Another VERY GOOD reason not to let people know you carry *Updated*

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I think you are handling it well. The points about keeping quiet in regard to carrying are well taken.
My overall impression is WOW I despise HOA politics. Country livin' is great!
 
Elected positions... are for those who cannot get a real job.
I don't think I can immediately agree with that statement.

I was elected to an HOA board. I also have a dream job that is in fact very real.

It is an understatement to say that serving on that HOA board was a drag. My skin crawled every meeting as we determined how to force property owners to do, or cease doing something with, or on their own property. I couldn't stand it. What was especially horrible was listening to property owners complain about their neighbors' activities within a fenced backyard or within their homes. Those homeowners were actually violating the privacy of their neighbors and then reporting it all to us.

People are the opposite of awesome.
 
I passed up several well-priced homes a few years ago because l refused to live under a homeowners association.

Always a good idea to not tell that you carry, or be selective about who you tell. I didn't tell anyone. Only my wife knew. Then last fall a tragic incident happened involving one of my co-workers, and my employer released hundreds of emails and records to the public. Once the press got them, everyone knew l was a gun owner, avid shooter, and have a carry license.
 
I would sell my place & move before I became a member of a homeowner's association...............
 
I passed up several well-priced homes a few years ago because l refused to live under a homeowners association.

Always a good idea to not tell that you carry, or be selective about who you tell. I didn't tell anyone. Only my wife knew. Then last fall a tragic incident happened involving one of my co-workers, and my employer released hundreds of emails and records to the public. Once the press got them, everyone knew l was a gun owner, avid shooter, and have a carry license.

You had emails at work that discussed your shooting and carry habits? Or some other records -- at work -- that detailed your shooting and carry habits?

I have real trouble grasping that.

What am I missing?

 
Not to get OT, but can a majority of your neighbors decide to form a HOA and then FORCE you to abide by their rules?
 
Not to get OT, but can a majority of your neighbors decide to form a HOA and then FORCE you to abide by their rules?

Yep.
In reality the formation process can iron out the big issues. HOAs are usually a good thing.

ETA On our board we have an old country gal who shoots renegade squirrels on her back porch and a federal air marshall. We dont have a carry problem, we have a problem talking about guns at board meetings!
:)

Sent from my iGizmo using Tapatalk.
 
I passed up several well-priced homes a few years ago because l refused to live under a homeowners association.

Same here. My wife wanted to buy in a then-new "town" development that had spawned west of our city. Owning a 4x4 truck, a 4x4 SUV, enjoying working on them myself, and enjoying doing what I want, when I want, with my property kept us out. I think she's glad. I know I am.
I worked briefly in private security after law enforcement, while I was in school for my current profession. I enjoyed patrol, and interacting with the residents of the large, multi-building complex, but I hated enforcing some of those rules. Back then, even the nicest of SUVs (the term had not yet been coined) were still considered "trucks", and were prohibited. My truck was my only vehicle, and I myself was in violation just coming to work (I would put a ticket on it at the beginning of every shift to avoid complaints, then remove it at the end.)

But, enough about HOAs. Guns.. guns.. guns.. right?
 
Not to get OT, but can a majority of your neighbors decide to form a HOA and then FORCE you to abide by their rules?
I don't believe people can just get together and form a HOA (especially with deed restrictions after the fact) without everyone involved agreeing to it.

If a town or county implements an ordinance prohibiting/regulating something after the fact, usually the grandfather clause allows the building, item or whatever to stand because the item was built or erected or planted before the ordinance.

It is a different thing where a builder builds houses in an area and puts in covenants and restrictions (deed restrictions) and implements or plans for a Home Owner Association that is written into the contract/agreement BEFORE the house (s) are sold.

These restrictions are binding private contracts, however despite binding contracts...there are some things that cannot be prohibited . For instance Under Federal Law the association (or deed restrictions) cannot prohibit people from getting satellite TV because the satellite dish has to be mounted outside. The association can tell you where you can place the satellite dish, but cannot prohibit you from getting it.

As for me I will never, ever live under a Home Owners Association. Before we signed on the dotted line. We went to the county courthouse looked at the deed, talked to all the neighbors and looked at all the paperwork a few times over and found no deed restrictions or covenants, and no home owners association.

To avoid HOA areas we kept looking for areas that had basketball hoops in the front yards, pools in the backyards, pickup trucks and SUV's in the driveways.
 
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The reason I asked if your property can be annexed by a HOA is that a friend bought an acre of land out in the county some years back. Since then a fancy neighborhood has been developed around him on what was a wooded hunting club. The local HOA has been sending my friend monthly bills for his dues. Of course he ignored them and now he is getting letters from some lawyers office demanding that he pay up.
 
The reason I asked if your property can be annexed by a HOA is that a friend bought an acre of land out in the county some years back. Since then a fancy neighborhood has been developed around him on what was a wooded hunting club. The local HOA has been sending my friend monthly bills for his dews. Of course he ignored them and now he is getting letters from some lawyers office demanding that he pay up.

A friend asking on an internet message forum about firearms is definitely the best way to handle this.
 
This is more on topic than I allowed in my last post because the developer of that neighborhood got our local range closed. He claimed the noise bothered the homeowners even though our range was there for over 25 years before his development and the backstop was 180 degrees away from the new neighborhood. My friend owns a lot roughly between the old range and the new neighborhood. I wonder if he would let me do some target practice on his land.
 
I like my freedom too much to give up any of it to a HOA and a bunch of busybodies. I've turned down houses I would have bought just because they had a homeowner's association.
 
What would YOU do?

If Guy no. 3 is so messed-up that he's likely to be a threat to himself or others, have him committed. (If guy no. 1 can't keep it down, commit him, too.) You said yourself he's a wack-job. No way someone with severe anger (mental) problems needs to be around firearms.

"Not rocking the boat" is what begets shooters like uncle fester, carrot-job, little hitler, and (probably) chick-fil-a-mer. All those guys (except the last one, so far) had a history of being quite..."off," to put it mildly, and were in contact with psychologists already.

Side note, the meetings can always take place at a "check guns at door" location. There's a lot of wisdom in removing them from people likely to get into heated arguments at a particualar location (bars, for instance).

And it's never a good idea to mention ownership of firearms, or anything else of value, to people who will blab. They will (always) blab, that person will blab, and that person's junkie cousin will overhear and come visit your house eventually.

TCB

PS: I think HOA's are extremely dangerous entities, because they attract the kind of stupid busy-bodies that are desperate for power over their fellow man (like all politicians), but too dumb to exercise it in ways that don't make everyone miserable (wise politicians take the benign tack of doing nothing, for the most part). My parents once lived in a neighborhood that only permitted house colors of a set (low) vibrance, and only allowed white Christmas lights. Had to get approval to install a mailbox or replace your shingles. The absolute worst, most oppressive and pointless kind of governance.
 
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"Fear for my life" are not magic words. There must be a legitimate reason.

That's one reason no one outside my immediate family knows I carry. Outside people at sites like this one.

So you believe.
 
When I moved to my current home it was on a dirt road with 4 other houses. Over the years more homes were built until we had to get the road paved. In order to have a voice with the board of commissioners we had to start a POA. I was asked to sit on the board due to my construction experience.

It turned into a nightmare. We did get a loan from the county to get the road paved. Each property owner paid $250 a year for 10 years. I received several threats and a few actually got into my face. I never responded to any of the threats. I finally got a canned line. You don't want to pay the $250 a year? Sell your place! We just raised your property value by 10k.

To the OP it sounds like it's time to dissolve your POA. If you have nothing to be accomplished other than what type bushes Mrs Jones has in her yard, it's time...
 
FOLLOWUP to "Another GOOD REASON not to tell...

Here is the followup for those who were following the story about the homeowner association board member who mentioned to second board member that he has a concealed firearms license, and the second board member mentioned it to a third board member, who overreacted. (Points 1-3 below are a review, for those who haven't been following):

1. The first board member mentioned the fact that he has a CCW two months ago, when he was talking to the second board member. However, sometime in the past few days, the second board member mentioned the conversation to the third member, who frequently argues with EVERYONE, and the third board member then declared that he was "in fear for his life."

2. I was concerned that the third board member might bring a gun of his own to the next board meeting, and if he lost his temper or let his emotions regarding "fear for his life" get out of control, things could get ugly.

3. I invited our local police to give a presentation at the next board meeting, which was last night, and I gave them the real background on why I thought it would be a good idea for them to be on hand.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED NEXT:

4. The third board member resigned a few hours before the meeting. He did not appear at the meeting.

5. The third board member has been maintaining a website that mimics the homeowners association's actual website, with links that appear to go to the board and property manager but actually go to him. The homeowner's association has repeatedly asked him to take it down, but he refuses.

6. He just posted this warning (see below) on his fake website (and no, I'm not going to provide the link):

NOTICE - WARNING!!!

NOTICE/WARNING!! - TOM AXXXXXXX (A Board Member); in an alleged and apparent act of intimidation shows a concealed weapons permit and a handgun to a Board Member at a Board Meeting!

Tom AXXXXXX, of 3XXX BXXXXX Blvd., RXXXX XX, 12345, just hours after sending threatening and deragotory emails regarding a fellow Board Member, showed up at a Board Meeting and, in an alleged and apparent attempt of intimmidation, displayed his concealed weapons permit and showed that he has a handgun to another Board Member.

THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS A DANGER AND A CONCERN TO ALL RESIDENTS AND ALL WHO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY!!!

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In light of the recent mass shooting at public events like schools, political gatherings, and movie theaters, we believe that it is important to notify the community of this potentially dangerous and explosive situation!!!
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7. The second board member and a fourth board member have both confirmed that the first board member did not display a gun, but only showed his CCW license to the second board member during a very brief discussion about her deceased husband, who also used to carry in the line of duty.

8. Yes, the first board member is looking for a lawyer. He's also looking for a job, and having a warning like this on the internet cannot help him find one.

9. SO... I used to tell a lot of folks that I carried. I was stupid, and I don't do that anymore. The first board member is not as stupid as I was, and what he did was entirely innocent, but months later, it has blown up to this.

10. I think you can draw your own conclusions.

- - - Yoda
 
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Sounds like a lot of fun. Just bought a house and when we were looking I told out realestate agent No HOAs!
 
Thank you for letting us know how it turned out at the meeting. I'm also part of an HOA, although not with this degree of problems. I'll definitely keep when and where I carry to those who need to know. Thanks again!


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I'm not a lawyer, nor do I know anymore about the law than anyone else who watches TV. (which means I actually know LESS than nothing!)

Still, is there grounds for a civil action of some sort against this...err...gentleman?

Isn't it wonderful to know that there are people whose sole concern is the safety and welfare of their neighbors?
 
@ ArfinGreebly:

Long story, they weren't emails from me. They were emails between a now-deceased coworker and other individuals that discussed me and my shooting hobby. No details on carry habits other than that l had a license. There was one in there that listed the firearms in my home, the ones l owned at that time anyway. I have no idea how the coworker got that info.

It was the result of what happened in your (and my) state. Almost one year ago. You are correct, that stuff doesn't belong on work emails. People were being sloppy.
 
6. He just posted this warning (see below) on his fake website (and no, I'm not going to provide the link):

NOTICE - WARNING!!!

NOTICE/WARNING!! - TOM AXXXXXXX (A Board Member); in an alleged and apparent act of intimidation shows a concealed weapons permit and a handgun to a Board Member at a Board Meeting!

Tom AXXXXXX, of 3XXX BXXXXX Blvd., RXXXX XX, 12345, just hours after sending threatening and deragotory emails regarding a fellow Board Member, showed up at a Board Meeting and, in an alleged and apparent attempt of intimmidation, displayed his concealed weapons permit and showed that he has a handgun to another Board Member.

THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS A DANGER AND A CONCERN TO ALL RESIDENTS AND ALL WHO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In light of the recent mass shooting at public events like schools, political gatherings, and movie theaters, we believe that it is important to notify the community of this potentially dangerous and explosive situation!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds like it's time for some legal action.
 
Folks, a HOA is just another layer of government. A City is a HOA.

I don't remember of the Case out of Conneticutt, but the US Supreme Court has stated Government can take your property, give it to someone else, for any reason the want to. Using condemnation procedures.

Private property no longer exists in the USA. At best we rent, until they want our property. Many cities are just as tyrannical as some of the worst HOA's for exactly the same reasons.

GOVERNMENT is the problem. The only difference, in my opinion, is that the higher they go, the less the screw with the little fish, until last year with Socialized Medicine. Now we are all in the kettle.

The same is that this used to be a free country, and we could own private property. No longer. And as the one fellow said, free speech, ain't no more!

We have cities telling us what to eat or not eat. We pay for Food stamps and school lunch, yet our kids are "too fat". On and on.

The Constitution is followed at the governments convienence to be used against us, not for us.

I am rather glad that I am near the end of my run. I fear deeply for my children and country.

Go figure.

Fred
 
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