Had few friends over this evening and did some shooting out back from the house. Granted I don't live on a farm, but I live out in the country and have enough property and the lay out is perfect to keep bullets well confined to my property with no neighbors on the back side ro anything....

Anyways.....

Like I said a few buds and I were out back blowing the shit out of old comp monitors and various other targets and sighting in a few new scopes and and red dots on shotguns. We had been at it for about 45 minutes with a shot every 2 mins or so.

We had about 20 guns laid out on the table ranging from pistols to shotguns to various homeland defense rifles.

Seems my new neighbors didn't like the shooting and called the cops. The next thing I know there are 3 deputies in my back yard wondering what the hell is going on. 2 of em were pretty cool about it while the 3rd was being a ginormous dick. he wanted to run serial numbers to make sure the guns aren't stolen. Wanted to tell me i was breaking the law by shooting in my backyard by having bullets leave my property. Which they weren't by the way I have a natural barrier down near the creek bank to stop them.

After about 5 mins of listening to his spiel I politely asked if he had warrant and if he didn't to please leave. the other two deputies just laughed when he stormed off.



So how should I deal with the neighbor? I figure I might shoot out back maybe 3 or 4 times a year. It's perfectly safe. I don't live in the city nor somewhere where it is prohibited. Should I go and try to talk to him and smooth it over or just go fro it and totally piss him off by shooting every weekend?

Talk to your neighbor about it, try to convince him it's safe. If he won't listen... oh well?

Tact and diplomacy would be good ideas here. Just think of the fact that this person is apparently reacting to what he perceives as a threat to realize how agitated and unreasonable he might become. It might just be he's an asshat who is pissed about the noise but either way, rightly or wrongly, he feels you are intruding on him. I would suggest you attempt to become friendly with him since this will give you the best chance of assuaging his fears and working cooperatively. It will also give him a chance to realize you're not some wild eyed gun toting maniac but hopefully that you are a mature and responsible adult. If you get a chance to show him around your property so that he can see why you feel it is safe to shoot there it would probably also be helpful. Hey, invite him over for the shoot so he can see you and your friends are not one of those ding dongs that get drunk out of their mind and do clever things like fire shotguns braced against your groin...

umm... whats wrong with that??

Heck, be neighborly and invite them over to shoot with you.
Maybe you'll get a convert by spreading the gospel

Cheers,
HarvKY

I have a friend that has run into the same problem, someone built a house not too far from where he has lived for years. They have started complaining about his shooting. (He shoots competition pistol and shoots a LOT) The sheriff decided that he was shooting safely and had a good backstop on his property and told the new people they was nothing he could do.

He is a guy that does not take being called the sheriff on calmly, and I think he is shooting double the amount of ammo just to annoy the neighbor now.

There is no easy answer. I cant shoot outside my house any more because over the years houses and highways have been creeping up around me.

Time to move further back into the woods perhaps?

I can't tell where you are from Knutz. I believe that there is a law here in Texas that it is legal to shoot all you like if you are on 40 acres or more. Check into your local laws and ordinances (if you're in a township or something) a prepare your case. If you are legal, you can inform him of the law and offer him a tour of your shooting facility. If you're not legal then you might visit and make peace. Good luck either way.
1911

Heh, well if you're looking for a Darwin award nothing!

Check to be sure you are outside of "public road discharge" laws, if any.

Check caliber lmits, and as 1911 said, limits for those calibers.

Check your POSTED signs have not been moved further onto your property (NYCdiiot and Jerseyite thing)

Verify with your local SHERRIFF (the law in town is FIRST the sherriff, by federal law) and make sure they are AOK.

then BLAZE AWAY.


Ive dealt with this. I hope you are out tomorrow, with more guns, more guys, and more ammo. F that prude.

thanks for the replies guys.

maybe it's just me, but I'm just sick of it. not just the shooting thing but other things too. I'm always the one that is supposed to be civil and talk it out all the while most of the time I never get the same respect.

I know it would be best to try and talk to him first. But as far as I know from talking to a few deputies and a former sheriff I am legal.

Considering that the pecker head didn't even have the decency to at least talk to me about it first. I just feel like letting ti rip fro a few weekends in a row just to piss him off. I mean it ain't like I'm not open to reason or anything. If the dude has problems with the noise or something I'd try and work with him while still retaining my rights. You know a little give and take from both sides.

I'm just pissed about how he handled right now.

negative. be a dick. through and through. they only seem to understand hard lining.

I'm so tempted to trust me. got a few thousand rounds I picked up at hte last gun show that need shootin too.

I'll sleep on it tonight and see if I've calmed down by the morning.

Seems the posts above kind of sum up your options. I've had simular experiences before.

What seemed to work best with me, is to welcome new neighbors first thing when they move in and try to build a sort of friendship. I would let them know that sometimes I do some shootin at my place and give them an invite.

The big thing in the state where I live is people will use the noise as a reason to complain. Sounds like you were there first, so that's something they should consider, hence part of the reason to let them know that is something that already takes place there long before they moved in.

I'm wondering if they moved there from the city?

I've seen a lot of people move into an apartment for the first time after living their whole life in a house. They get mad about any sound they hear from neighbors, but usually make the most noise them selves...... I've had to tell folks before that maybe they moved to the wrong place if they don't like the way things are there, after trying to reason failed.

I normally would recommend talking to the neighbor, but being as they didn't give you that courtesy, and just called the cops on you as a first resort; I say screw 'em. I'm not a dick-headed neighbor either, but I figure if someone can't come talk to me about something I'm doing, that they don't like, then why should I extend that to them after they call the cops on me?

Sounds like you're good to go as far as the police are concerned, so keep shootin'. That's my .02.

Knutz: Glocker's advice is, in my opinion, sound. If I did not like guns, I think I would be hesitant to visit a house where people are shooting. In today's world, you just do not know what you would be getting into by doing so. I think I would type up a letter telling them that you plan on shooting X number of times per year and that you have a natural berm or whatever to stop all rounds. Invite them over to see where you shoot. Also, maybe tell them a bit about yourself if you think that will make them feel more comfortable about you. Offer to not fire on a certain day if they are having a party or company, if they give you a weeks notice, something like this to really show what a reasonable guy you are.

Then, so long as you are in compliance with local law, you have gone out of you way to accommodate them. I like the idea of the letter because should they ever try some civil action (injunction, nuisance, whatever) you can pull out your copy and show the judge what a nice and reasonable guy you are. Remember, they can sue you for a civil action for almost anything, even if you are otherwise in compliance with the firearms laws, so documents your efforts to be "nice and civil" and move on. Does this put a burden on you? Of course, but that is today's world.

If you choose the "blast away" option first, you will miss a chance to try and convert them or at least make peace with them.

Good luck,

WJ

+1

I have a load of stories of my own, involving new NYCidiot neighbors, New Jerseyites using our creek as a national forest, Motorcycle clubs using our road as the grand prix, moved posted signs and front doors, complainers, cop callers, the dethroned governor of NY (he was my neighbor), the state troopers, the county sheriff, the DEC, etc.

I think I will reserve them, as I dont feel like being told im exagerrating, and some of it could indeed be considered menacing behavior at the least.

I won every incident, but look at who moved! So I guess it was all for naught in the end.

Dont take SHIT from liberal neighbors. They will only get worse, in my experience. I stopped playing the nice guy a long time ago.

The more money people have, in general, the more self-rightious they get, and the further they move from morales, politeness, and ideals of normal life. It isnt the rule, but its damn near close to it, from my experience.

Hell, theres another good one - there was the time when the cidiots took over the town board, changed zoning, had thier investments subdivided and thier contracting buddies that paid them, subdivided thier land into smaller lots, and then my father couldnt put an extension on his own house, because they changed the zoning back to what it was before, already.

Ah then there was the old fart that thought he owned the air, and the animal warden that almost crapped themselves. There was (a long time previous to that) ANOTHER animal control officer that would not even drive past the house I grew up at. both incidents wound up involving a firearm. both incidents I was in the right, as well.

If you let your neighbors push you around, you are going to regret it. But I am sure you are a far FAR nicer person than I. Just be sure to not screw up, if you go that route.

I have had a very colorful and eventful life, in my short 35 years. One of my traits is impatience, which extends into intolerance for other people telling me what they THINK I should do, or what THEY THINK is right or wrong.

shoot me a msg, Ill lay a few of my experiences on you. I have a LOT of experience with shithead neighbors growing up in the "weekend NYC home" area. Like I said, they all won though, because I am in Florida now. But it wasnt because I was loud, shooting my guns, my dog barking at his toy, or because I never put my animals on a leash.


My suggestion? for real? shoot 3-4 times a WEEK, let him call the cops on you some more, then file harrassment charges on him.

That is what makes this board interesting. You have received advice which goes both ways. Neither is right, neither is wrong. It is a tough situation for you because you have rights and feelings, and so do your neighbors.

I will add that I do not think that they should have called the police on you without speaking to you first. But, maybe they were afraid. We are a gun forum, we accept guns. Some people do not.



Good luck.

WJ

I would have to agree with WarriorJudge and Glocker. Try to make peace somehow first and maybe you'll get some new people interested in the sport. Getting into a pissing contest with your neighbor and making life-long enemies of them will just become a nuisance in the long run. There's probably a county ordinance against noise at least and before you know it, you'll have a fine to pay.

I recently moved out to the country but still confined within a little subdivision. I have plenty of land behind my house to shoot IF I had a good berm built. Then one morning I heard a bunch of shots being fired from across the street so I got curious and walked over there and I guess they thought I was going to be the dick because they started taking there guns inside. When I sayed I collected guns and was looking at my yard as a possible range they said just come over and have fun anytime. The layout is awesome you shoot from the top of the yard across a pond into a hill about 20 feet tall. My neighbor said everyone else was cool with it and the one who wasn't cool moved out a couple months ago.

I would make shire that you are 100% legal, and also keep a diary of you're neighbors actions. Calling the cops on you for engaging in LEGAL activity is harassment. In most places if you can prove a history of harassment you can get an injunction, which makes further harassment a criminal offense.
I would NOT be nice, I WOULD talk to them,and explain that YOU were here first, and they are the ones bringing the neighborhood down. If they don't like the way thing are done in your neck of the woods, they can move out.

Knutz,

aren't we from the same State? I thought so anyway. Just be sure you're not in violation of any county ordinance, including noise ordinances. It also bolsters your argument that the Sheriff's Department has visited the property already and found you in compliance, or at least not in violation of any law. Just be sure you shoot at reasonable times of day.

On the neighbor issue, I agree with most of the above posts, which very well explain your choices. i would visit the neighbor and at least attempt to talk to him/her. What the Judge said above, they may have been hesitant to come over with you shooting, is a real possibility. give 'em another chance before you schedule a every saturday shoot out and invite the whole forum and we really piss 'em off.

Wish I had your backyard. I have gun friendly neighbors, but folks live too close to shoot at my house, although occasionally I'll knock off a few rounds off the back deck into the pond.

Good Luck!! and remember to make efforts to let the local LEO's know you're trying to comply with all laws while still exercising your rights.

One thing I would NOT do is piss the cops off, you need them to be on your side if you are shooting legally.

Try to make peace first. Maybe have a party (outside) and invite them over. If that doesn't work, buy some Tannerite and have some REAL fun! I'm lucky here. All my neighbors are cool. I can shoot ANYTHING and it's OK, including Tannerite.

I agree with some of the others in talking with the neighbor but also they started the tension by calling the cops.
Be nice until it's time to not be nice and then take donations for ammo to shoot 24/7. Or suggest the neighbor move their candy ass back to the city.

1+ on the Tannerite just one and only one but a BIG one MUW HAHAHAHAHA ha ha ha ha ha
then negotiate with the neighbor telling him if he wishes it can esclate even bigger or he can leave you alone and you will just shoot and he can come over and learn how too

the BIG stick and carrot approach

Kill 'em with kindness. Invite them over for beer and barbecue, show them around your place, being sure to point out the natural barriers, etc. Invite them to join you in shooting the shit out of some stuff, and tell them they're welcome to bring their own guns if they'd like to come shoot sometime. Oftentimes, what pisses people off is the feeling that they weren't even consulted (even about stuff that is none of their business!); if they know you're a safe shooter and that THEY are safer with you around, and no hard feelings about them calling the cops, it might help defuse the whole situation pretty quickly.

And if it doesn't, just make damned sure that you AREN'T breaking any laws, so every time they call the cops, you'll be in the clear. The cops will eventually tell the neighbors to eff off if this is the case...

Mike

Oh, one other thing - invite the sheriffs and cops to come shoot on your property as well! They probably won't take you up on it, but they'll sure think you're a much nicer person for offering... and it can't hurt to have them on your side in all this.

I've had a few issues with loud neighbors - not guns, but music - and I've tried the nice-guy approach first. One neighbor was blasting his car stereo until almost 2am. I got out of bed (it woke me from a sound sleep), walked over in my robe, and politely asked him if he could keep it down a bit, since I had to be up at 5am for work. He was very nice, apologetic, and came by the next evening to apologize again. I told him the loud music doesn't really bother me, but if he could maybe keep it down after about midnight, that'd be great. He was cool about it, and we've gotten along well ever since.

Another neighbor didn't react the same way. He wanted to fight me about it, and told me if I had a problem, "call the fuckin' cops about it." I politely told him that in this neighborhood, we tend to diall 9-1-1 only AFTER the problem is solved, so they can come clean up the mess. They kept up the bullshit and partying, and fighting in their front yard at all hours of the night, so I took them up on their offer and called the cops. Wonder of wonders, they were smoking a joint in the driveway when the cops pulled up, so they all got to go to jail... They moved out shortly afterwards. Boy, I don't miss them.

So it can go either way, but it's worth a try to play nice first. Sometimes all you'll get is a finger in your face for your troubles, but at least you'll come away with the knowledge that you were the better man for trying.

Mike

So you peace loving guys out there, let me ask you how you would handle this -


Walked up into the woods to the back of my father's property in NY one day, there are the new cidiots posted signs a good 30 feet on OUR side of the rock wall that clearly divides the property, which is clearly posted by us. Legal posted signs, as in name and address on them.

in what manner would you return their signs?

One of the guys over the mountain that I know had these same people actually MOVE his signs 30 feet from his property line, and walk up to the house to let him know.


what would you do?

Im guessing it wouldnt be to throw a hammer off the roof at the people and threaten to kill them if they did not put the signs back in place where they were and do it before you got down off the roof to shoot the tresspassers defacing your property?

or would it be taking the sign down, taking your saiga12 and 5 rounds of 00 buck to it, then driving over the mountain to the house on the sign, and jamming it in their fuckin door, and leaving a nice burnout in their driveway?


Im guessing there are people out there that would walk up to the house, and nicely explain to these people that they are committing two felonies and a misdermeanor and that it was a simple understanding, right?

well, I am not one of them, nor do I know anyone that is.....the types I usually associate with or have known, dont play around when it comes to land rights.


I really would like to know what you peaceful minded guys think you would do in that situation. Sorry to sound rude, but I have NEVER heard of someone being nice over property and its use, when they own it.

Wisdom sez: This is prefered method of how to handle this situation. This situation shows an ongoing intellectual process and problem solving skills that interdict and abate a potentially growing and nasty problem. It also demonstrates dipolmacy skills and a degree of socialization that is becoming rare in this country.



[u]This is the Uber-Asshat approach [u/]and shows a a lack of problem solving skills, a juvenile tendency towards violence and an unwillingness to get along with others (ie: anti-social behavior). As one former infamous member here once said, "he is a mouth-breathing, fuck-tard"...

If you want to stay out of jail and out of the courts and have the cops off your back, seem like the greatest guy in the world, apply the first approach. If you want to be hated and loathed by your neighbors, have ordnances passed in your name, be labled a "redneck / racist / extremist/ gun nut" (take your pick of any 2) - have stories written about you in the local newspaper and face possible criminal or civil judicial activities... by all means follow the second advice...

Macbeau sendith...

Not only that, but you said that you had a deputy who was a, "ginormous dick." You never know if he is going to be the one taking the call next time. It stinks that the burden is on you but as WJudge said civil court can be a hell of a ride.

I have had neighbors like this and based on that experience what might work for you is to document the events, inform the cooperative deputy who was on your property earlier that you are going to be writing a polite letter to your neighbor, send the letter, make a phone call or house visit to the neighbor (be careful that you do not cross the line to harassment though) and then enjoy your founding-fathers-given rights!

Bvamp:

I *AM* a peace-loving guy, but that doesn't mean I have to put up with that type of shit that your neighbors tried. Like Swayze said (Roadhouse): "Be nice... until it's time to NOT be nice." Someone starts coming onto MY property, encroaching on it with THEIR bullshit, and there are going to be more than words flying.

And yes, somebody would probably get a bunch of bullet-riddled signage jammed down their throats!

I *try* the nice way first, but I have a temper, and I am a rather large mammal (6'8", 260 lbs). And like the Hulk, you wouldn't want to see me angry.

My first instinct with the car-stereo guys was to go over, rip the stereo out of the dash, and smash it into the guy's face. But I cooled off, put on my "diplomat hat", and talked to him first, and that was the end of that situation.

Mike

Damn... even more replies. ... Again I must say thanks guys...

I had to work all day today and since I got home around 6 he hasn't been home. I figure I'll try and talk to him tomorrow if possible. At least find out what kind of person I am dealing with.

But let me say again... it ain't like I am operating a shooting range out back or anything. I or a few friends may shoot 3 or 4 times a year back there. most of the time it is just checking our scopes on the hunting rifles before the deer or pig season starts.

the neighbors have lived there for about 2 months and I have been here for about 12 years. All my other neighbors are OK with it and even shoot in the respective back yards every now and again. Besides where we shoot is at least 200-250 yards from his house or more seperated by trees and such.

rangerdavid,

yeah I'm in NC. I'll try and get a more distinct answer but so far as I know I'm legal unless my bullets leave my property and the noise is over with by 6 PM.

jeff

Its too bad neither incident involved me, short of spotting the sign, in the one case. I will not mention what I, personally would have done in either case.


BVamp sends....


....assumptions are only that - assumptions. You assume WAY too much, there, my #2 fan. I dont mind you thinking what you prefer to think. That is part of the beauty of it -


For the record, I always try to work things out in a nice manner. It is when crossed, that I personally, turn nasty. I apologize for my outspoken opinions on this subject. I prefer to live where I dont HAVE neighbors within 1/2 a mile of me or more. If I do, I will know them all in due time, one way or another.....

jeff - yes, sundown, at the shortest time of year. that is the TECHNICAL definition, the last time I read it. It is funny when the troopers show up, two portable workbenches (sets of bifold doors on saw horses) are filled with 5 local's hardware, and we didnt even see them (they said) for almost a minute standing at the end of the driveway. Its funny, there was no report made, and the one guy came back the next day to shoot with us, as he was one of my neighbors too....as was the sheriff that was one of the 5 guys shooting that day.

always try to get along with the neighbors. shoot me a pm, Ill tell you the incident with the guy that thought he owned the air. he was the worst neighbor I think I ever had, and I will not post the story on the internet.

Wow...nothing like a NYer trying to tell a North Carolinian what's right, and what ain't right, about shooting guns on his own land.

Ummm ....for your information Mr., in NC we do it a lot different. When we want something, we try and be diplomatic about it and even NICE....till it's time to yep....NOT BE NICE. (see my sig line) We don't FORCE our opinions and ways on others, just because we have a right to. Ya know what? First we give our neighbors a chance. Chances are bro, those cop calling, gun fearing, non communicating neighbors of yours are from a big city like NYC. (NO OFFENSE meant to any NYers out there.) They moved down here thinking everything was going to be like up there, and they are still finding new ways to hate the region and it's people, instead of just trying to blend in.

Since I have actually been in this exact situation...IN THIS STATE...I feel that I should offer my 2 cents.

I have been shooting all kinds of guns on my property, that is just barely outside the City limits, for 13 years now. The man that lived in my house before me was a gun dealer. He offered to let his customers try out their new pistols and such, right here in the back yard. So the neighbors were already sort of "conditioned" by the time I even moved here. This was a good thing because a week later my buddies and I got together and exercised our constitutional rights by going through about 500 rds with our SKS's and shooting all we had with a couple of .45's and my .357. It was great to finally live somewhere that we could shoot right in the back yard.

But ya know what we did first? We walked over and met the new neighbors and asked them if they might want to join us for some shooting later. They declined, but they knew what was up and had no reason to get on the horn to the cops.
That was the very first time I shot here.

The only time I ever had trouble was one day when we had about ten guns on a card table on the deck, and were having the grandest time shooting them all afternoon. Then after we were done and it started to get a little dark, another good friend who couldn't make it earlier, called and said he had just bought his first 12 ga pump. He asked me if we were still shooting, he wanted to try it out, and I told him it was a little late by then, we had already been shooting all day.
Well he was coming over anyway to show me his new gun, and he begged when he got here if he could just try it out once. Me being the overly hospitable guy I am, I let him empty one tube out there in the dark. It was a Wed. night about 9:PM.
Well I don't know which neighbor it was, but the Sheriff's dept. was here in about 5 minutes. I was very apologetic to the officers and told them we would not do that any more after dark. I was informed that it didn't matter whether it was light or dark, we were not to be discharging firearms within 1000 feet of a residence or local road.
So now we only shoot down at the creek, which is legally far enough away from the local houses and roads.

Recently though, the land next door that I normally shoot on (with written permission), was purchased by some people from out of state...a guy and his Mom. They built a house on it and it is a lot closer than I wish it was. I was nervous that maybe they would freak next time they were sitting around on a Sunday afternoon, and heard a 30rd AK mag get emptied by the creek, or a 20rd 12 ga drum.

I didn't just go blazing away with a FU attitude though...no, I went over and talked to them and explained that they would be hearing lots of loud noise back there...that we had done it for A LONG TIME and the other neighbor with adjoining property, could attest to that. It also helped that I had helped save this other neighbor's life once, when he got his toes blown off vacuuming his pool and touched the 14' alum. pole to an overhead powerline...

They were very cool once I explained to them that I was shooting only in a safe direction and into a clay backstop. I offered to let them come over sometime we were shooting, and try one of the guns out themselves. They were all good with everything after that.
Communication is KEY! Diplomacy and friendship are too.

You can't just blast away and say "fuck you I have a right cause the cops told me so".

That is no way to make long lasting friend out of the guy you are gonna have to live next to. Geez...what if he decided it would be cool to crank up some Pavarotti to 11+, any time he felt like it...just to annoy the piss outa you?

What's gonna happen when there's an ice storm or hurricane, and you need them for something? Will they be there for you?


Shoving our 2A rights down the throats of people who haven't had the good fortune to be brought up around guns, is the WORST thing we could possibly do...just like making enemies with your neighbor based on a bad decision he or she may have made.
That's what I think anyhow.

huh?

no offense, but an actualy question, how would you know? Ive lived around the USA. where have you been, and who have you lived with, and seen local standards of?


Im just not sure Im following you.....

My rights are MY RIGHTS. I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THEM, OR BEING NICE WHEN YOU VIOLATE THEM. I DO NOT ASK YOU TO APPROVE OF ANY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

then again, I am the one who left home, and it was taken by "them", so I am weak, anyhow. ah well. I seen the whole circle of it. \

come try to move my posted signs further into my property line at night. I dare ya. Im not being an ass, Im not being aggresive, but I WILL not have you take advantage of me or some dreamed up ignorance, that you might think I have, from your end.

my land? is my land. not yours. if I put signs up, you best have your final arrangements made, if *I* catch you moving my property line, and posting your own.

you miss the point, WE WERE BEING NICE.

I have no "give" or "flex" in some areas, this being one of them. Guns are another. I am often misinterpreted for it, and repeatedly.

Excuse me, I'm wrong I guess.... I thought this thread was about how to handle your neighbors, and your shooting of guns on your property, without them trippin' out and calling the law.

I forgot it was really about you, and people moving your signs around.

here, Ill make a new post.

If you did a couple of the things above, you would not want me as your neighbor.

And if you threatened me like that one guy did? or how about the one female animal control officer that I ejected by force from the property?

you better have some sand in your pants.

I know my rights. I dont CARE FOR OPINION when it comes to them.

I am out of this discussion. It is making me go to a place I do not enjoy, and I just want to be happy these days. sorry for the inconvenience.

you know my feelings onthe subject. dont put a gun to his head, but surely let them off all day next weekend. FORCE them to come to YOU.

screw this bullshit LETS MAKE PEACE WITH THE LIBERAL shit


gimme a break already. make them come to YOU. I dont subscribe to my American rights being violated. I dont care what you do. you isnt the point.

(by the way, I CAN IN FACT shoot your ass dead anywhere I have ever lived under certain terms, and will reluctantly do so)

anyway, bye. I have said some of my peace.

am sure my #1 las vegas gun dealer friend "caspian with the range isnt it" will be around.

ya''ll have fun

stay off my land, btw. it is posted and obvious. you only get one warning from my kind. it isnt a threat, its a right.

I agree with a lot of stuff said in this thread, even though some of it is contradicting.

My main gripe in the OP's situation is that the new neighbor decided to call the cops as a first resort. That would piss me off.

I'm all for making friends with neighbors, new and old. I have great relations with my neighbors (no shooting involved though, I'm not blessed with "country life" ). But when someone (who is new to the neighborhood) decides to call the police on someone who has already been living there, as a first resort, it kinda makes me lose interest in going out of my way to welcome them with open arms and let them know everything's legit and safe in what I'm doing. That's just me though, YMMV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbClTitxAGc

"compromise, hell! ....If freedom is right and tyranny wrong,why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered away a slice at a time?"
From a 1959 editorial by Jesse Helms, as quoted by the AP in his obit.

Jesse was a great man. God rest his soul...

I believe in my freedom as much as anyone. That said, how smart is it to make an enemy forever out a neighbor that you might actually be able to turn into someone who enjoys firearms and would be happy to hear those sounds instead of pissed off that you are rubbing their liberal noses in shit every time you touch off a round.
I have had to deal with lots of different neighbors who have come and gone over the years. I have shot my guns anytime I wanted...night or day...through all of their stays here in my locality. I have had the cops called a few times. I have even had the cops show up at my door when the noise actually came from somewhere else. Every time I was respectful to the officers and we talked about exactly what was and was not legal here, and they had no problem with me by the time they left.
Being within your legal rights has nothing what so ever to do, with getting along with a neighbor who does not like gunfire near his or her home. Diplomacy is of the utmost importance FIRST...before you may have to tell the old bag to can it because you are going to do it anyway, within your rights, any fucking time you please. Is it not better to work out some kind of agreement and just be a courteous neighbor like you would want to be treated with courtesy yourself.

First amendment rights are one thing..and nobody is stepping on mine for sure...but getting along with your fellow man and laying out the groundwork that will keep the poor local officers from having to constantly pay you a visit...well that's just a little more important in the grand scheme of things. Ain't nobody steppin' on my rights when it comes down to it...but I'll be damned if I want to live next door to some complainer who looks for a chance to call the police every single time they think they need to. I would rather get along with that person and know that I can count on them as much as they know they can count on me...and my arsenal....when the chips are down.

I agree with what you're saying here. One of the things which hasn't been mentioned so far is the differences in behaviors between country and city dwellers. When I lived in the country we used to go shooting all the time and no one really cared. OTOH, now that I live in a more urban setting any shots going off is a much different thing. If this person has not lived in the country they may just have the city dwellers reactions to gun shots. Only way to find out is by talking to them...

+eleventy-one! Well put, Cobra!

Acer

After being called by a customer and having to go into the shop and work most of the day I finally got a chance to walk over to the neighbor's this evening.

Talk about a dick. Dude got all defensive as soon as his wife called him to the door. I told her who i was and why I was there. Course I know she recognized me. Even though we have never met they have seen me out in the yard.

Anyways... He just said how unsafe it was and how the noise bothered him. I tried to tell him it ain't like I'm back there shooting every weekend or anything. Even told him I don't wanna be an ass, so it ain't like if I see he has lots of company over I'll just wait till another time to do my shooting etc etc etc....

After about 10 minutes of trying totalk to him I just gave up. Told him I was will within the law to shoot there and while I would try to be considerate I would under no circumstance stop shooting on my property.

The wife was trying to be nice and at least to me seemed ashamed by the way he was acting.

Oh well... at least I tried.

get with the rest of your neighbors and the a big tannerite he calls cops you and neighbors say "what i didnt hear nuthing" and he gets labeled as a nut job by cops problem solved

+1, so long as you held out the olive branch you've done your part. His right to swing his fist ends at the end of your nose even though he seems confused about that. Now it's time to go ahead with legally exercising your rights! I wouldn't be obnoxious about it, just do what you normally would so far as shooting activity. I would also make durn sure of all the regulations he can use against you, make sure you are not violating them and then proceed.