Dear Margo: We have a neighbor who we feel is unhinged. We have concerns not only for our safety, but for that of our other neighbors. “Joe” loves guns, and there is nothing wrong with that, but his use of them verges on the fanatical. Joe likes to hold target practice in his backyard. My husband, who is certified as a firearms instructor, tried talking to him about the hazards not only to Joe’s children but also to others. Joe’s shooting target is only 20 yards from where his children play, and they are in the yard playing when he is shooting. Joe ignored us. My husband had our attorney send Joe and his wife a letter telling them they needed to stop, since some of the bullets were coming onto our property. He refused. In fact, the next time he went out to shoot, his wife pointed a video camera at our kitchen window, yelled obscenities and gave us the finger. Meanwhile, Joe is shooting away. And I don’t mean standing-still shooting; I mean rolling on the ground and then shooting from a prone position. He dresses in black and carries his handgun around all the time — and brags about it. Should we contact the authorities? My husband is thinking of trying to reason with Joe again, but I am terrified. What do you think? — Scared Out of My Wits in North Carolina
Dear Scared: I think Joe is a head case with firearms and fantasies. Tell your husband to forget reasoning with him; Joe is missing the wherewithal. The first thing I would do is find out if this nut job has a permit to carry firearms — since that’s what he’s doing. Then bring the whole matter of Joe and his backyard firing range to the attention of the local police. If they are unresponsive, try the local DA or the attorney general’s office. I asked a federal judge’s law clerk for guidance, and here’s a little, pardon the expression, ammunition for you: “North Carolina General Statute 14-34.1 prohibits the willful or wanton discharge of a firearm into occupied property. The little shooting range might also qualify as a nuisance/breach of the peace that the attorney general’s office could file suit to abate under General Statute 19-2.1. There may, of course, be local ordinances that more specifically prohibit the reckless discharge of a firearm.” — Margo, restrictively
When You Laugh It Off, You’re in on the Joke
Dear Margo: My husband and I immigrated to the United States from another country over a year ago. My husband is a very intelligent and well-educated man, so we managed to settle in comfortably in a short time. The problem I am now facing is that many women in my husband’s new workplace find him attractive and he seems to be enjoying this. He even brags about it to me and reports how some officemates compliment him. He feels like some of them are trying to seduce him. What do I do? — Bridgette
Dear Bridge: The question is not what you do, dear, it’s what your husband does … and let us hope it is nothing. I think you should make light of his reports of the female fans at work. You might, in fact, say that these women seem to see in him what you saw in him; have it be a joke between the two of you that he is a babe magnet at work. It’s probably a good sign that he is sharing the flattery with you, because if he were up to something, believe me, you would not hear a word about those compliments. — Margo, assuredly
Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers’ daughter. All letters must be sent via e-mail to dearmargo@creators.com. Due to a high volume of e-mail, not all letters will be answered.
