Defending your property....
 

More of a defensive device than a weapon, land mines are the scourge of many countries where IRRESPONSIBLE use has lead to many deaths and amputations. The following question has no connection to the large mine fields found in places like Afghanistan, but instead refers to our rights to protect our homes and families.

Should we be allowed the right to protect our land with the use of concealed land mines?

Strict controls would obviously need to apply.

1 - Mined areas must be clearly marked.

2 - Mined areas must be innaccesable to small children and, if possible, animals by use of a high walls or sturdy fences at least 8 feet tall to create a no-mans-land area.

3 - The main acces route to the property must be free of mines to allow access for emergency services.

Mines are already available in various strengths and with several kinds of trigger devices. The sort I would use (and there would be several on the market if they were lagal) would probably just maim the intruder. This would be unpleasant for the criminal but nowhere near as fatal as well a well aimed shotgun shell.

I first introduced this proposal to a canvasser from Amnesty International, who knocked on my door asking for money to support their bid for an international ban on land mine use.

After a lengthy and heated debate she left; empty handed but more determined than ever.

Why stop there? We should all live in gated communities with gun turrets and searchlights guarding the perimeter...

Shoot first. Ask questions later.

So, after building 8 ft. walls and creating a no man's land, you still think you'd need mines? I thought the point was to keep yourself safe.

What line of work are you in that would necessitate land mines for safety? I keep thinking of Al Pacino in Scarface. Why not just buy yourself "a little friend?"

Of course, land mines would help keep those damned kids balls out of your yard. heh heh heh.

Let me get this straight -- you want to create a place that is "safe" from everyone, including yourself. Take away any hope of a view and all accessibility then mark it as dangerous so anyone with a brain would not dare step there. And this is good because the useless land is yours!?

Protect yourself, yes -- but don't endager yourself and others unnecessarily .

I read that in the 1950s, British researchers had developed NUCLEAR landmines to be planted on the East/West German border.

Heh, there goes the neighbourhood...

Yikes! The only land mines needed around here are the one's that come out of a cows ass.
Sure glad I live where I live.

Having landmines blowing up your property seems pretty counter-productive. If you're going renegade, just do it all the way, and hire 24-hour sniper service, guaranteed to have 0% residual effect on the grounds of your property.

You can't be serious...

Can I put an order in for 3 claymores and some trip wire please.

Man, I was always yelling at those stupid kids to get off my lawn back when I lived at my moms house. I'd have just cut it and these little fat bastards would run around tearing it up and jumping on our tree. I gotta say, landmines would take care of them.

No, for the same reason booby traps are illegal:

They are indescriminate and pose a danger in the event emergency personnel need access.

I guess that's a 'NO' then.

I knew I should have asked this on the weapons board.

I am not sure but I think it is illegal to shoot or otherwise harm someone just for trespassing. Anyone wish to correct me?

i say no also.

the signs could erode after time and it would cost a hell of a lot to clear the area up.

Id have to say no also. While it would be fun watching random animals set them off, it is rather indiscriminate. Get something more fun like really fancy alarm with automatic machine guns that can recognize emergency personel and friends :)

About the shooting at tresspasers, I'm not sure about the restraints, but many states have a "make my day" law where you can shoot people who break into your house/property with out prosecution.

I'd say no as well. An explosion in the middle of the night as an intruder lost his market-going piggie would more than likely prompt your neighbors to complain about the noise. And we all know how that will end up. Everyone will have landmines in their yards.

I'm not even going to answer this.

Sheesh.

Of course not.