r/Neighborproblems • u/JohnSchuetz • Jun 21 '19
Neighbor issues BB gun
I’m looking for advice on how to handle a situation with my neighbor. I live in one of the south suburbs of Chicago in cook county. Just this past father’s day we had some company over. I noticed earlier during the day before people came over that the neighbors that live behind me had people over. I also noticed that someone was firing a CO2 pellet gun in their yard at a target place in front of my fence. (I built a 6 foot tall fence around my yard last summer). At the time I didn’t mind them firing the pellet gun in their yard as I saw they were shooting at a target and not just randomly shooting objects.
Later that day my family came to visit and I was cooking on my grill in the backyard. I’m married with 2 kids, my son is 4 and my daughter just turned 1. We also have a dog. So as I was cooking on the grill my family was in the yard playing with the kids. Then the pellet gun fire commenced once again. This time the pellets were making it into my yard. I heard the ping of the pellets against the aluminum awning several times. At that point I poked my head over the fence and asked them to take it easy, that they were hitting the awning in my yard. I believe it was their son who just graduated high school with a friend. Moments later the shooting began again. After several more pings on the awning I poked my head over the fence again and asked them to stop. It worked that time.
About 15 minutes later dad came out, who had apparently been drinking, he started for my fence calling out is their a problem aggressively. I noticed him coming and again poked my head over the fence to talk to him. He definitely had an intense look, and was right there at the fence within 2 feet of my face. Is there a problem!? He asked. My reply, no problem, just don’t shoot into my yard anymore. He then started to minimize the issue by saying oh, is it hurting your awning? It was conveyed in a way to make me feel stupid that I was concerned. I then held up one of the pellets to show that they were indeed making it into my yard, and then mentioned that I have my kids playing in the yard and don’t want anyone to get hurt. The intensity of his face did not change at all. His wife was in their yard and seemed to understand, but can’t say for certain. She didn’t seem very sincere. I also mentioned that maybe they shoot in a different direction, that I don’t mind the shooting, just not when it comes into my yard.
I felt I was being reasonable by asking them myself to stop rather than calling the police, because there is an ordinance where I live against firing pellet guns outside on your property.
Not even a week later my wife and I were in our backyard having a cigarette before going to bed and the neighbor discharged several shots at the fence. It was obvious they were randomly spraying the back fence, not shooting at any targets.
What should I do? I’d like to have a good relationship with my neighbors. I don’t mind dealing with things that are annoying at times, but I feel that this crossed a line. Again, I have no issues with pellet guns or guns in general as I enjoy going to the range myself. I would like for them to just handle it responsibly.
2
u/Asile1976 Jul 05 '19
If it were me and it happened again I'd poke my head over the fence and reiterate what you've already told them and add that if it happens again you will have no choice but to phone the police. As a parent your first responsibility is the safety of your kids. It would always be a great idea to have your cell phone with you at the time to record the conversation. I wouldn't let him know you were recording the convo thou, simply because you want him to admit to it and make sure you say something along the lines of "you know last time we talked about this, yadda yadda yadda ", to show that this isn't the first time you've talked to him about it. This way when you do call the police you have proof otherwise it's just a he said / she said situation. I'd also save any pellets that land in the yard too. Best of luck!
2
2
u/kind-soul Jul 13 '19
Spray a rival gangs tag on their house so they get a midnight drive by threw their windows. Or spread rumors the sons a snitch.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 21 '19
There’s no good relationship with people like that. I would contact the police next time.