Argument over bear hunting leads to shooting death

[RamboLiberal]

BEAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Police said a dispute over trespassing ended with a fatal shooting in Jefferson County.

According to officials, Frank Shaffer, 63, was killed after he apparently confronted a group of bear hunters walking across or trespassing on his land.

A member of the bear hunting party, Paul Plyer, was also hospitalized for a gunshot wound.

The shooting happened in a rural area of Beaver Township near the community of Summerville.

The shooting is still under investigation but officials said they expect to file charges.

http://www.wjactv.com/news/21717148/detail.html

Pa. man in hunting dispute had earlier gun issue

A south-central Pennsylvania man who was shot and killed during an argument with bear hunters on his rural northern Pennsylvania land previously had his concealed weapon permit revoked, then returned.

According to the York Dispatch, 63-year-old Frank Shaffer, of Red Lion, pulled a gun on a trucker after each believed the other cut him off in 2006.

Charges against Shaffer were dropped when the trucker didn't show at Shaffer's preliminary hearing.

The York County sheriff revoked Shaffer's permit, but a judge ordered it be reinstated.

Shaffer, a real estate appraiser, had said he needed a weapon for protection while working in dangerous neighborhoods.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=3296767

[AtheistCrusader]

1. What a mess.

Waiting to pass judgment on this one. Awful lot of possibilities as to who is at fault, and it's possible everyone involved is at fault.

[SPedigrees]

3. If these folks were trespassing on the landowner's property

AND they shot him fatally, I don't think there is much doubt as to who is at fault.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Let me paint you a scenario.

His house borders on public forestland. The hunters impinged on his property, which is not marked. Homeowner runs out and takes a shot at them for trespassing (one of the hunters was shot too). Hunters return fire, kill homeowner.

You can't shoot people just for being on your lawn. They have to pose a threat of some sort.

I'm not saying the guy who died IS at fault. I'm just pointing out he MAY be at fault, or both the hunters and the homeowner could be at fault. We lack detail at the moment.


I do find it interesting the homeowner, according to the story, may have had a unfortunate predisposition to 'solving' non-life threatening conflicts, with the threat of deadly force.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

2. Welcome to the "Alabama in the middle" part of PA.

This isn't the first time that something like this has happened during one of the various hunting seasons.

One of my friends was charged after he pulled a gun and threatened to kill a group of hunters that he thought was interfering with his chance of getting off a shot.

It might have something to do with all of the bars that hang their "Welcome Hunters" banners this time of year. I know that some of the hunters that I know don't see a problem with being hammered while they're hunting.

[Gumbo]

6. Where is it you're from that's so damn special?

That's nice. I assume you're of the mind that people in Alabama are only good for shooting one another over ridiculous disputes?

[Altoid_Cyclist]

7. It's a long standing term used to describe central PA.

It's nothing personal, it's just the way that most people regard this area.

The whole saying is that PA. is Philadelphia in the East, Pittsburgh in the West and Alabama in between.

I have no idea who started it or when it originated, but it's just a phrase that many people use.

[RamboLiberal]

11. James Carville is credited with originating the Alabama in the middle

From what I understand.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

12. Thank you for the background info.

I got curious and this confirms your response.

From the Urban Dictionary

Pennsylvania

Literally meaning "Penn's Woods" but better defined by Democratic political strategist James Carville as "Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west and Alabama in the middle!" Middle of the state jokingly referred to as "Pennsyltucky". Home of perpetual road construction and an important swing state in national politics. Powerball lottery state. Actually kinda nice.

[taurus145]

8. According to many

if you hail from south of the Ohio River, you're inbred, ignorant, lazy, etc.

I'm tempted to go tell Uncle Dad about it.

[rl6214]

5. Is there a point to your post

You didn't leave any comment yourself OR

Are you just trolling.

[RamboLiberal]

9. I hang out down here in the Gungeon

And I'm a gun owner. Get off your high horse in asking posters their motives! One of my pet peeves is DU'ers questioning other long-standing DU'ers the motives of their posts! I don't feel I have to explain squat to you.

[RamboLiberal]

10. I'm curious how this one played out - more on the story so far

"He (Shaffer) was apparently upset because they came onto this property, and things escalated into the OK Corral," (Trooper) Morris said.

Investigators believe at least four shots were fired between Shaffer and Plyler.

(The Trucker incident & CCW revocation)

Shaffer and Coates each claimed to state police that the other cut him off, according to court records. Shaffer pulled off the highway to check for damages after alleging Coates threw stones at his car. While there, Shaffer claimed he had to pull a gun on Coates, who was swearing and threatening to kill him.

Shaffer sued York County and then-Sheriff Bill Hose in federal court, alleging Hose refused to reinstate his firearms permit, saying, "I find that you are not the type of individual who should be permitted to have a firearms license," according to the suit. The case is pending.

On Dec. 28, 2008, York County Judge Richard Renn ordered Hose to return the permit.

Hose eventually issued a new permit which stamped over Shaffer's picture "Returned by Order of the Court." Shaffer in the federal lawsuit alleges Hose denied his Second Amendment right to bear arms.

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13865940?source=most_emailed

And the hunter that got shot had a day in court for fighting. http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CourtSummaryReport.aspx?matterID=200564595