Posted on 10/04/2011 5:44:58 AM PDT by lwd
A passing motorist on Organ Church Road called 911 Monday morning after seeing what appeared to be a bloody body pinned under a lawn mower.
But authorities quickly learned that the body was actually a graphic Halloween decoration placed near the road by a neighbor.
It wasnt too long after we dispatched a call that we found out it was a Halloween decoration, said 911 center shift supervisor Autumn Davis.
The attention-grabbing gag, set up in the yard at 3475 Organ Church Road near Rockwell, wasnt surrounded by any other Halloween decorations on Monday. The set-up depicts a body with bloodstained jeans trapped under the blades of a riding lawn mower, with a can of beer in its hand.
Chris Deaton, the man behind the mower, said this is his second year with the decoration, and said he did it because it got great reviews last year.
Its cool for a Halloween ornament, he said.
Deaton said he hadnt been contacted by authorities or passing motorists, but he didnt think the decoration was offending anyone.
He got the idea from someone elses yard, Deaton said, while traveling to the beach one year.
Last year, Deaton kept the mower closer to the house, so only those on his driveway could see it.
This year, though, he wanted to try it closer to the road.
Deaton said he hasnt put any other Halloween decorations around the mower because he figures its going to get stolen and he doesnt want anything else taken.
Thats the only thing its good for, Deaton said about the mower, which no longer has a working motor in it.
Its probably going to be stolen and sold for scrap metal, he said.
I love it! There's a small town north of me here in S.E. Michigan by about 15 miles called Romeo.
Every halloween, the whole town gets involved in the creepy festivities. People turn their yards into creepy cemeteries and zombies and monsters (not the trick or treaters) walk the streets to add to the creepiness. People come from all over to check it out which unfortunately leads to traffic problems....LOL!
I feel sorry for people like MEGoody who seem to have lost their "inner child" during the process of growing old - old and cranky.
They're trying to but we're putting up a fight! LOL!
I'm sure you are.....Are you the guy with the bat or the torch? LOL!
“... are you opposed to santa and frosty the snowman lawn ornaments during December?
Are they having sex? LOL!
Nobody put up a display of graphic sex in their front yard. If they did...that would be in violation of several local ordinances I'm sure. Apples and oranges.
Other than the religious aspect of the crucifix, it is not very different than the lawn mower display: both are violent depictions.
Not sure but my guess is it’s the vocal minority.
Profound. I’m going to steal this, with your permission (another liberal tradition, eh? Except for the part about asking permission).
I still have the inner child, I guess. We used to have some awesome parties at the ranch, with a treasure hunt (in the dark, with flashlights!) and a maze (a winding tunnel made with black plastic through the trees and full of surprises) and even a haunted 2-story house once. Wish I still had the energy for all that!
I've seen crosses on people's lawns, but never a crucifix (i.e. a cross with someone hanging on it). If it was bloody and such, I'd talk with the neighbor about it as it is not appropriate for public display in a neighborhood.
both are violent depictions.
If the depiction of the person hanging on the cross actually looked like a person and had fake blood all over it, then yes, I agree with you. I've never seen anything like that though except in a Catholic Church.
So let me ask you - are you okay with governmental interference in use of personal property when it comes to a display of graphic sex, but you want them to stay out if it is a display of blood and gore?
So let me ask you - are you okay with governmental interference in use of personal property when it comes to a display of graphic sex, but you want them to stay out if it in a display of blood and gore?
The torch would be a better tool for getting rid of the offending display. (Just kidding of course.)
Nah, those would be fine. No blood and guts, no graphic sex. If they offend you, feel free to set your neighbor straight. LOL
Actually, I don't have any idiotic neighbors, so we get along fine. But I'm sure your neighborhood probably is fine with blood and guts displays, junk cars all over the yard, old refrigerators (with doors still on) sitting around outside.
Must suck being a kid in your neighborhood.
Like the last time Eaker and humblegunner tried to work on a tractor?
Or are you imagining the "after" picture of a jump stump we looked at during a HAT keep event?
- - - - - -
Actually, the "Halloween Season" is best celebrated with Pumpkin Chunkin', or other post-harvest fruit explosions.
My future retirement plans include my Pumpkin Trebuchet and breaking the mile.
Graphic apples and oranges? Now that's just wrong!
You see...now you are confusing those two issues.
The use of private property for graphic displays of sexual activity is something that is normally licensed by local governments and doing it so that it is on a front lawn for public view would be considered a violation of local law.
If I placed a lawn mower and mannequin as he did, it would not be in violation of any law....so anyone who is offended can pucker up and kiss my arse.
The answer to your question, as stated is..yes. Since it comes down to a violation of local law. Don't like the law? Get it changed. Then display all the sex on your lawn you can stand. If anyone is offended at that point, they can pucker up and kiss your arse....if that is how you would be inclined to respond.
If the graphic display of sexual acts displayed on my front lawn is not a violation of local law or ordinance then the gubmint can feel free to leave me alone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.