I’m sure you recognize I’ve selectively edited your post. I most assuredly agree with the point re pixes you made, and I have no disagreement with your position.
But. I feel a need to expand upon a point you made that strikes me as dismissive: “Regardless of how much fun it might be to punch the offender in the nose…”
It wasn’t fun. It was a tad desperate. I’d just gotten a split eyebrow with the aid of what is called a ‘fightin’ ring’. A big thing one puts on who thinks a fight might go down, meant to tear a man’s face. Moments previous to that, I had a third neighbor (friend of first) buy into the fight and help take the post maul handle away from me, feeling confident the bigger, younger man would then clean my clock. When I threw that punch I had two people to keep an eye on (and only one to do it with) and it just happened I connected better than he had. I was over 50 years old at that time, disabled, and hadn’t traded a punch since my young adult days, and I never, ever was a fighter even then. I’ve been in probably two fights in my life. Counting that one. I am no ‘tough guy’ and certainly no brawler. I am, however, one of those old-time redneck hillbillies right out of the Ozarks of Missouri, and we don’t take to having our wives verbally abused. That’s grounds for killing, in the socio-economic strata I grew up in.
The weakness of your position is, you’re relying on the courts, the cops, or someone else to do what needs to be done: make that guy not want/able to fool with you again.
It’s entirely possible Spike and you are too old to effectively defend yourselves. I’m getting near that point. I’ll
I know fenicng the whole proterty is out of the question but, how about simply cordoning off the railroad? If you do decide to go the civil court route, I would meet with an lawyer and find out exactly what you will need as far as evidence and just what the law says for your particular case.
You’re right on the money about the electric fence deal. There are many people walking around with undiagnosed/undiagnosable malfunctions of the heart’s nerves, where an electric shock will cause death.
That’s why, if someone ever threatens me with a taser, cop or not, he’s going to get shot. Missouri is a concealed-carry state, and I have a bad heart. And I do not ever disrespect or annoy cops. Or fail to do what they want. Heh: my last encounter with one resulted in a bawling out. (He was right). No ticket, though. Halleluhah (or howsumever you spell that).
Tasers are sold as personal defense items–or used to be. People who carry them should try them out on a willing subject, first. (Might cost you a case of beer[;)]) but, they’ll most likely find their ‘tasers’ are ‘ticklers’. I know of two cases of that.
For my daughter’s 21st birthday, I signed over my WW2 Barretta 32. The lady cop doing the paperwork smiled and glowed all over both of us.
Oh, FWIW, my daughter was trained, by me, in the proper use of firearms. In the ‘circle of awareness’ bit. They aren’t toys to threaten with. I believe a guy like you knows that waving a pistol around without the pre-decided intent to shoot somebody dead if necessary is a foolish thing to do.
In the state of Missouri, you have to go to the courthouse and pay a small fee to get your property listed as ‘no tresspassing’. That makes it legal. Otherwise, not.
I’ve always wondered if “No Tresspassing” didn’t act as a challenge to kids.
Each state is color coded tresspassing, like all of Texas is purple. No sign needed, paint marking makes it legal. Check to see what paint color in your state and how to apply.
Missouri’s Purple Paint Statute: A New Way To Protect Your Property From Trespassers
By Deanne Hackman
Research Associate and Adjunct Instructor
Social Science Unit, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
University of Missouri - Columbia
"During its 1993 legislative session, the Missouri legislature enacted a new statute pertaining to trespassing. The new law, the Purple Paint Statute (RSMO 569.145), provides yet another way for Missouri landowners to protect their property from trespassers. Landowners can still use “No Trespassing” signs, however the Purple Paint Statute allows landowners to mark trees or posts with purple paint as a warning to would-be trespassers. Just like a “No Trespassing” sign or actual communication to individuals that no trespassing is allowed, the purple paint marks are considered to be adequate notice to the public that no trespassing is allowed on the property.
Missouri’s law is similar to one that has been used in Arkansas since 1989. These statutes were enacted to provide landowners with an economical and easy way to keep out unwanted trespassers. The law does not require that property marked with the purple paint also be fenced, thus it is an economical alternative for landowners who do not otherwise need to fence their property. Additionally, it prevents a problem encountered when using “No Trespassing” signs – purple paint marks can’t be taken down, destroyed, or stolen!
Because the Purple Paint Statute is new, many people across the state are not yet aware that the statute exists. Regardless, the statute imputes notice to would-be trespassers. All land marked with purple paint in the manner proscribed by the statute is considered to be adequate notice to the public. It fulfills the same function as a “No Trespassing” sign, a fence, or telling someone not to come onto your property.
I certainly didn’t mean to sound dismissive regarding your encounter. But you must admit that most of us would find it full-filling to be able to deal with the many ignorant bullies we encounter in the course of our lives by actually giving them back in spades what they threaten us with. But that needs to remain a fantasy, not an option.
I’m 68 years old but in very good condition. I’m 6’2" tall, weigh 210 pounds, work out daily and would probably acquit myself very well in a fistfight. But I’m not sure how I would do against a habitual brawler though. I wouldn’t hesitate to cave in an attacker’s skull if I felt I had no other alternative. But I wouldn’t get into a pushing match just to prove my manhood. My position is that unless one, or his family, is threatened by eminent harm, resorting to physical violence is counter-productive. This is why we have laws and police and courts.
Again, if you get into it with a jerk and whip him, he’ll probably come at you again, only next time he may bash you with a club from behind. And if he gets the best of you, he will feel that his way of dealing with problems is O.K. In either scenario you are likely to come out the loser. However, if the authorities make it clear to him that his behavior isn’t acceptable he will most probably back off or go to jail, either way, you win.
Since I don’t know the circumstances of the encounter you had I can’t comment on what I might or might not have done. However it sounds as though you’re very fortunate that you didn’t get beaten to a pulp. And no one should ever be put in a position to have to defend himself on his own property.
My ancestors have worked hard for the last 10,000 years to get me to the point that I don’t need to walk around with a club on my shoulder and I like it that way, that’s called civilized society.
I still say a nice fence would solve 90% of your problem, get a nice iron fence and “enhance” it ala Gomez:
Or just a simple 4’ high chain link fence should prove a significant deterance if the person in Q is older and not so nimble. If the guy is still agile then go for a 6 footer and if you want to get tricksy, line the top bar with powdered chalk, anyone coming over will be “marked”
Here its still not uncommon to find the “south-o-the-border solution” on masonry walls, namely broken glass cast into morter across the top, just the site of it is deterent enough for most.
