Many shoots his lawnmower

[Mirror Lake 444]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a169/CecilBaird1/aaa.jpg

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A 56-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn't start.
Keith Walendowski told police he felt he had a right to shoot his mower.

Keith Walendowski has been charged with felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and misdemeanor disorderly conduct while armed.

According to the criminal complaint, Walendowski says he was angry because his Lawn Boy wouldn't start Wednesday morning.

He told police: "I can do that, it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want."

A woman who lives at Walendowski's house reported the incident. She says he was intoxicated.

Walendowski could face up to an $11,000 fine and six years and three months in prison if convicted.

A call to Walendowski's home went unanswered Friday.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/25/....ap/index.html

What do you think? Yeah the guy was intoxicated and looks like a drunk in the photo, but if he was not in possession of an illegal firearm would he still deserve an $11,000 fine and three years in prison? Just seems over the top to me on conviction.

If one of my neighbor's did this I'd break out the lawn chair and cheer him on. Maybe even offer to bring over some firepower and more beer.

I've never shot a lawnmower but I did take an air compressor and throw it out into the driveway in frustration. I would have run it over too, but it could have damaged the car. :D

Thoughts?

[SpringRain]

I think that the illegal firearm is a good enough reason to charge him. Otherwise, being drunk with a firearm is a pretty strong offense as well, in my book. I don't know if there is some law that actually regards it though. However I DO know that most communities have law regarding brandishing or firing a gun within city or county limits. I know I nearly got caught on that one for using a gun to euthanize a pet of mine in the backyard. The police didn't show up, but in mentioning it an officer who was a customer of mine, he told me I was "damned lucky no one turned me in" because it would've cost me a small fortune. I guess you can fire it if your life is in danger but otherwise its forbidden to "discharge a firearm" within the county.

[Mirror Lake 444]

I think that the illegal firearm is a good enough reason to charge him. Otherwise, being drunk with a firearm is a pretty strong offense as well, in my book. I don't know if there is some law that actually regards it though. However I DO know that most communities have law regarding brandishing or firing a gun within city or county limits. I know I nearly got caught on that one for using a gun to euthanize a pet of mine in the backyard. The police didn't show up, but in mentioning it an officer who was a customer of mine, he told me I was "damned lucky no one turned me in" because it would've cost me a small fortune. I guess you can fire it if your life is in danger but otherwise its forbidden to "discharge a firearm" within the county.

Wow that surprises me for Idaho where there is a lot of hunting. Here in Indiana I can do whatever I want on my property as long as I don't harm anyone. Granted I am not in the city limits but I have nailed my share of feral cats and a few fish eating birds on my fish farm of which I have a federal permit to do so.

My state has no where near the regulations some other states do and pretty much prefers to leave the property owner alone. For that I am thankful.

[steveksux]

IANAL, so I could be wrong, but here's my impression.

On your own property, its not illegal to have a firearm in your possession, concealed, or exposed, probably even when drunk. Not smart, but not illegal.

In the city, though, usually illegal to discharge, and while there probably ought to be a law, I wonder if there is an ordinance that combines discharge and intoxication... (boy, that can be taken a number of ways...).

They're probably trying to throw the book at him, and rightfully so. Guys clearly a danger to himself and others, has a drinking problem, a thinking problem, and definite lack of judgement.

I don't see this one making it to the Supreme Court, like Heller.

Walendowski vs ????? just doesn't sound like a good name for a major court case anyway....

Randy

[SpringRain]

Wow that surprises me for Idaho where there is a lot of hunting. Here in Indiana I can do whatever I want on my property as long as I don't harm anyone. Granted I am not in the city limits but I have nailed my share of feral cats and a few fish eating birds on my fish farm of which I have a federal permit to do so.

My state has no where near the regulations some other states do and pretty much prefers to leave the property owner alone. For that I am thankful.

Perhaps its because of all the hunters we are not allow to discharge in the county limits. :lol: I have hens and was rue to find out that I couldn't legally trap, harm, or kill the foxes and coons that come into my yard to try to eat my hens. That really irked me. I've since trained my dog (who killed one hen and chewed the popes nose off another his first day here) to "love" the hens but not the hawks, magpies, coons, squirrels, or foxes. (My darlin' dog is proof positive that the idea that once a dog kills a chicken, he can't be reformed is just plain poppycock, btw.) Also I have been looking into quieter ways to accomplish the goals. Although I understand now that a firearm includes things like crossbows, pellet/BB guns, and . . . wait for it . . . slingshots. Unbelievable, huh?

[SpringRain]

Walendowski vs ????? just doesn't sound like a good name for a major court case anyway....

Randy

OUCH! That was kind of Nazi-ish joke, no?

[Mirror Lake 444]

Perhaps its because of all the hunters we are not allow to discharge in the county limits. :lol: I have hens and was rue to find out that I couldn't legally trap, harm, or kill the foxes and coons that come into my yard to try to eat my hens. That really irked me. I've since trained my dog (who killed one hen and chewed the popes nose off another his first day here) to "love" the hens but not the hawks, magpies, coons, squirrels, or foxes. (My darlin' dog is proof positive that the idea that once a dog kills a chicken, he can't be reformed is just plain poppycock, btw.) Also I have been looking into quieter ways to accomplish the goals. Although I understand now that a firearm includes things like crossbows, pellet/BB guns, and . . . wait for it . . . slingshots. Unbelievable, huh?

Have you ever heard the three S's? Shoot, shovel, and Shut up? :D

Personally I believe you have every right to protect your fowl. And unless your local law enforcement or conservation officer is an overzealous prick they have more important things to do than harass a guy trying to protect his chickens.

My wife visited a student at his farm a couple of years ago. They had a dog that had no interest in the chickens that were roaming the yard. She was amazed at this and asked why the dog was not a danger to the chickens. They told her he killed one but would never again. They said they tied the dead chicken around his neck and made him wear it until it decomposed. Believe it or not they said it works and as evident from what my wife saw he has no interest in the chickens anymore.

BTW what does this mean? I'm sure it's a typo.

..."who killed one hen and chewed the popes nose off..."

I don't worship the Pope either but I wouldn't let my dog chew his nose off. :lol:

[USA-1]

He should have just torched it. Much more satisfying than shooting it.

[BrokenDoors]

He should have just torched it. Much more satisfying than shooting it.

Probably a law against lighting a fire in his front yard too.

[SpringRain]

Probably a law against lighting a fire in his front yard too.

True, unless you have a few sausages or hot dogs handy, then its officially a BBQ. :lol:

[Riddley]

Will no one think about the lawnmowers!!!
The guy's got to obey the laws of where he lives. Sadly, it appears that shooting yard equipment is out of line there.


Spring Rain, I believe that Randy was making a joke about the length of the guys name. If you want to win in court it's best to have a short, punchy name that all jurors can pronounce easily. 'Simpson' is about as long as you want to go.

[SpringRain]

Will no one think about the lawnmowers!!!
The guy's got to obey the laws of where he lives. Sadly, it appears that shooting yard equipment is out of line there.


Spring Rain, I believe that Randy was making a joke about the length of the guys name. If you want to win in court it's best to have a short, punchy name that all jurors can pronounce easily. 'Simpson' is about as long as you want to go.

I was also tongue in cheek-y with my response. Sorry if it sounded serious, my bad.

[Mirror Lake 444]

Will no one think about the lawnmowers!!!


Yeah a lawnboy is actually a higher end lawnmower. At least it was when I was growing up and my uncle had one.

He was probably so drunk he didn't know the fuel tank was empty or was too stupid to pull maintenance on it. :D

You know in retrospect he was a danger to his neighbors. A bullet or shot could have rickoshaed (sp?) off of the thing!

[Dutch]

thoughts, this is overkill. this should be a 200 fine and that's it. Fact is if he lived in rural arkansas he could shoot all the lawnmowers he wanted. No fine and not even a prison sentence. ;)

[Seki]

Yes but in rural Arkansas theres not the same potential for endangering people around him

Shooting things in a city is in general a bad idea

[DiAnna]

This is a ridiculous charge. My husband has wanted to shoot his stubborn lawn mower more times than I could count. Only the fact that he couldn't remember where he'd hidden the shells apparently saved him from a prison term.

Sheesh. The guy is on his own property, destroying his own property. The law enforcement in that town needs a serious dose of Ex-lax.

Unless, of course, he was in a suburb where firing guns within the city limits is illegal. I live in the country, so my outlook is a bit... less rigid when it comes to the satisfaction of murdering frustrating small engine units.