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From what I read, the cousin picked up rocks after the shooter fired into the air and at the feet of the cousin. The cousin might have a good case for self defense. The shooter owned the riverbank, but the rafters had a right to be there, an easement. Had the shooter not threatened the rafters with bodily harm first, and had the rafters approached him with rocks in a menacing fashion, and then gone for his gun, he might have a case. As it stands, based on the side of the story we have heard, I think the shooter goes to prison for murder, maybe manslaughter. You could argue self defense, but I think it will fail.

I have rafted these rivers, the Meramec, Jack's Fork, the Current, Cuivre River, etc. many times over the years. I'd hate to get shot because I wanted to take a leak. With women in the canoes, you have to go up into the vegetation. I understand the guys frustration with his private property, but from what I read, the public has an easement on his property to a certain, difficult to ascertain, point. He has to live with it if he wants to live on the river, and, like another poster said, come up with creative ways to discourage bad behavior. Photos of offenders, take pictures of them and post them online or give them to the cops for a public nudity prosecution; prosecute the ones who enter the part of your land that is not subject to the easement, etc. These canoes all have serial numbers and you can trace the people who rent them.

There were truckloads of stupidity on both sides, but what I can’t get over is if some guy comes with a gun and tells you to get off his property you pick up rocks and try to grab his gun rather than leaving EVEN IF you think you’re on an easement and you’re right. At that point the trespassers have escalated the confrontation.