Law may be ‘errant’ about shooting

Define “errant?”

Just exactly how is the shot fired by the grouse hunter “errant?” Sounds to me like it was illegal, reckless and arrogant. If the hunter was on school property with a gun, that is a violation of state and federal law.

If, as the article indicates, he was trespassing on posted private property, that is also illegal. Firing a .22 at a bird in a tree is not real bright, but the arrogance displayed by the shooter in this case indicates that he is of low intelligence to start with.

The way the article (Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Oct. 7) is written, it sounds like George Faerber did not actually see which way the shot was fired, if indeed it was fired toward the school. Even at a high angle it could be considered reckless endangerment, as well as just plain stupid.

Given the current hysteria over guns at schools, an intelligent person would not be hunting near a school when school is in session. And even if you are going to hunt or shoot within a half-mile of a school, you should have brains enough to notify the principal in advance so if and/or when they hear your shooting they don’t panic.

I wish Faerber lots of luck getting Alaska State Troopers or the District Attorney’s Office to respond to a trespass complaint. He would be better off getting it on video, or cell phone, or at least tape his conversation with the trespasser. He could also arrest the trespasser in accordance with A.S.12.25.030, and under 11.46.330. Just make sure you have a witness, and preferably video.

There seems to be a lot of people around here who are either too stupid to understand what “no trespass” means, or they think the law does not apply to them. These people are also stupid. They don’t realize that ignoring private property rights, reckless shooting and vandalism only results in more land being posted and more restriction.

Until we get elected judges and elected district attorneys, don’t expect much enforcement of trespass laws (or of laws concerning DUI, DWLS, DWLR, no insurance, domestic violence, etc.). The two people who were trespassing are not worthy of the term “hunter.”

R.K. Butts

Wasilla