Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Rabbit Season, Hawk Season

Lauren was out all day on Monday. I was at work all day. When I got home the neighbor across the street came to tell me that the police were at my house for a while, around noon. I assumed that another neighbor, probably someone complaining about noise and permits due to the crew installing our screen room, called the police.

I did not think too much about it until our next-door neighbor to the left, a well meaning but somewhat nosey and opinionated couple, came to our house to tell us about what transpired.
Apparently, someone on the street behind us shot a Red Tailed Hawk and it landed and died in our backyard. The crew working on our house called the police because they heard the gunshot and saw the bird fall. The police drove around the neighborhood and asked questions of some of the neighbors but did not find anything or anyone.

What the Fuck? Someone is shooting a gun in our neighborhood? Towards my house? Seriously what the fuck is wrong with people? When I talked to the foreman on the crew of workers he told me it sounded like a .22. I have to rely on his assessment because although I have had my fair share of gunfire, I cannot tell one from the next (which is hard to do when you are in the fetal position hiding under a bar misdialing 911). Plus I was not there.

When our well meaning but somewhat nosey and opinionated neighbors were telling us the story they asked, very seriously, somewhat accusingly, like I would know the answer, “Do you know who would own a gun in our neighborhood?”

I looked at them and said, “It’s the South. Everyone owns guns. It would be easier to ask who doesn’t own one.”

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our neighbor did this all the time growing up....he'd shoot at rabbits in his garden, which so happened to be in the direction of our house. I'm not talking a HUGE farm or anything...just a regular neighborhood and he was shooting in the direciton of our house and yard...people are morons!

- Jon
- Daddy Detective
- www.daddydetective.com

Anonymous said...

Oh, that shit ain't right! But can I just say? It pleased me to hear you say "What the fuck?" I don't know why - I'm a freak.

jen said...

I felt the same way, Kalki, about the use of the work f**k. I guess we're both freaks. HA.

Seriously though, Bill, that's really messed up. You have every right to be pissed off.

Unknown said...

I LOVE your reply to the "who owns a gun" question. Priceless.

Other than that, this story is a little spooky. Literally too close to home for comfort.

Unknown said...

Man people are nuts! Oh and I'm with kalki, I kinda giggled when you said "What the fuck?"

Michelle said...

I lived with this when I was growing up. My parents live on the side of a mountain, and the hunters would choose to ignore the laws concerning number of feet away from a residence and shooting a gun. Once a hunter was perched in a tree on their property and nearly fell into their pool. Hope they find the idiot and confiscate his gun. Anyone that stupid should have a firearm!

Redneck Mommy said...

In my mother-in-law's house, there is a hole in the stairwell, from when a stray bullet passed through the window, missed my husband by a hair and lodged itself into the wall. All from a hunter who though it was reasonable to point and fire a rifle at a deer that was in front of a residence. Needless to say, he almost got more than he was aiming for. People are idiots everywhere. Glad no one was hurt.

Ern said...

OMG! It's not a question of who owns a gun. It's a question of who in your neighborhood is in need of institutionalization. Shooting a hawk? Shooting a gun in a neighborhood? Crazy!

Rob said...

Apparently, recreational neighborhood red-tailed hawk shooting is not limited to the South, as indicated in this article.

It is difficult to understand how anyone can handle a deadly weapon without constantly considering the potential consequences of their actions. Our overflowing prison systems indicate that there is no shortage of such individuals.

Anonymous said...

All guns sound like 'BANG' to me. I've been with you when a couple went off. The sound makes a liitle bit of pee come out in my pants. How did the hawk taste?

kittenpie said...

And if he missed? What come up must go down. There is a teen book about a guy who shoots a gun up in the air and it comes down and kills someone a couple of blocks over. Scary that people don't think about potential outcomes to their idiocy. (And the south scares the heck out of me, BTW)

Kami said...

Asshat. Do you live on a hunting lease? Didn't think so.

Was Dick Cheney visiting Jeb?

Kami said...

You aren't the asshat. Just wanted to clarify.

Odd Mix said...

I would say that the only faintly aluminium colored lining on this cloud is that at least they wer shooting UP instead of straight at your house.

I am with Erin, it matters not who owns a gun - it matters who is criminally irresponsible.

In Somalia, I once woke up to find a .30 caliber bullet mushroomed on the pavement next to where I was sleeping. Didn't need any coffee that morning.

Anonymous said...

Up here in Pennsylvania, they say The Hawk Will Never Die ? !!!

Nature Girl said...

Holy crap! That's scary! This happened to my brother in MI, and the bullet went right through the wall of what was to be my neice's nursery....called the police and they guy felt so bad he gave all his guns immediately to the police to be destroyed...I think it was to throw them off...he had a basement full of "illegal herbs"...ifyouknowwhatimean....I hate people! I hope the police caught them! Stacie

Tammy said...

Yet another reason why I hate people.

I don't believe I've ever seen you use the "F" word before. I like it!

Anonymous said...

I think I'm a freak too as I was strangely satisfied to to see "fuck" used in one of your posts. Maybe cause I was thinking the same thing. Keep us updated on this one.

Misty said...

Seeing the F-word on your blog ruined my Lake Woebegone image of you...but it was funny. Weird, but funny. Now you are officially R-rated.

Anonymous said...

COME HOME!

LizzieDaisy said...

lmao at the “It’s the South. Everyone owns guns. It would be easier to ask who doesn’t own one.” :)

We may be a little bit north of you here in Indiana, but most of my neighbors own guns (for hunting) as well. Quite frankly, I wouldn't know the difference between a gun and a firecracker going off... but if I ever thought one of my neighbors shot one off to shoot a deer (or hawk) in their yard much less mine, I'd turn them in quicker than they could count the points. Grrr. I am not anti-gun, just anti-idiot. :)

Anonymous said...

Dude, relax, guns ain't the devil.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

who gives a crap blog administrator,your blog is weak as puppy piss.

Anonymous said...

ditto