Hmmm. Maybe I'd better re-think that field expedient for sign-grabbers.
Posted on 10/29/2008 9:40:29 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
OCTOBER 28--Angered that two neighborhood teenagers knocked over a John McCain sign on his lawn, an Ohio man allegedly grabbed a rifle and fired three times at the duo as they sought to drive away from his Warren Township home.
Kenneth Rowles, 50, was charged with felonious assault in connection with the Saturday afternoon incident, which resulted in one boy suffering a minor bullet wound.
According to a Warren Township Police Department report, Patrick Wise, 16, yelled, "This is for Obama" as he knocked over the McCain sign.
Wise's cousin, Kyree Flowers, 17, was waiting in the passenger seat of the SUV, which was struck by three bullets fired by Rowles. One bullet hit Flowers in the arm, while another shattered the passenger's and driver's side windows.
Rowles, pictured in the above mug shot, claimed in a police interview that he "shot three times attempting to scare the subjects."
Shortly after the October 25 confrontation, Rowles called police to complain about two instances in which his McCain signs had been vandalized, but never bothered to mention that he had, minutes earlier, fired at a vehicle carrying Wise and Flowers.
As Officer Daniel Peterson was getting into his squad car to leave, Rowles stopped him to ask about a new Ohio law allowing homeowners to protect their property.
"I told him that it would be stupid for someone to get shot or injured over an election sign and he agreed," Peterson wrote in his report, which you'll find below.
Police seized 11 long guns and four pistols from Rowles's home, and recovered two spent .22-caliber shell casings from his driveway.
If convicted of the assault charge, Rowles faces up to eight years in prison.
“Git offa my property! (BOOM!)”
.. Patrick Wise, 16, yelled, “This is for Obama” as he knocked over the McCain sign.
Arresting a man for protecting his property. How absolutely Communist of them.
BTTT
Some one balled up and bent my Palin-MCain sign yesterday. I brought it the house, straightened it up and coated it with motor and peanut oil.
Next I found a dead bat in my yard, I may have a use for it.
If you can find some poison oak and rub it on the sign.....
If his actions had been to protect his car or house instead of his sign (first amendment, speech), I wonder if he’d be charged with the toughest charge possible. I also wonder if he faces a jury of his peers, gun owners will all be scrubbed from the jury.
No, I’m not saying that shooting at children for walking on your lawn is ever proper action. However, downplaying the actions of these young people to be no more than a tiny prank misses the bigger picture.
A bit over the top on both sides.
I wouldn’t try to shoot a couple of kids if they were vandalizing a sign. It’s trespassing, but it’s not a deadly home invasion, since they evidently were leaving on their own.
On the other hand, this is a case of trespass, harrassment, and vandalism. The kids should not be let off without some kind of talking to, at the very least. It looks like yet another case of biased law enforcement.
I like it.
Poor guy needs more range time.
I agree , blanks would have been in order, but one never knows the ‘threats’ one may face on a moment’s notice.. no time to reload and all.
In the old days, he could have used a shotgun and shells with rock salt as the load. It would have dinged the car paint job pretty good .. and stung a bit.
I wonder if the parents will see how their little precious ones wouldn’t have been shot at if they hadn’t been goons playing ‘community activist for Obama’ in the first place.
...by that I meant he should have been able to disable the car without hurting the yutes, of course...
If you shoot at someone without the intent to seriously cause harm or kill, you probably shouldn't have access to fire arms.
The perps weren’t on his property when he shot at them. Furthermore, it’s just plain stupid to shoot someone over an outdoor political sign. A video cam of these perps would have resulted in charges against the perps instead of charges against the homeowner and he wouldn’t be facing 8 years in the graybar hotel. After the criminal conviction the perps can sue him in civil court and be the new homeowners.
This guy should be given a parade.
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