Thread: A question about Private Property

A sad truth is that those with nothing to lose will always be able to take advantage of those with anything.

Simply put, if you are the property owner, you stand to lose a lot. The notion of defending your home is fun for tough-guy web-talk and bumper stickers, but the truth is, you can defend your life, but you may lose your freedom in the process. Defending your property is a much tougher endeavor.

I have heard so many fun stories of guys defending themselves with a knife or gun, then the cops show up and take the bad guy to jail after his trip to the ER and the good guy is never so much as questioned or detained and is celebrated ad a hero. There are lots of stories like this. True ones are quite rare.

That's why in jersey we always keep a bag of lime and a shovel in the trunk of the car.....you never know where the day may take you.

I remember hearing someone say, regarding defending yourself in America - make sure that if you shoot them that they are dead, that way they can't sue you. This theory did make me smile, though is probably true, and unfortunate. I do not endorse shooting people However. This is just my view, and I accept that others will disagree.

That is an interesting thought about the fire department not going through a gate. From what I have seen they seem to enjoy smashing through or chopping/cutting holes in things.

Originally Posted by 32t

That is an interesting thought about the fire department not going through a gate. From what I have seen they seem to enjoy smashing through or chopping/cutting holes in things.

Note the "Fire Dept" we are very Rural, the word Department is a stretch, but hey at least we have one

I grew up in a rural area. I am glad that we never needed the fire department. I live in the "big" city now and it still freaks me out to smell smoke that I don't know where it is coming from. Back then if you smelled smoke it was something of yours that was burning! There is a definite smell to processed wood/old boards when they burn. Several times I have had neighbors remodel and burn the old lathe in their grill/pit. I don't care that they burn it but I don't feel right until I know where it is coming from. No offense to the rural departments but the thought in my area was that whatever structure started on fire was a loss guaranteed. Hopefully they could save the rest.

Originally Posted by unit

A sad truth is that those with nothing to lose will always be able to take advantage of those with anything.

Simply put, if you are the property owner, you stand to lose a lot. The notion of defending your home is fun for tough-guy web-talk and bumper stickers, but the truth is, you can defend your life, but you may lose your freedom in the process. Defending your property is a much tougher endeavor.

I have heard so many fun stories of guys defending themselves with a knife or gun, then the cops show up and take the bad guy to jail after his trip to the ER and the good guy is never so much as questioned or detained and is celebrated ad a hero. There are lots of stories like this. True ones are quite rare.

I've heard this said many times in my lifetime, mostly in the last 15 to 20 years.
In the OP, Glenn was obviously looking for thoughts on his current situation involving uninvited individuals entering his property. I have no doubt that Glenn expected some of the hard line , tough suggestions & the silly humor that was given; I'm sure based upon his background that he can seperate the wheat from the chaff.
I had no doubt that he would consult a legal advisor on the topic.

From my life experience, everyone has something to lose. The sad truth is not all realize this, until it's too late. Some are sent to the afterlife not realizing it at all; due to intoxication or mental disorders.
Those without, have been taking from those with, since the beginning of man.

" Simply put, if you are the property owner, you stand to lose a lot.",,,yes you do, you stand to lose your life & those of your loved ones; especially when you let outside influences effect the dynamics of the situation at hand.
The person who passed up that "Do Not Enter/Private Property" sign or multiple signs, did so for a reason. Do you want to try & guess why? That person who passed the signs & entered your property/home , took some responsibility on himself for what actions might occur going forward. Losing my freedom or the deed to my house, will never stand in the way of defending my life. If I make a mistake, by the laws, then I can only see my son on monthly visits to the prison I'm in. If I allow uncertainty & fear cloud my judgement, the last thing I see is the garbage that took my life. I choose monthly visits.

Many, many times I was on a scene where a person defended their life or that of their family's. Investigators arrive & it usually does not take long at all to determine what happened. Most of the time spent on the scene, is due the the processing of the scene, photographs, evidence gathering, witness statements , taken to justify the decisions of the investigators, that might get questioned at a later date. The "Good Guy", as you put it, is usually cleared that day, it happens more often than you think. What's rare, is a person being charged after defending his life or his home. Sometimes the investigators make a mistake & the person defending his life takes a ride to jail; think God we have courts & lawyers for the "Good Guys".

Another delineation used over here is a couple of old truck tyres stood upright and half buried in the ground then painted white. Probably any post/ peir deliniation would put off any accidental visitors.

Originally Posted by 32t

I have been on roads in South Dakota that are public roads but with gates across them. Perfectly legal to open the gate to go through and proper etiquette to close them after!

Cattle gates are usually marked aren't they ?

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Cattle gates are usually marked aren't they ?

These weren't marked and I don't think that they wanted you to think that you could go through. They are minimum maintenance roads.