"It's a debate waged in apartment complexes and residential communities across the country: Feed the neighborhood critters or shoo them a way?
A Florida retirement community did a little more than shoo, choosing instead to shoot at the Muscovy ducks that had fouled the pool and become a general nuisance for residents, according to a report by MyFOXTampaBay.com.
The Clearwater retirement community's homeowners association voted to obtain a firearm permit and entrust one of their own, Bruce Streeter, with eliminating the ducks.
"Because he's the youngest in here, and he can still see well to have a good aim," fellow resident Debbie Clayton told MyFOXTampaBay.com.
Streeter said he only hit two or three, but that was enough for animal cruelty charges to be filed. Streeter pleaded no contest and had to pay about $300 in court costs, which were covered by donations from his neighbors, according to the TV station."
On more than one occasion I've been asked to do the same thing. Usually, its the buzzards that irk the oldsters and I'm being serious. I tell them the same thing that their designated shooter SHOULD have said. Killing is not considered hunting. There are seasons for hunting, and certain animals are off-season all the time. Then there's discharging a weapon within city limits but thats another story.
What the residents SHOULD have done, is report that the ducks were fouling the sidewalks with their droppings and this caused more than one senior to trip and fall. Then the local Sheriff or PD would have made an exception to certain bans.
PLUS...and this is important....Florida HAS NO PERMIT SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING A FIREARM. One enters the appropriate place of business, selects a rifle or shotgun, then after filling out the paperwork exits with said purchase. Handguns require a 3-day jerking-off, STRIKE THAT, cooling-off period unless one happens to possess a concealed carry permit...OR...has satisfactorily proven the fact that he or she already owns another handgun.
CSI, Law & Order, and myriad other cop shows notwithstanding, Florida does not issue permits to purchase firearms.
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