept the wits mostly about them. A pretty good ending, in my book. Now, lets hope they don't get it in their heads to be vengeful for getting in trouble.

[Rez]

I would have to back up Sam on this one.....Well Said!!!!!

[madelyn]

I would have called the police and INSISTED on the kids being arrested and taken to jail. Not my responsibility to call the parents, talk to the parents or deal with the parents, if any. Obviously they have no control over the monsters they raised.

[skeenan]

I'd have shot them in the ass.

Amen to that!
And then I'd call the police...

[StealingKat]

Up at the property in PG we have terrible problems with trespassers. I have a sign that say's that trespassers WILL be shot. Of course they get it with rock salt but let me tell ya for rotten teens, it works like a charm and no one is perm injured. But let me tell ya works alot better than words. And it is legal

[Pan Zareta]

How would you all have handled it?

On occasion we've detained trespassers at the end of a shotgun until they could be turned over to the Sheriff's Dept. (which tends to arrive faster in that particular circumstance). And that's how I would have handled the situation you related. With all due respect, the fact that the kid's father served in Iraq is meaningless in context, and Madelyn's right on that it was not your responsibility to deal w/ the parents.

[nferro9925]

I also second Sam's response to the father - Bad behavior is never excusable.
And using 'just back from service' is going to be a crutch for some people. Others are very honorable.
His kid was wrong and he knew and probable overreacted.

I am glad none of the horses were seriously hurt.

[kezeli]

Here in Michigan we had some adults I think?, that through fireworks in the barn at a hunt club and when it started on fire I seem to rember they were slow to call the fire dept. Needless to say a bunch of nice show horses were lost and I don't rember feeling the punishment fit the crime; ie it was much to light. As far as having sympathy for the kid/father just back from Iran, BFD, people have forgotten how to parent and don't even talk to their kids anymore, It's pathitic how wild some of them run.

[Nancy T]

I don't think kids should be shot over doing something stupid. and I do think it was stupid, reckless etc etc. But I damn sure would have had them arrested and then I'd have every horse examined by a vet and send the bill to the parents.

[BJ]

I also second Sam's response to the father - Bad behavior is never excusable.
And using 'just back from service' is going to be a crutch for some people. Others are very honorable.
His kid was wrong and he knew and probable overreacted.

I am glad none of the horses were seriously hurt.

I believe I stated there was "no excuse" for the behavior.

So, while it doesn't excuse the kids or the father's behavior, there is a valid reason for their less than "normal" behavior.

I'm simply trying to impart that our society (as usual) doesn't grasp the reality of the affects upon all aspects of the lives of men and women in combat, as well as the affects on their children. I'm not saying to "excuse" them. I'm saying operate wisely when in situations where behavior may be predicated on "unknown" factors. So, perhaps the father wasn't being his "normal" self, under the circumstances.

I believe Chuck handled the situation perfectly, and his handling gave the combat Vet an opportunity to "ease" back into alleged civilization, and the law/AUTHORITIES, to deal with the kids and the parents.

Unfortunately, the juries today are just as apt to hold the landowner the "bad guy", IF he were to have shot someone, as they would hold the trespassors responsible. Not a place anyone should have to end up for the right to protect life and property. In the case of the horse, it is both "life" and "property". (Wish the laws would catch up to acknowledge that.)

Cooler heads (and Providence) prevailed (kudos to Chuck) and while one might feel justified in "shooting someone in the ass", I don't think the legal system would necessarily go along with that. Then what would that accomplish, other than a momentary giving into rage?

It's great to say what we would "feel" like doing...quite another to say what SHOULD be done under the circumstances to handle all the factors at play in the situation.

Bottom line, unless you know what the local laws are, have "NO TRESSPASSING" signs posted and have the legal backing to fire EVEN rock salt at tresspassors, i.e., you are in justifiable fear for your own safety... living out "momentary feelings" of jusitifiable rage COULD end up making the entire situation a bigger problem/tragedy all the way around.

I can only hope I would have the presence of mind to act as intelligently and decisively as Chuck did because I truly can see myself sacrificing humans to protect the horses. And I'm not sure I would need a gun to do it.

[Barbaro06]

I am glad to hear that your horses were not seriously injured ce. Kids these days need to be taught respect and that there are penalties for wrongful actions. I am sorry to hear about the dad acting the ass--I'm sure the kids wouldn't be setting off fireworks to watch their dad duck for cover after being in Iraq now would they? He would probably knock them into next year if they did.