My 8 year old son, his friend, and my younger son were cutting through a neighbors yard (which has no fence and joins several other yards and kids have been doing this for at least 2 years and owners have never told the kids to not go through the yard) the man who lives there comes around his garage says "What are you doing?" doesn't bother to wait for an answer and shoots my son in the leg with a paint ball, leaving a welt. (I also found out that this isn't the first time that he has taken shots at other kids). I didn't want to go talk to this guy by myself so I called my brother who is a cop and he told me to call the police, so I did. After talking to the police I just asked them to go talk to this guy for me as I'm kind of friends with this guys wife and our sons sometimes play with each other. I want to call her, but not sure what to say. I hope that we can still be friendly. What would you have done?
2007-09-27 18:04:54 · 12 answers · asked by Lu 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
My son didn't know that other kids (older teens) had been shot at before. I found out later.
2007-09-27 18:23:55 · update #1
Tell your kid to respect other peoples property and get some intestinal fortitude. Inform the neighbor that if he has a problem with you kids he needs to inform you and let you handle it. Then if you dont manage to get the job done he can call the police for their assistance as he should have probably done.
2007-09-27 18:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, fence or no fence, I hope your son knows now that he can't just run all over other people's property. Property owners are entitled to take reasonable steps to expel trespassers, although I agree this is extreme.
As for never having told the kids not to pass through---if your son was aware other kids have been shot, that's a pretty clear warning!
Anyway, if I were friends with the wife (or even if I wasn't), I would have just gone over there, told the guy that my son has been told to stay off the property and that if there is ever another problem with the boy to call me first so I can punish him, no need for paint guns and other wild west tactics.
You can do this even now. By acknowledging your neighbor's problem and telling him you will help him solve it, you should be able to preserve your friendship with his wife.
2007-09-27 18:18:28 · answer #2 · answered by raichasays 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that this was overkill to have used a paintball gun - the point is that fence, no fence, and regardless if "everybody does it" your son was trespassing on this man's property and he had no right to be there.
Your son got a welt - you called the police - they spoke to him - leave it alone. Talk to your son about respecting other people's property and that it is never right to access someone's elses property without permission.
While I would not have resorted to using a paintball gun I would have been extremely irritated if parents had not taught their children any better than to be blatantly disrespectful of other people's property. If you as a parent knew your son was cutting across this man's property without ever asking permission to do so then you failed to properly parent your child. The world is not his oyster, and he doesn't have the right to go where ever his little heart desires.
So I guess that means three wrongs do not make a right: your son was wrong for crossing the man's property, you were wrong because you obviously knew he was doing it and you didn't correct the behavior, and the man was wrong for picking an improper remedy.
2007-09-27 23:43:13 · answer #3 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The shootist should not have shot at your child with any kind of gun, but your child should not be cutting thru other people's yards to begin with. Your son and yourself should go to his house and offer an apology for cutting thru his yard, stating he was in the wrong but did not realize it was a problem. Hopefully the neighbor will then return the apology for shooting at him and then all is well, assuming your son no longer goes on other peoples property.
2007-09-27 18:14:49 · answer #4 · answered by Sheila 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok wow. it's a yard. as long as they were not damaging anything, simply passing through and there were NO fences around the property i see no reason for him to shot your son, regardless of what kind of gun it was. I do think that you should tell your son to no longer "trespass" on anyone else's property though. If he was upset about them being on his property he should have called you or the cops. SHOOTING A YOUNG CHILD IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. i think you should talk to them about their rash behavior. you shouldn't worry if you can still be friends, he shot your son with a paint gun!!
2007-09-27 18:18:43 · answer #5 · answered by kk-killit 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A backyard,side yard,or front lawn are personal property of the homeowner.Your child should respect others property,however I would call the police,make a complain,some paintball guns really are not toys and dangerous,both where in the wrong.Sorry.
2007-09-27 18:19:30 · answer #6 · answered by peppersham 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to hear that your son was traumatized in this way . . .
This man obviously overreacted to these children taking a shortcut through his yard. I would recommend following up with the police on their conversation with the gentleman, and then have a talk with his wife, whom you consider to be a friend. Explain to her that the children meant no harm, and that your child suffered mentally and physically form the experience. If the children have used this shortcut before -- with no problems -- ask her if something has changed to cause her husband to be more vigilant about who goes through their yard. If this is so, tell her you'll make your children and his friends aware of the change, and wished not to cause any trouble, but that you were concerned about what your children experienced, and were concerned that the injury could possibly have been worse. Try to remain calm when speaking with her, and call out to her sense of compassion; keep things on a friendly tone.
Best of luck to you . . .
2007-09-27 18:23:53 · answer #7 · answered by AgonyAuntie 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I would have scolded my kid. The fact is he was cutting through the guys yard, but the guy doesn't know that. For all he knew the kid could have been up to no good. Be happy it wasn't a real gun.
2007-09-27 18:09:45 · answer #8 · answered by sunscour 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Call the police immediately!
2007-09-27 18:14:47 · answer #9 · answered by Think 1st 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is assault and should be reported to the police!
You can't go shooting children with a weapon that can kill them if hit in the right place! And If it were me, I could care less about being friends with someone who could have killed my kid!
2007-09-27 18:20:41 · answer #10 · answered by cantcu 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋