# Homeowner Pulls Gun on Utility Worker **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285 "2012-07-24T21:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/1 "2012-07-24T21:13:13Z")
**Houston Homeowner, Pulls Gun on a Utility Worker Installing Smart Meters** [http://www.khou.com/home/Harris-County-woman-uses-gun-to-stop-worker-from-installing-smart-meter-162948266.html](http://www.khou.com/home/Harris-County-woman-uses-gun-to-stop-worker-from-installing-smart-meter-162948266.html) WTF? I’m all for privacy and keeping folks offa my lawn, but damn, woman! I know Texas is a bit more relaxed about guns than other places, but why isn’t this a crime? Here in Georgia it is… \*\*O.C.G.A. § 16-11-102 Pointing or aiming gun or pistol at another A person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he intentionally and without legal justification points or aims a gun or pistol at another, whether the gun or pistol is loaded or unloaded.\*\* If I find someone helping themselves to my stuff, they’ll be held at gunpoint while waiting for the police. However, the water meter guy and the electric meter guy have legal access to my yard for a specific purpose, and I lock the dogs up for them if I know they’re coming. This stupid bitch belongs in jail. Forget that she’s crazy in thinking someone is watching her electric use - the utility has the right to use whatever equipment they want to monitor her power use. If she doesn’t like it, go off the grid. Buy a fucking windmill or generator. Fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/2 "2012-07-24T21:15:20Z")
> [@](#): > > “Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy,” she said. “They’ll be able to tell if you are running your computer, air conditioner, whatever it is.” Watt? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/3 "2012-07-24T21:22:39Z")
They should start jerking permits from people like this. Forever. After events like the Denver shooting, I think we need to be much, much more aware of possible warning signs of insanity. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/4 "2012-07-24T21:29:11Z")
I watched the clip - WTH is wrong with that couple? Wack job city, I’d say. So, jerk their gun permits, and charge them a surcharge every month for the extra time and effort required to get a walk-up meter read. Also, I’m pretty sure the agreement with the utility is that the meter, etc., are the utility’s property and they can do whatever they want with it. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/5 "2012-07-24T21:35:34Z")
Its not that the meters transmit wirelessly (they’ve been doing that for a while), it’s that they track & report continuous usage data over time, instead of just usage totals. That way they can bill you different rates for different times of day - e.g. you pay more for power you use during peak hours. Some people (nutjobs) think it’s all part of a government plot. I’m still not sure what knowing specifically what time your air conditioner turns on will help bring about an authoritarian state, but apparently it will. Here’s a [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JNFr_j6kdI) explaining why this is such a horrible thing. (Not safe for your sanity). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/6 "2012-07-24T21:36:27Z")
> [@](#): > > “Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy,” she said. “They’ll be able to tell if you are running your computer, air conditioner, whatever it is.” > [@stpauler](#): > > Watt? She needs to meditate. Ohm, ohm, ohm. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/7 "2012-07-24T21:41:41Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > She needs to meditate. On the contrary, she’s part of the resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/8 "2012-07-24T21:46:34Z")
What a revolting story. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/9 "2012-07-24T21:49:52Z")
Shocking, even. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/10 "2012-07-24T22:05:14Z")
Yeah, but I can sympathize. When there’s a stranger on your property, it’s a do-or-diode situation. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/11 "2012-07-24T22:18:29Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > They should start jerking permits from people like this. Forever. > > After events like the Denver shooting, I think we need to be much, much more aware of possible warning signs of insanity. Better yet, “we reserve the right to refuse service to anybody.” That way, she won’t have to worry about them knowing when she’s using electricity at all! ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/12 "2012-07-24T22:38:41Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Some people (nutjobs) think it’s all part of a government plot. I’m still not sure what knowing specifically what time your air conditioner turns on will help bring about an authoritarian state, but apparently it will. Because when the authoritarian state makes us report our every move, who is in our house, etc, the smart meter will assist them in ferreting out dissidents on the run by cluing the jackbooted thugs in on who is having unreported house guests. Or something to that effect. Apparently under this police state scenario the jack booted thugs will still respect your prior decision not to have one installed and not subject those who refused to extra scrutiny. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/13 "2012-07-24T22:44:12Z")
This is why we need to ban high capacitor magazines for handguns. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/14 "2012-07-24T23:06:26Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > On the contrary, she’s part of the resistance. I wonder what they’ll charge her with? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/15 "2012-07-24T23:12:59Z")
Fuck that. I would have cut her at the pole and left the drop lying on her precious property. If you don’t want to be on the grid lady you don’t have to be, then you need not worry about anyone monitoring your electrical use. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/16 "2012-07-24T23:16:38Z")
It seems that the homeowners are quite grounded in their beliefs. The meter man was just trying to do his circuit through the neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/17 "2012-07-24T23:17:09Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I wonder what they’ll charge her with? AC ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/18 "2012-07-24T23:31:11Z")
Not if she lived in Washington…DC that is. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/19 "2012-07-24T23:34:32Z")
So, is the electric company allowed to deny service to customers who threaten deadly force against their employees in the course of doing their jobs in accordance with the customer’s service agreement? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285/20 "2012-07-24T23:42:52Z")
> [@](#): > > “Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy,” she said. Really? Please tell me the specific article. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-pulls-gun-on-utility-worker/629285.md?page=2)