A sensitive subject (WARNING- "A sensitive subject"!

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"ask yourself what impression is an outsider going to have of our community from this."

I sometimes wonder who, exactly, ia a nefarious outsider so hard-up for something to belly-ache about that they prowl AIRGUN forums for socially-objectionable subjects like semi and full-auto airguns (capable of mass-murder?), criminal use of airguns, airguns' detrimental effects on wildlife management, and the use of airguns to help control the scourge of feral cats.

This, when there exists a TREASURE-TROVE of material floating around cyberspace that hand-wringers could have a field-day with, like bomb-making tutorials, snuff videos, human trafficking/slavery, anything and everything TERRORISM related, etc. Yet someone thinks airgunners on airgun forums should be quiet about semi or full-auto airguns, airguns powerful enough to hunt deer and hogs, and airgunners playing a positive role in controlling wild cats. Really... REALLY?

I recall similar paranoia dating back a half-century, when a few individuals worried the new 12 foot-pound MAGNUM airguns of the day would invite scrutiny certain to trample our airgunning rights. Didn't happen.

Then (some years later), 20 foot-pound MAGNUM airguns surely would. Didn't happen.

People DIE from airguns (an average of about one a year in the U.S.); surely that will be the end of American airgunning! Nope. 

People shooting airguns in town will create a tidal-wave of airgun legislation. Barely a few ripples.

Point is, American airgunners enjoying such unique liberties as the First and Second Amendments are not easily ALARMED! Or deterred from enjoying our relatively-harmless hobby by the boy that cried wolf; who would stifle perfectly reasonable airgun debate on airgun forums.


 
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I personally know the OP of this thread an trust me when I say he is one of the most respected men I know . And anyone that knows him will say the same .

He also is a animal lover , I know because we have spoke of it.

But for guys to argue about removing what can SERIOUSLY be considered an invasive species has never had to deal with the problem .

Guys have zero problem with videos in Urban areas shooting squirrels , racoons , rabbits , or skunks . When was the last time you heard of one of these animals attacking a small dog in a group ? 

When it's dark and Bella ( my lil schnauzer) goes out for her walk before bed I go with her . Not because of coons or rabbits ....It's because I know if a group of these sickly animals attack her it can get deadly serious FAST . 

It's no different than wild dogs who kill sheep and chickens , hogs that ruin pastures , or fire ants ..... Or maybe that's just because I've seen and had to deal with the problem first hand . 

Lotta problems we see in rural areas of the south ...City folks are just speculating about . We don't get living with traffic jams .....Y'all don't get dealing with the unwanted animals ya " let free" 
 
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Hmmm, I have 2 cats, both r nuetered but don't have this notch in their ear. Never heard of that before till about a year ago. They stay pretty close to home tho I live in a rural area.They help keep the moles in the yard ( which r VERY destructive lol) in check. If there is a cat that is being a destructive nusance I don't have a problem with it being eliminated.Even if it's one of mine. Nor keeping the population in check thru extreme measures.And there are a few situations where if you are gonna have a cat or a dog you need to provide proof that the pet has been fixed.Example,having a pet cat in an apartment complex. That get,s out of hand very quickly. Unless there is large over-population I don't see this huge damage being done to property or wildlife.I have heard of it, golapagoss islands or someplace like that where the cat was instantly an invasive species and devastated some native species there .I sometimes deal with some minor stuff like spraying. But even a fixed Tom may still spray to mark his territory. I can't begrudge felix if he's lucky enuff to snare a tweety or 2 now and then.
 
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The feral cat problem in Australia is huge. It is estimated that feral cat kill 75 million native animals across Australia every night, including birds, frogs, small mammals and reptiles. Many native species are extinct in Australia due to the feral cat. I totally agree with what is being said. I would also like to add that all cats should be kept inside the home for their own safety and safety of the small creatures outside. Think your cat just hangs around in your back yard, think again.

Gary
 
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I live in the country and I have a couple cats that are neutered and they roam my property and go onto the neighbors field as well. My neighbors also have cats that roam and we all pretty much know who has what animals. We have plenty of birds and quail running around and theres a decent number of local cats that are owned not feral but the song birds and quail have solid populations. If I see a feral cat and its causing problems I will remove it. If I see a dog even a neighbors dog on my property causing problems I remove it just as quickly. I have had several run ins with neighbors animals causing damage or acting aggressive. We had a neighbor with peacocks and guinea fowl that kept coming over and getting on the house or deck. I told the neighbor they were going to get shot if they keep coming over. They didnt stop the birds and one day there were 6 peacocks standing on our new camaro. They scratched up the car and every single peacock and guinea fowl was shot and killed each time they came over. She got more and we killed more in fact it ended up being about 24 birds total. She got tired of spending money on birds that I killed and that ended the issue. I have warned neighbors about their dogs and told them the dogs will meet the same end if they come back over and growl at me or any one at my house again. If an animal causes problems then you handle it the best way even if it is a pet. I wont shoot my neighbors animals if they dont cause issues and they wont shoot mine under the same circumstance. We all get along pretty good and after a few animals got dealt with neighbors do a better job of policing their animals that dont get along with others outside their property.
 
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I live in the country and I have a couple cats that are neutered and they roam my property and go onto the neighbors field as well. My neighbors also have cats that roam and we all pretty much know who has what animals. We have plenty of birds and quail running around and theres a decent number of local cats that are owned not feral but the song birds and quail have solid populations. If I see a feral cat and its causing problems I will remove it. If I see a dog even a neighbors dog on my property causing problems I remove it just as quickly. I have had several run ins with neighbors animals causing damage or acting aggressive. We had a neighbor with peacocks and guinea fowl that kept coming over and getting on the house or deck. I told the neighbor they were going to get shot if they keep coming over. They didnt stop the birds and one day there were 6 peacocks standing on our new camaro. They scratched up the car and every single peacock and guinea fowl was shot and killed each time they came over. She got more and we killed more in fact it ended up being about 24 birds total. She got tired of spending money on birds that I killed and that ended the issue. I have warned neighbors about their dogs and told them the dogs will meet the same end if they come back over and growl at me or any one at my house again. If an animal causes problems then you handle it the best way even if it is a pet. I wont shoot my neighbors animals if they dont cause issues and they wont shoot mine under the same circumstance. We all get along pretty good and after a few animals got dealt with neighbors do a better job of policing their animals that dont get along with others outside their property.
Click to expand...

You do realize that your approach (which I personally have no issue with) is probably illegal in most parts and would likely lead to open hostilities in others. You are fortunate that your neighbors are like minded on this or at least tolerant of it.
 
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Blubberboy64 its quite opposite where I live. The laws in my county say any dog on your property may be shot and any dog caught harrassing livestock or game animals may also be shot on public lands. The laws make it very clear and makes sure every animal owner knows they better control their animals or their neighbors will. Im not going to just blast a dog standing on my property. If the dog is acting aggressive to me my animals or anyone on my property it will be removed. One of my distant neighbors was riding around his side x side checking irrigation ditches with his dog. When he stopped across my road to check a headgate his golden retriever jumped out and seen my cat. The dog ran into my yard after the cat. We were working in the front yard at the time so we watched the whole ordeal start to finish. I didnt have a pistol or rifle on me so I yelled to the neighbor to get his dog before I get my gun. I grabbed my shotgun and came back out and he had taken control of his dog and stuck him back in the vehicle. That was a couple years ago and that dog has never been an issue since that incident. The owner learned his lesson and the dog behaves as it should. I would have been completely within my rights to shoot that dog. When our peacock incident happened that neighbor called the sheriff. When the sheriff came out he listened to her story and crying then told her I guess you better keep them on your property cause I guarantee hes gonna shoot them if they keep coming over and hes within his legal rights to do so. The peacock lady never apologized and never paid for the damages to our car so I dont feel bad about killing two dozen of her birds since she didnt learn after the first incident. 

I am lucky to live in an area where the local law enforcement got fed up with animal complaints and decided to enact laws to allow people to deal with problem animals. Be sure to know your laws before you take matters into your own hands. 
 
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"There is a lot of ways to take out a stinking cat.That wont hurt us, when they show up feral or not with pellets in them that will."

That's not the reason I brain 'em, but is a happy byproduct of braining 'em (they don't show up anywhere with pellets in 'em). The reason I brain 'em is so they never know they're dead, much less suffer.

"Going online and saying you feel justified shooting the neighbors fricken cat it is clear to athorities you cant be trusted to exercise responsable use of your pellet gun."

You draw incorrect conclusions, Fuznut. It was a Sheriff Deputy that told me, "Most land-owners just shoot all stray dogs on sight." You really think authorities suffer emotional confusion about pest killing? I don't (think so); as the highest authority in my area made it clear they feel I can be trusted to exercise responsible use of my pellet gun. And I do.

"Do you realy not. Understand that???"" 

Fact is, I understand the reality of the feral 'pet' problem better than some folks understand the use of their native tongue (grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.).
 
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I once told my neighbor lady that I killed every starling that came near because of what they do to native birds. I even explained that she could research it on line. Her eyes glazed over and she couldn’t hear the reasoning of it. The lesson I learned from it is to just not pick that fight. Seems like it just gets personal and off the subject.


 
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Amazingly complex subject . I guess the only certainty is that all animal populations should be kept in balance using the “best” solutions available first.

Good intentions on both sides can have bad outcomes and because this is a hot ticket item best to fully know and understand the legal ramifications involved.

I think a sympathetic understanding of the emotions involved in this is also critical. Try to negotiate before rather then after the fact. 
 
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