# When can I shoot a neighbor for putting Christmas lights up too soon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269 "2015-09-23T04:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/61 "2015-09-25T09:58:44Z")
Get your revenge by celebrating St. Patrick’s day too early. Decorate your house with shamrocks, put statues of leprechauns on your lawn and blast Irish folk music out your windows 24/7. And don’t forget to greet your Christmas loving neighbor with a cheery “Top ‘o the mornin’ to ya!” as you leave for work each morning. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/62 "2015-09-25T11:20:11Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > So this is how the War on Christmas starts? Christmas is winning. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/63 "2015-09-25T12:59:19Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I won’t advocate neither vandalism nor murder, but maybe renting a searchlight…I’m just saying…could make a point. Sound advice. Covers a multitude of sins. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/64 "2015-09-25T13:02:56Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Perhaps it’s time to convert to a religion that requires you to be equally obnoxious in her direction. But only if you think she’d get the point. This can lead to a dangerous escalation of holiday decorations. I once had two neighbors at war with each other involving “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and “Saturnalia is the Reason for the Season” decorations. Their houses got manic scary decorated before it finally tapered off. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/65 "2015-09-25T13:12:04Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Well, speaking for myself, I’m neither a lawyer nor an account by I definitely am a Very Religious Person with an extra helping of Humor, but Christmas decorations that are not Nativity-ey (e.g. lights, snow, snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer, etc.) are not part of my religion and even then, at least wait for the start of Advent, November 29th for the decorations. And while we’re at it, don’t put out Easter candy on Good Friday! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/66 "2015-09-25T13:30:04Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Just load up the gas powered generator while they’re at work and plug the decorations into the 220vac outlet. Repeat as necessary until sometime after Thanksgiving. +1, ingenious, subtle and very effective. If, however, you don’t happen to have a generator handy, you could try wrapping one or two wraps of solder around the prongs of a few of the plugs along the string of lights. When the neighbor plugs the string in, the solder short will blow the breaker and the solder will vaporize in the process, eliminating any evidence except for a few scorch marks on the plugs. You may have to experiment on the number of solder wraps over a few nights to obtain the desired result. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/67 "2015-09-26T06:35:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Are they Filipino? > > The reason I’m asking is that to Filipinos, Christmas is THE big holiday of the year and yes, they do it for 3 months. Was going to ask this too, since I’m Filipino. However, saying we celebrate it starting September isn’t rwally true. The radio might play a yuletide carol on Sept.1, there are the commercial ads that go up. But it’s the commercial segment that really pushes ir and not the people. There are at least two important Filipino holidays in October and November. And shopping is done in December. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/68 "2015-09-26T07:01:25Z")
Oh I forgot. Fuck you if you don’t like Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/69 "2015-09-26T07:09:43Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Was going to ask this too, since I’m Filipino. However, saying we celebrate it starting September isn’t rwally true. The radio might play a yuletide carol on Sept.1, there are the commercial ads that go up. But it’s the commercial segment that really pushes ir and not the people. There are at least two important Filipino holidays in October and November. And shopping is done in December. UGH! other people do this?! It drives me nuts to have the hundred days of christmas, with radio stations playing christmas songs in september. But at least they are xmas themed sexual innuendo soca songs instead of like chestnuts roasting or suicide would be appealing, but still. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/70 "2015-09-26T09:16:57Z")
“Silent Night” played during the first hour of work feels weird. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/71 "2015-09-26T10:11:41Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Oh I forgot. Fuck you if you don’t like Christmas. [My favorite carol.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysfQjKKi70) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/72 "2015-09-26T13:00:42Z")
My [favorite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE). ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/73 "2015-09-27T21:46:36Z")
Personally, I like Christmas lights regardless of season, but this might work… Make a note of the date when they put up their lights. Next year, put up some basic lights one month before that date. People will gossip, and they will hear. Take yours down after two or three weeks. Once you do this, I’m guessing that they will darn well wait until everyone else’s lights are up before putting up theirs! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/74 "2015-09-29T01:33:18Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > Personally, I like Christmas lights regardless of season, but this might work… > > Make a note of the date when they put up their lights. Next year, put up some basic lights one month before that date. People will gossip, and they will hear. Take yours down after two or three weeks. Once you do this, I’m guessing that they will darn well wait until everyone else’s lights are up before putting up theirs! Some rich bastard here had huge Xmas displays. When his neighbor became pissed off at the horrendous traffic admiring the bastard bought his house. The guy would put his up earlier the next year, like New Hampshire having the first choice at President. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/75 "2015-09-29T02:00:41Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Is the person actually turning them on? I can see putting them up early (well, early November, not late September) because the weather is better, but then not turning them on until December. In most of Texas, it’s still in the mid nineties. It’s not good weather for putting up lights. It’s too damned hot to be putting up lights. By Thanksgiving, you might get a couple of cold days, but it’s still mostly sunny, dry, and in the seventies. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/76 "2015-09-29T02:34:52Z")
I’m pleased to be able to offer expert legal advice at no charge. 😉 [ul] [li]You’re in Texas, so go ahead. In Texas, you can shoot anything at any time.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Otherwise, even the most holiday-obsessed would likely feel that Halloween is the earliest one can think of as being the start of “the holiday season”, though rational types think in terms of (American) Thanksgiving as the start thereof. No shooting of Christmas lights or Christmas decor is permitted after Thanksgiving, except in Texas.[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Christmas lights may be shot down after January 15 in every state except Texas. [Cite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution). In Texas, they may be shot down at any time.[/li][/ul] ETA: Oops – I see the question wasn’t about shooting out the lights, but about shooting the neighbor for putting them up. In most states, you can only shoot the neighbor with Christmas lights as justifiable homicide if said neighbor puts them up outside the period between Thanksgiving and January 15, legally known as “the period of decent acceptability of Christmas decorations.” In Texas, of course, you can shoot a neighbor at any time. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269/77 "2015-09-29T10:37:20Z")
Perhaps I shall move to Texas. It’s right next door. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-shoot-a-neighbor-for-putting-christmas-lights-up-too-soon/732269.md?page=3)