Keith Walendowski set out to mow his lawn the other day and the mower wouldn’t start. So what did he do? Like the average common man in Milwaukee, he shot the lawn mower with a short-barreled shotgun.

After filling the mower with buckshot, apparently a neighbor complained and now Mr. Walendowski is facing criminal charges that could land him in jail for more than six years.

Does this make sense? Should society be forced to carry the cost of prison for six years just for shooting a lawn mower on one’s property? It will cost over $250,000 to house, feed, and clothe Mr. Walendowski for his “crime”. How crazy is that?

Now I am in favor of stricter gun control, but throwing a guy in the slammer for six years for being a dumb ass and shooting a lawn mover for urban target practice just doesn’t make sense to me. Wouldn’t attending an anger management class and perhaps taking away his short-barreled shotgun make more sense?

Probably not – if this happened, then the National Rifle Association would step in and file a lawsuit alleging Mr. Wlendowski’s second amendment right to bear arms was violated. And then our costs to protect this idiot’s rights would sky rocket.

Doesn’t the Milwaukee district attorney and court system have better things to tend to?

… just more evidence of the dumbing down of America.

Well, enough ranting and raving. I think my Texas lawn needs mowing now. Honey, can you get my gun down from the shelf! I’m locking and loading just in case my lawn mower doesn’t work!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive