Doorstep proselytizing.

[QRTRHRS]

First of all, you go to your church and let me go to mine. I disagree with this one. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/2002/06/17/scotus-door.htm

My house is 1500 feet uphill from the township road so I have the high ground advantage. I have a large sign by the road that among other things says "By appointment only". I have no trespassing signs lining my driveway. I have a large sign advising people that they are being video taped on my property. In order to get to my front door, you must pass my bay window. My rottie would be standing on the sofa leaning into the window and going nuts should you be there. Yet, I still get the Watchtower people.



No big deal you might say? Consider that as a home owner, I need to be concerned with the usual common thief. As a farm owner, I have to be concerned with animal rights activists, amonium nitrate thiefs, equipment thiefs and the latest, terrorism threats.



What does it take to discourage this group? I keep telling my wife I want to set up a couple of those sillouettes of prone people holding a rifle.

 

[Rob Thomas]

I agree with you, but I don't know what to tell ya. I don't even use the house phone anymore (except fer the web connection) 'cause it's always someone tryin' to sell somthin'. I don't answer the door either, if it's someone I know they wouldn't be knockin' anyway.



Dunno how ta keep 'em outta the yard, is flingin' paintballs leagal?



Later, Rob

 

[Briar Hopper]

Why is a perfectly good Rottie cooped up in the house? Are you afraid he'll get food poisoning from eating the Watchtower tracts and flyers for dessert?

On a serious note, I sympathize, trespassers like that are a major annoyance, and a danger to themselves and others.

Maybe barbed wire, concertina wire here and there, and a few decorations that make it even more scary looking will help. Booby traps are highly illegal, though.

 

[LSMITH]

Simple solution is to prosecute he next one on your property. You have posted that trespassing is not allowed, therefor they are breaking the law. Call the cops when they come, and talk to them until the cops show up. Insist that they be arrested at least, that should be enough to get the word out that they need not bother with you anymore.



You could also show up at the door naked, twitching and stuttering if you want it to be more fun. Ask them in and see what happens.

 

[illflem]

I'm usually a pretty nice guy, not rude to the JWs but one day I treated them as I would a telemarketer, just said "I'm not interested, don't come back. " That was over a year ago, they haven't come back. Wish I would have done that years ago.

 

[Extreme1]

Back in college I had a friend that was on the JW's favorite street. He picked up some devil worship propaganda at the union one day and kept it by the front door. The next time they knocked and asked "would you like to red this?", he said "you read mine and I'll read yours". The JW guy actually had his hand on it before he saw it. Once he saw it he dropped it and they RAN! Never bothered him again.

 

[Partyat33]

I like to invite them in and debate with them. They get so confused. You should see the look on their faces when I ask them in so politely.



Just my $02.



Dennis

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Briar Hopper

Why is a perfectly good Rottie cooped up in the house?

That's the only way to make this one appear to be a watch dog. When she's outside, she figures anyone showing up is coming to fuss with her. I always know when someone was around as she has the bay window shelf trashed out. Hard to believe someone would stick around with that going on?



I know I can simply toss the literature. It just irks me to have my privacy violated plus I gotta clean after the dog.



There is a 2. 5 hour window when I leave for work and my wife comes home. Seems like that is when the JW's show.

 

[emarsh]

The last time they came to my house I asked them to leave, with just the slightest hesitation by them, I ran to the garage and grabbed my air rifle (it has a hardwood stock and looks like a real firearm) and waived it (pointed in the air) at them announcing again to get off my property. They left immediately. This may have been unlawfull, but it was not loaded, or cocked, it is a singe shot pellet gun, but I'm relatively certain they took me off their list, none have been back for about a year and a half! I must also add that I live in a undeveloped desert area, we have streets but no sidewalks or gutters.

 

[Hammer]

I agree with you on this one QRTRHRS,,Way to many of these types think that their point of view is the one to follow and really do not heed ANY warning signs telling them not to approach your property or residence,,Like they have said already,make a example of the next one,laws are laws,,As long as you hve the No Trespassing signs signed and dated they are going for a ride they may not want,,Everyone has their own beliefs and they need to learn this,,I do not buy into someone trying to force theirs on me,,Trying to force ones belief on you when you have your own,hmmmm,seems like we are over seas fighting due to crapola like this,,May not be that extreme,these door to door dunces,but it is still the same to me... ...

 

[baby.driver]

Much as I disagree with JWs

They are not trying to FORCE anyone to do anything.

When they come to our door we hand them a Chick tract specially written for those of the JW persuasion.





Jay

 

[Koa Man]

Unless your property is fenced with closed gate and a No Trespassing sign, anyone has the right to walk up to your front door. That is not considered trespassing under the law. If the path to your front door is open and you have No Trespassing signs, you will lose the case if you decided to prosecute. HOWEVER, if someone walked around the house to your back door or strayed off the direct path to your front door, that would be trespassing.

 

[DarrellB]

You need to get one of those little devil costumes the kiddies wear during Trick or Treat time. If nothing else it would sure make them laugh. :-laf Or better yet ask them if they could help you get a blood stain out of the carpet and help put this trash can in the bed of your truck. I'm sure that one would get em.



By the way, what is the best way to get blood stains out of the carpet? I had a couple visit Sunday



Darrell

 

[me4osu]

We don't get them in the rural area where have lived for over 8 years.



However, back when my Wife and I were first married, we lived in Houston. When the JWs came by, we just told them what religion we were, Catholic. They immediately stopped their schpiel, closed their books, and never came back.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Maybe this would work:

 

[mdlowry]

TCP, I think it would work better with some 00buck holes.

 

[KMeek]

I am not a JW but I am Catholic. These people are doing what they believe the Bible requires them to do--to spread the word of God and to serve as his witnesses. While I can also be irritated by their tactics I respect their committment to Christ and think the world would be a better place if more of us shared that committment. They ordinarily do not hit the same house that often so it is a minor inconvenience to experience probably once or twice a year at most. They are always dressed respectfully and often have children with them. I have never known them to disrespectfully argue with the people they talk to.



In my opinion they make many of you uncomfortable because they serve as a reminder of your rejection of Christ. Otherwise I find it hard to believe that a fellow Christian could be so offended by such a minor inconvenience.



In any event, I find telemarketers 1,000 times more offensive since they intrude into my home with phonecalls at least 2-3 times every day. Now that is something to complain about!

 

[Briar Hopper]

KMeek and baby. driver both make excellent points here, as a Christian, I understand what such door-to-door witnesses are trying to accomplish, but QRTRHRS has his property posted. He is not rejecting them or their faith by posting his property. Everyone needs to respect the wishes of a property owner. It's just that simple. If it's not your land, and you're not invited, it would be wise to leave ASAP !

I live in a subdivision, out in the country, but still a subdivision. Because of that, I'm a little more tolerant of solicitors and JW's and the Mormon kids, but if I had the land and situation that QRTRHRS does, I'd be well within my rights to expect univited guests to stay out.

 

[QRTRHRS]

It's about property rights!

KMeek



I understand their commitment to god and agree with what you are saying except for being made uncomfortable by my "rejection of Christ". And true it does not happen all that often. However, I should not have to go beyond the normal postings of my property to get the point across. It's like the ten page book of warnings you get when you buy anything today.



My situation is such that I absolutely do not want uninvited guests no matter their intention. I keep two stallions on my property. While I take every precaution I can, things can happen and like many areas, we are overpopulated with two bit lawyers.



Then go back to the news lead I posted. The supreme court ruled against this town's wishes. No one said the JW's could not go door to door only that they needed a permit. This town's right to govern was trampled on IMHO. Maybe it is a town full of bigots. So don't go there.

 

[joel]

not quite KMeek....

They are indeed doing what their faith teaches and for that, I usually am polite and offer them the same level of respect that they offer me. If they accept my declination of their information and material and leave, no problems or discomfort on either part.



But if, as most seem to do, they try a second and third tactic after I've politely dismissed them, then they're not respecting me and my respect for them vanishes, too. Then they truly ARE trespassers on my property.



Uncomfortable because of my "rejection of Christ"?? That's about the most presumptions thing I've ever heard! You, and they, have absolutely no idea what my thoughts on Christ are. They have their faith and I have mine and the simple fact of them trying to change me to theirs (basically saying I'm wrong) is enough to cause discomfort. What if I'm Jewish or Islamic? Then, yes, Jesus is simply a minor prophet in their (and your) eyes I've rejected (to be technical, I would never have accepted therefore can't reject) Christ as the savior. Is that wrong? No more wrong than the witnesses prostelyzing, right? So, as I said, if they respoect me, I respect them. They're no different than a telemarketer - they're basically trying to sell you something: their faith and way of life. And to do that, they make the assumption that theirs is superior and you, therefore are somehow inferior and must be saved. Of course, all religions have that as an underlying theme, so I'm not passing any judgement on the acceptance of that fact, however, if you're on my property, trying to "pitch" me something, with (the necessary) attitude that I'm somehow less than you... . well, there's the discomfort.



Even your post has the judgement in there, assuming that we do not believe as you do and have therefore rejected Christ.