man goes to jail for shooting his own lawn mower
By bmorehouse1
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
United States
July 27, 2008 11:19pm CST
I guess this man was having trouble with his lawn mower not starting, so he got mad and shot it full of holes with his sawed off shotgun. He was arrested for doing so. He argued that it was his own lawn mower, on his own property and he was entitled to do with it what he wanted. I have to agree with him on that point, but I guess it is illegal in that city to own a sawed off shotgun within the city limits. Needless to say he was breaking the law, thus the arrest. I know I have gotten mad at my lawn mower and kicked it when it wouldn't start, but I guess I never would have thought of shooting it! Nothing makes me madder than a lawn mower that won't start. Have you ever done anything off the wall when your lawn mower wouldn't start?
5 people like this
13 responses
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
28 Jul 08
The arrest was for the sawed-off shotgun, not the mower. I don't think those weapons are legal anywhere.
When I coudn't start the stupid thing, I stuck it in the trunk of the car and brought it to a mower repair shop. When the guy said it was beyond repair, I would have been happy to "kill" it! Instead, I asked if he would dispose of it for me, and requested a discount on buying a new one. When I see this in print, it makes me feel like the all-time chanpion of the wimps! I just made myself choose appropriate battles, and fighting the mower wouldn't help a thing!
2 people like this
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I agree that fighting the mower gets you nowhere. Glad to see that you took the appropriate action. Good for you!
1 person likes this
@jammyt (2818)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
I think shooting it with a shotgun was a tad bit too far. good thing no bullet ricocheted and hurt him. That would have been hard to explain to the hospital. or what if there were innocent bystanders around. 
Also, his behavior could reflect how he can get when he is mad. What if his wife made him mad? Or a neighbor. He can easily do that. I mean, if he could do that to a non-living thing.. who knows?
Also, his behavior could reflect how he can get when he is mad. What if his wife made him mad? Or a neighbor. He can easily do that. I mean, if he could do that to a non-living thing.. who knows?@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I agree with you. If an innocent bystander got hurt because of this it wouldn't have been good. The neighbors did say that he wouldn't normally hurt anybody, that he was a nice guy. Guess he was having a bad day.
1 person likes this
@granite_butterfly (448)
• Canada
28 Jul 08
Well, I am not guilty on any assaults against lawn mowers. Still, I think to send this man to jail was excessive and probably unnecessary. Not without consequence but can't some community service and probation type orders be applicable. Jail seems like such an extreme and to so harshly enforced. Even a course in anger management maybe? Perhaps I don't have enough of the facts to be making my opinions but as you write it is as I base my responses. And I can see another angle to this knowing that the sound of gunfire would bother me quite a bit, not many communities would embrace lawn mower shooting. In any case, the sentence seems harsh.
1 person likes this
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I agree, the sentence is rather harsh. I think community service would be better. Thanks for your response!
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
28 Jul 08
This guy was intoxicated, armed with an illegal weapon and has anger management issues. I pity his neighbors for having someone like him next door; he reminds me of a neighbor I used to have (and am glad not to live anywhere near now).
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
29 Jul 08
Ouch! How did you cut through the extension cord? Is your lawn mower electric?
@yaoliang198841 (4)
• China
29 Jul 08
I think this man must be crazy."own a sawed off shotgun" is illegal.Why ?
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
29 Jul 08
That is a good question. However I don't know why owning a sawed off shotgun is illegal. Maybe someone else out there knows the answer to that.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
28 Jul 08
ROFLMFAO...omg thats funny..it reminds me of the M.A.S.H episode where "Hot Lips" shot her footlocker LOL
I'm thinking maybe this guy needs a few classes in anger management...
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
28 Jul 08
When you get angry you never know what will happen. Anger management might be a good idea!
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
28 Jul 08
This man must of had an Anger problem. I just glad that there was no one standing beside him when he shot holes into his lawn mower.
I had this problem with my mower before to, but I never would think about shooting it.
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
29 Jul 08
Never once did I give a thought to shooting my lawn mower. Like I said I've kicked it a few times and even said a few choice words! I guess everyone handles their anger in their own way, but some just go to the extreme!
@shontia08 (846)
• United States
28 Jul 08
lol, i agree with him it's his and he should do what he want to it. i just think that shooting it, was taking the whole situation too far. i mean he should have just done what you did and kicked it. he just had to hope he wouldn't break a toe lol. i never had this problem because i don't cut my grass, someone else do. there have been other things that i wanted to kick for not working, i don't think i got mad enough to want to shoot it.
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
29 Jul 08
You're lucky someone else cuts your grass, then you don't have to deal with a "blankety blank" lawn mower that doesn't want to start! Yeah, you'd be surprised how much kicking can make you feel better! I kicked my husband once in the rear end not for anything in particular that I remember. I do remember after I did it saying that I felt much better though!
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
good day.. I mean seriously he have anger issues. I mean shooting the machine isn't that extreme? What if a child saw this how could one explain it to that child? Yes I agree that it is is own lawn, his own house but he must also agree that it's not his own neighborhood, it's not his own state and much more his own country and totally not his own planet.
@bmorehouse1 (1028)
• United States
28 Jul 08
One would hope that a child did not see this kind of action! Not a good role model!
@NoddaProbBob (108)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Goodness! Can anyone say GOOSFRABA??? (Anger Management reference here). I've gotten steaming mad at my mower before, but never to the point where I would want to shoot it! I agree that he should be able to do what he wants with it, including shooting it. But he did break the law by having the sawed off shotgun. But goodness. This guy needs a refresher course on calming down. I don't really think I've done too many things off the wall when it comes to the mower. I think the only thing I've ever really done is shoving it down a hill. But thats about it. lol. Lawn mowers frustrate me immensley!
@theslasher (21)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Yeah. He should be questioned on why did he shoot it. He should have throw it or slam it or kick it. But shooting, the hell no. Not a good idea.
