Hit a snag since my previous post on this topic, so I started a new one for the current problem.
So, I dug into the bank and created a vertical dirt wall. Then I installed 2ea. 6x6 posts 8 feet apart, and stacked several soft white pine 2x6's behind the posts (in a way that I can replace them easily) and backfilled with rock-free fill. This created an 8' x 5' backstop, and the sides of the berm are also wood/backfill at a 45* angle. No metal fasteners exposed that could cause a ricochet.
The backstop is 50 yards from my shooting position, where I have almost completed an 8x8 shooting "shed". The shooting position offers an almost perfectly level shooting lane towards the backstop. "My" house is directly behind the backstop, yet 75' higher in elevation, and (guessing) 100 yards away.
The shooting shed was to have a steel plate deflector installed just outside the shooting "window" that would not allow a shot to be aimed any higher that the mid point of the berm.
The wife and I were putting the roof sheathing on yesterday, when the pastor next door come over to ask what we were building (we were screwing the sheathing down since it was Sunday, and so as not to create any "hammering noise"). This was odd, because any other conversation I've had with the pastor has only been when "I" instigated the conversation. Anyway, I told him that among other things, the shed will house a battery box for a future security gate and opener (no need to talk about shooting at this point).
He replies...Looks good!...nice to see you again...have a good day!".
20 minutes later, our neighbor on the other side of us drives down, and parks in my driveway...gets out...and says he wants to talk about the shooting. His house, (while looking down the shooting lane) is about as far away as mine is from the berm, but probably another 30' higher in elevation than mine, they have 2 young children, and it's steep, with a fence between us). He says his "wife" is terribly concerned that my shooting is about to become more frequent, and mentions his children. So I explain to him exactly what I'm building, how I'm taking safety precautions, and that I'll be mainly shooting .22's. He repeats his "wife's" concerns, and I tell him that it's very important to us that we get along with our neighbors, and if she's that upset, then I can find another place to shoot.
This is when he starts getting irritating, I've already conceded, and he once again repeats his wife's concerns. Then he tells me that I'm responsible for every bullet fired, and where it goes...I agree...and remind him to set his wife at ease...I will not shoot a firearm.
Phase 3...he again repeats the wife's concerns, and tells me that he has researched the ordinances, and that his home is just under the 300' limit for the "noise" ordinance, and that there are lots of other homes in the area that a stray bullet could hit.
At this point I've decided that the less I say the better!
He now mentions that he doesn't have any rifles, but he has a handgun, and that "he" goes to On Target shooting Range...so I say..."Next time you go, call me and I'll meet you there and we'll shoot some".
Again, he repeats his wife's concerns, and asks me if there isn't another place that I can shoot my rifles....and I say..."not anywhere else on my property".
Now he say's (and things are still calm) that he doesn't want to report me, but he has called the sheriff's department and reminds me of the 300' ordinance.
I inform him that the ordinance is a "noise" ordinance...and leave it at that...then he says that, "no...there's a firearms ordinance as well"...I bid him good day at that point.
So far, I can find NO ordinance, other than noise, that's related to my position.
Now, having thought about this a bit, I think that my concerned neighbor got together with the Pastor, and the pastor made first contact but didn't have the balls to get to the point, then drove to my concerned neighbor to share the news, and get him to mount the confrontation (the pastor left in his car for about 5 minutes and returned before the concerned neighbor arrived).
So today I once again researched the ordinances, and found nothing other than the noise thing. I called the sheriff's department and got the run around, no real answer that they could offer a hard copy of, just "opinions"....but I have one more contact if I can catch him in his office.
I would have been fine with the no firing firearms that I had offered if the neighbor had shut his mouth after that. I felt like he was under the impression that he had the upper hand in the conversation and ran with it, and if he is false about the actual "firearms ordinance" (which was probably told to him with no backup in print...as an opinion)...then I will reverse my statement about not firing.
The wife thinks that he was simply nervous about the confrontation, as she says his voice was shaking, and he just went to rambling on and on, but I differ.
So what would you do? If I continue with my plans, it's not to provoke him, even after I said I wouldn't, but I need hard evidence that I am in the right.
I'm thinking that the best thing to do is have the sheriff's department come out and have a look...and tell me yes or no...if it's yes, then proceed "after" I have the balls to go tell him what the deal is rather than simply proceed and antagonize him.
So, I dug into the bank and created a vertical dirt wall. Then I installed 2ea. 6x6 posts 8 feet apart, and stacked several soft white pine 2x6's behind the posts (in a way that I can replace them easily) and backfilled with rock-free fill. This created an 8' x 5' backstop, and the sides of the berm are also wood/backfill at a 45* angle. No metal fasteners exposed that could cause a ricochet.
The backstop is 50 yards from my shooting position, where I have almost completed an 8x8 shooting "shed". The shooting position offers an almost perfectly level shooting lane towards the backstop. "My" house is directly behind the backstop, yet 75' higher in elevation, and (guessing) 100 yards away.
The shooting shed was to have a steel plate deflector installed just outside the shooting "window" that would not allow a shot to be aimed any higher that the mid point of the berm.
The wife and I were putting the roof sheathing on yesterday, when the pastor next door come over to ask what we were building (we were screwing the sheathing down since it was Sunday, and so as not to create any "hammering noise"). This was odd, because any other conversation I've had with the pastor has only been when "I" instigated the conversation. Anyway, I told him that among other things, the shed will house a battery box for a future security gate and opener (no need to talk about shooting at this point).
He replies...Looks good!...nice to see you again...have a good day!".
20 minutes later, our neighbor on the other side of us drives down, and parks in my driveway...gets out...and says he wants to talk about the shooting. His house, (while looking down the shooting lane) is about as far away as mine is from the berm, but probably another 30' higher in elevation than mine, they have 2 young children, and it's steep, with a fence between us). He says his "wife" is terribly concerned that my shooting is about to become more frequent, and mentions his children. So I explain to him exactly what I'm building, how I'm taking safety precautions, and that I'll be mainly shooting .22's. He repeats his "wife's" concerns, and I tell him that it's very important to us that we get along with our neighbors, and if she's that upset, then I can find another place to shoot.
This is when he starts getting irritating, I've already conceded, and he once again repeats his wife's concerns. Then he tells me that I'm responsible for every bullet fired, and where it goes...I agree...and remind him to set his wife at ease...I will not shoot a firearm.
Phase 3...he again repeats the wife's concerns, and tells me that he has researched the ordinances, and that his home is just under the 300' limit for the "noise" ordinance, and that there are lots of other homes in the area that a stray bullet could hit.
At this point I've decided that the less I say the better!
He now mentions that he doesn't have any rifles, but he has a handgun, and that "he" goes to On Target shooting Range...so I say..."Next time you go, call me and I'll meet you there and we'll shoot some".
Again, he repeats his wife's concerns, and asks me if there isn't another place that I can shoot my rifles....and I say..."not anywhere else on my property".
Now he say's (and things are still calm) that he doesn't want to report me, but he has called the sheriff's department and reminds me of the 300' ordinance.
I inform him that the ordinance is a "noise" ordinance...and leave it at that...then he says that, "no...there's a firearms ordinance as well"...I bid him good day at that point.
So far, I can find NO ordinance, other than noise, that's related to my position.
Now, having thought about this a bit, I think that my concerned neighbor got together with the Pastor, and the pastor made first contact but didn't have the balls to get to the point, then drove to my concerned neighbor to share the news, and get him to mount the confrontation (the pastor left in his car for about 5 minutes and returned before the concerned neighbor arrived).
So today I once again researched the ordinances, and found nothing other than the noise thing. I called the sheriff's department and got the run around, no real answer that they could offer a hard copy of, just "opinions"....but I have one more contact if I can catch him in his office.
I would have been fine with the no firing firearms that I had offered if the neighbor had shut his mouth after that. I felt like he was under the impression that he had the upper hand in the conversation and ran with it, and if he is false about the actual "firearms ordinance" (which was probably told to him with no backup in print...as an opinion)...then I will reverse my statement about not firing.
The wife thinks that he was simply nervous about the confrontation, as she says his voice was shaking, and he just went to rambling on and on, but I differ.
So what would you do? If I continue with my plans, it's not to provoke him, even after I said I wouldn't, but I need hard evidence that I am in the right.
I'm thinking that the best thing to do is have the sheriff's department come out and have a look...and tell me yes or no...if it's yes, then proceed "after" I have the balls to go tell him what the deal is rather than simply proceed and antagonize him.
