NJ Man who Shoots 3 Problem Bears gets $4,000+ Fines and Fees

Ammoland ^ | 4 February, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In October, 2014, a 76-year-old New Jersey resident shot three problem bears on his property.  One was an adult sow that was on his deck and looking in through his sliding glass door.  The location of the two juvenile bears when they were shot, is disputed, but was either on the deck or close to it.  Bears are more dangerous as they are larding up for the winter hibernation.

Bears that display this level of familiarity with humans, who associate humans with food, are a severe problems waiting to happen.  It is why the conservation community has come up with a well used phrase: A fed bear is a dead bear.

Judge James G. Devine handed down the fines against Robert Ehling on the 28th of January, 2016.  I found the judges attitude a bit disturbing in one particular sense.  He thought that Robert C. Ehling acted as a "vigilante".  From njherald.com:

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP - A Sparta man was found guilty of illegally killing three bears and possession of a loaded firearm within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling on Thursday and ordered to pay a total of $4,332 in civil penalties and restitution.

The verdict and fines were levied against Robert C. Ehling by Municipal Court Judge James Devine, who called the 76-year-old man's actions on Oct. 10, 2014, the acts of "a vigilante, usurping the right of the state."

Wow.  New Jersey is one of the most anti-Second Amendment states in the Union.  They have effectively nullified the Second Amendment if you can be fined for mere possession of a loaded firearm, on your own property, while you are defending your property from bears.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

You'd be welcome in State Income tax free TN, we have open carry.

And that is exactly the state I and the Mrs. are making plans to move to as soon as we can. We'll be spending a vacation week there in Sept. to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Somewhere in Johnson Co. I think.

Thanks for the invite!

[Bulwyf]

With Neighbors like that, who needs enemies?

[old gringo]

because they assoiate everything with food the spend their whole life looking for food that’s all they do.

[I want the USA back]

So bears have more rights than humans.

[SgtHooper]

You can clearly see the bear was running away, and shot in the back. Clearly, no castle doctrine here. :-)

[Pontiac]

The verdict and fines were levied against Robert C. Ehling by Municipal Court Judge James Devine, who called the 76-year-old man’s actions on Oct. 10, 2014, the acts of “a vigilante, usurping the right of the state.”

The right of the state to what I wonder?

One thing I would recommend to anyone faced with this problem is to call your local game warden and make a report when faced with a problem bear or other predator.

You can (in my state anyway) get a nuisance animal hunting permit for the animal if you can show damage to your property or show that the animal poses a danger, a picture of the animal on your deck looking in your window I think would suffice.

Anyway after making the report you have shown that you a respecting the law and that you considered the animal dangerous. Always ask the warden to log your call.

Also call your police department to report the animal for the same reason to document that the animal is threatening.

Then when you shoot the animal you have documented with the authorities that you considered the animal threatening.

[Blue Jays]

Excellent advice and excellent plan for ANY nuisance animal anyone might encounter in any state.
Great informative post that makes complete sense.

[SWO]

This is New Jersey, left when I was 17 and never looked back.
Look up the rules about buying and owning a pellet rifle (including BB guns) in the State.
I’m not sure it is actually part of America anymore.
Someone should ask Chris Christie about his state’s BB gun rules at the next debate.

[GreenHornet]

You can clearly see the bear was running away, and shot in the back

Paws up, don't shoot!

[1Old Pro]

One was an adult sow that was on his deck and looking in through his sliding glass door. The location of the two juvenile bears when they were shot, is disputed, but was either on the deck or close to it.

Should have dragged them into the house :)

[Redcitizen]

#blackbearlivesmatter