If hes on his land, why be such a crabby little old lady? If hes crossing my land and getting all snooty about it,id just catch him alone every chance i got and beat the snot out of him.There comes a time when thats what it takes,and who is to say you werent in fear for your life on that dark lonely street.Self defense is still legal here in Wi.

No, see that is where you are wrong. If it is MY property, as some people have argued, I can build a parking lot or whatever the hell I want (staying within zoning laws), because it is MINE. The same thing goes for a one-stranded 3.5 ft tall fence. Its mine, and no one should be on my property that I don't know about, and the people I give access will know about the fence. How can you say that I can't build a fence with one strand on it but I can build anything else?? They broke the law by being there, it is their fault. Are you saying that if someone trespasses on my property and drowns in my pond, I should be sued for having a pond? Its the reasoning of the lawyers who represented those little punks in your town that are tarnishing America; not the actions of the farmer that are tarnishing hunters.

"How can you say that I can't build a fence with one strand on it but I can build anything else?? They broke the law by being there, it is their fault. Are you saying that if someone trespasses on my property and drowns in my pond, I should be sued for having a pond? Its the reasoning of the lawyers who represented those little punks in your town that are tarnishing America; not the actions of the farmer that are tarnishing hunters."

Bingo!!!Any trespassing idiot should be able to see the fence posts and to anticipate barbed wire. We really do have a rifle range on our place. We use it infrequently, especially in deer season.

I would think the problem could arise when said trespassing idiot hits this single strand barbed wire coming "from" property he or she has permission to be on, not being aware of the presence of the single strand. I could see how the fence owner could be held liable.[:'(]

The 50 BMG idea is great. It will work!! Just wish I was there to hear it and see them dump a load !!

I was a little fired up earlier, I just want to make it clear that while I will do what I want with my land, if I find someone trespassing they will be warned verbally first. I won't just build the 3.5 ft high barbed wire fence the day after I establish their traveling routes on my land. Down where I'm from thats usually all it takes, but don't tell me I can't build that 3.5 ft high one strand barbed wire fence. If it pleases me, I can build all of them that I want.

Build all the fence you want, just remember that you CAN be held liable if someone is hurt.

Building a fence with the sole intent toinjure anotherperson , is just plain wrong. A fence should be built to deter not injure. Your looking for bad karma building that type of fence.

I don't doubt that, or what you are saying. I'm just pointing out that I shouldn't be able to be held liable. Party X broke the law by being on MY land, and I have the right to build whatever I want within zoning laws on MY land. Again, I agree, a lawyer will find me liable, but that is what is wrong with the "system." It's like the guy that broke into a person's house and cut hisself on one of their knives and then sued the owners of the house - what kind of world do we live in that allows for things like that to happen?

ChrisAU,

Those burglary cases where they sue the homeowner are absolutely ridiculous and very rare, and that is why they make national news.

Just like that stupid McDonald's coffee burning the old lady. That was one crazy jury that gave the lady one day of McDonald's profit off of coffee (which happened to be a lot of $$$). It is cases like that that make people think they found gold when they slip and fall.

I hear you on being able to do what you want with your property, but I think everyone is saying that the lawyer will have an easy time making you look really bad (some kid, with nice parents and his preacher sitting in the courtroom, was riding his 4 wheeler and going fast and didn't realize where he was or that he was trespassing. You will be asked, "what did you think would happen if someone drove through there?").

This is very similar to the debate about spring guns (set them up at businesses to shoot a burglar breaking in). I used to think people should be able to do that. But if you think about it, do we want to encourage people to set up death traps? There have been a few cases where innocent people (like an employee who forgot his key) was shot by one. They will prosecute you for a spring gun, not b/c they think the burglar is so noble, but b/c we don't want to encourage vigilante justice.