BB Gun

[typ3ss]

Hello officers, I have a question for you guys. My friends and I are still on our winter break and we were shooting our bb handguns outside in the backyard. We were practicing our aim on paper targets, cans, and old jars. All of the sudden a African American guy is walking behind the backyard and said this: "Y'all over here shooting stuff, shot my window the other day. I'm fixing the call the police on y'all. I don't care if you say you didn't do it, but i'm calling the police right now. Y'all can leave if y'all want. I'm calling the police." Hearing that, We told him repeatedly that we did not shoot his window; however, he pretended not to hear us and left. After that, we were terrified by him accusing us and decided to leave to a friend's house. We know for a fact that we did not shoot that guy's windows. Even if we were to shoot the window with our bb handguns, it would not be strong enough to break glass. Plus knowing that carrying a bb handgun or any sort of handgun is illegal. We would never shoot anything outside our backyard, especially in a suburb. So the question is, are we going to be accused for someone else's action? Should we return home? What is your advice for this situation? Thanks.

[jeffyc]

So you can account for every bb that came out the barrel? And I have seen plenty windows broken from bb guns. Im not saying your guilty Im just saying I have seen it happen. There are things called richochets.

[typ3ss]

So you can account for every bb that came out the barrel? And I have seen plenty windows broken from bb guns. Im not saying your guilty Im just saying I have seen it happen. There are things called richochets.

We have no clue where this guy lives. He isn't a neighbor or anything. We only saw a glance of his face behind the fence. Also the bbs that ricocheted bounced back from the fence within approximately two - four feet. The caliber of those bbs were .177. Also we were standing at the doorway while practicing on targets, which is about 25-30 feet away. The targets were nailed to the middle of the fences and there were no spaces between each wood fence.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

So the question is, are we going to be accused for someone else's action? Should we return home? What is your advice for this situation? Thanks.

You cannot control what other people accuse you of.

Yes, you should return home.

My advice is to not talk to strangers; and to choose a more appropriate setting for shooting BB guns than an (sub)urban backyard.

[typ3ss]

You cannot control what other people accuse you of.

Yes, you should return home.

My advice is to not talk to strangers; and to choose a more appropriate setting for shooting BB guns than an (sub)urban backyard.

Thank you officer for your advice. We will be sure to be much more cautions next time.

[mobrien316]

What state are you in?

[Creeker]

OK, I just couldn't NOT say this...

"you'll shoot your eye out, Kid"... :D

FYI, they make appropriate backstops for you to use with most bb pistols to be safely used in the back yard. They usually consist of a hard rubber plate and a lipped box, from which you can recover your bb's for re-use.

You can find such items at The Sportsmans Guide, Cabellas, or Bass Pro... just put the www and the .com on the ends. They don't cost a fortune, either.

As to using your pistols in the backyard, in my town it is illegal, but seldom enforced unless damage occurs. In your case, if the "victim" can't prove it was you with witnesses or other evidence, I doubt you would be convicted, however there is likely to be a "no firearms" use Ordinance in your area, for which you could easily be convicted for the simple reason that you were.