needing advice on neighbors and ...

by advice-on-neighbors 19 Replies latest jw friends

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  advice-on-neighbors

  guns. I am not Jehovahs' Witness, so thank you for allowing me this visit. I have friends I respect deeply who are, and much apprecaite their faith and integrity.

  However I have a problem with my Jehovah Witness neigbors shooting guns often, five days this week. I am told they claim to be quite proud members.

  While this is a semi-rural area, the population has increased by 1000% and is such that this is happening sometimes 200 feet from my home. It can go on for hours. This is not training for hunting, this is just 'plinking'--ie nothing better to do?

  About 12 years ago it was also an issue with the same family. They were made aware that many neighbors were completely exasperated by the noise and danger, even being made ill. It was so loud and happening so often my doctors were becoming concerned. I witnessed this person shooting a handgun off his back at a tree 75 feet from my friends home. I spoke with him that day. He told me to get lost.

  They did not honor our indivuidual wishes when we spoke with them, instead this one individual in particular moved away and took with him his guns, but now he is back staying with his parents, and shooting his arsenal.

  Since I've been told that guns are inimical to JV beliefs, I am appealing to you for advice. Could you recommend someone I could speak with, or some avenue to pursue?

  If they were Catholic or Jewish I would even appeal to those churches for their leadership. But I deeply respect the position I understand your church takes on guns, and thank you for having the courage and moral stance.

  If I have insulted anyone or am acting out of turn, I apologize in advance. I hope you understand how awful living next to this is and how desperate I am to get past this.

  Please let me know if you need antything else from me. Thanks again,

  'advice-on-neighbors'

  Washington state
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  OneEyedJoe

  Unfortunately JWs are only able to apply scriptural principles to others, not themselves. If you've already talked to them and they've made no attempt to accommodate your concerns, I don't see many options other than to contact the police, if indeed they are violating any laws.
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  OneEyedJoe

  On second thought, you might get some traction if you write a letter of complaint to your local kingdom hall specifying their unchristian behavior. That may not be likely to get you any great result, depending on their status with the cult, but it may put them in an awkward situation. JWs put a lot of lip service to "giving a good witness" and setting an example so they will likely get a talking to from the local cult leaders at the very least.
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  jgnat

  You've been fed a load of bull puckey. "guns are inimical to JV beliefs." They are not.

  Might you have preppers for neighbours?

  It seems to me a call to your local bylaw officer or (sherriff?) whatever you call it in the US, your town office, and see if your neighbours are violating any bylaws. If the aren't get a petition signed by your fellow concerned neighbours to stifle this gun-happy hick.
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  steve2

  From your account, this has been a problem for 12+ years with other neighbors. Why the sudden need to have advice now? Why haven't the neighbors and you got together to problerm solve it?
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  advice-on-neighbors

  Mmm, he moved out but has returned.

  This gentleman who has the obsession, let's say, has recently been enabled, that is, was allowed access to an uninhabitated property that he is ostnesibly doing work on. He moved back with his parents, well he and now 4 children, 6 months ago, they seem to disallow the frequent shooting, but the daily occurence started once this access was given (due to a sale).

  Others neigbors have also tried to intervene. We're told to go to hell.
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  PaintedToeNail

  Does your state or county have prohibitions on noise or discharge of weapons in proximity of other houses? If so contact the police. You can also try contacting the local Kingdom Hall and ask to speak to the elders about one of the 'brothers' going there...it might not work, but it is worth a try.
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  advice-on-neighbors

  Oh definitely they're 'preppers' and it seems whatever other self-serving belief works to rationalize their behavior. What blows my mind is how preppers have freezers for the copious amounts of meat they seem to eat.

  This behavior is 'legal,' but so is running over your neighbors dog,plowing into a neignbor's cow that might've wandered onto the road, joining the Ku Klux Klan and driving 50mph on our little country road, none though make for good neighbors.

  The law that allows the behavior is a residual from the old days when there didn't used to be people here. But, now there are.

  The first attempt to change the law brought the 'preppers' out of the woods threatening our well-being. What a bunch of bullies.

  Anyway, I agree, contacting their leadership directly is probably the best idea. Best of course is he grows up and lives to the principles he espouses.

  Meanwhile I will hope he gets a job and leaves.

  Thanks~!
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  steve2

  I would definitely state that this is not typical Jehovah's Witness behavior - it raises big questions about whether and to what extent they are active Witnesses. Witnesses, for all their faults, usually like to be seen to be decent, law-abiding citizens. You've got neighbors that I daresay many, many groups would want to distance themsevles from. The advice you get on this forum may not be that helpful, I'm afraid.
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  LoisLane looking for Superman

  This neighbor sounds too trigger happy. Some people, no matter what religion, are nutters, and kill people for no reason.

  I feel for you and I am sorry you and your area have to put up with this jerk.

  Do you have a Councilman, or Mayor to write to or email.?

  What about your area State Representative. Tell him what you told us. That the local density of people is growing, and you are afraid someone might possibly get shot or killed. Is it possible to find out someway, to see if his guns are registered, or do you have something like homestead rights and on your own property you can have any kind of arsenal you want?

  Is it possible this man has been in jail and should not even have one gun?

  Do you have any town ordinance for quiet time that he might be violating?

  ---> If you go the KHall route, I might see a Lawyer first and have the Lawyer write the letter to the KHall and not put your name on it, just be "the client". Say that this man is not a good neighbor, not a good Christian man, and say he also used profanity in addressing you. Possibly, say, you were interested in learning more about JW.org but this man and his family are such poor examples of their faith, you don't want anything to do with a religion that would have those hypocrites in it.

  I do know how irritating it is when you want to enjoy a summer night and you have to contend with neighbor noise.

  LoisLane