There’s a special kind of arrogance that seems to show up every so often in Snug Harbor—the kind that thinks the rules don’t apply, that common sense is optional, and that everyone else’s peace and safety are somehow less important than their own convenience.
Yes, I’m talking about the people who keep firing guns in the neighborhood to scare off geese or other wildlife.
Let’s be absolutely clear: this isn’t just “annoying.” It’s reckless, it’s inconsiderate, and it is definitely against the law under Perquimans County Ordinance 12. That ordinance exists for a reason—because this is a residential community, not a hunting ground, not a free-for-all, and definitely not a place where people should have to wonder whether the next loud crack outside is going to end in someone getting hurt.
What exactly is going through someone’s mind when they decide the solution to a few geese is to start discharging a firearm near homes? Do they not consider the families living nearby? The children? The pets? The fact that bullets don’t magically stop existing just because you’re “only trying to scare something”?
And even beyond the obvious safety risks, there’s the sheer lack of respect. People live here for peace, for quiet, for a sense of community. Instead, they get startled by gunshots echoing across the neighborhood because someone couldn’t be bothered to find a responsible, legal, and non-dangerous way to deal with wildlife.
There are solutions. Plenty of them. Humane deterrents, proper wildlife control methods, even just contacting the appropriate authorities if there’s a real issue. But no—some choose the most extreme, disruptive option and expect everyone else to just tolerate it.
Enough.
This isn’t about overreacting. It’s about basic responsibility. It’s about following the law. It’s about not putting your neighbors at risk because you’re impatient or unwilling to handle a situation properly.
So let this be perfectly clear: violations will be reported. This is not something that’s going to be ignored or brushed off anymore. Ordinance 12 is in place to protect this community, and it will be taken seriously.
If you’re one of the people doing this, here’s the message: stop. You’re not helping. You’re not solving anything. You’re creating danger and tension in a place where neither belongs.
And for everyone else who’s just as fed up—don’t ignore it. Speak up. Report it. Stand behind the rules that keep this neighborhood safe.
Snug Harbor deserves better than this.
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