Meramec River Shooting

[Quillback]

I'm going to start a new thread on this, and I am hoping that in this thread we can stick to the information, as it comes out, pertaining to this shooting. There's nothing in the local media on this that I can find, so I am relying on you folks to provide updates as they come out. I'm sure there are lots of us who are also interested as to what happens.

From what I've read, a river side property owner, shot a floater in the head. Probably was some sort of altercation prior to the shooting. The person who was shot may have been floating with a large group of folks, as many as 40. Shooter has been charged with 2nd degree murder.

This sums up all that I've heard so far.

[Old plug]

There is something in today St Louis Post Dispatch on line.look it up.

They will not reveal much more because it cause problem in the prosecution.

[Quillback]

Thanks, nothing new there, but here's the link:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-shot-dead-on-meramec-river/article_390af4bb-89d9-5f6e-a465-aee108753659.html

[1969Larson]

We can learn a few things WITHOUT needing to know the facts... so [unrelated to this particular incident,] here are a few things to remember:

1. A gravel bar full of drunks is no place for a gun.

2. If you are a property owner, your few feet of gravel is not important enough to cause an altercation. They'll be gone shortly. Take up the cause of something more important than your dirt and rocks. If you need help coming up with things that are more important than your property, contact me. I can provide a laundry list of causes that could use your energy. They actually matter too.

3. If you are a floater and see a property owner who doesn't want you nearby and he isn't smart enough to read or understand what I'm saying in #2 above, shove off. There's another gravel bar around the next bend. Blessed is the peacemaker. I didn't make that up.

[Hog Wally]

Right on.

[Feathers and Fins]

I went on Google Earth and looked at the area and the house seem to be a way off the river. The Bars are very clear and would be well below high water mark so should not be a dispute about being on someones property. That said we do not know the full story.

Now that said I think many of us on here are not all that suprised, we have talked in many threads about the rivers and some have said this was going to happen sooner or later. Heck right now there is a thread about Spavinaw going on and how most stay off it because of land owners. I hope this case wakes up lawmakers and they act to protect all who use the water Lakes, Rivers, Streams or whatever.

Its been ignored to long (the altercations between water users and land owners) it is high time it is not ignored any further.

[Guest]

Deleted

[gotmuddy]

Illinois can now arrest floaters for operating while intoxicated while floating in an innertube. Not that it would solve the landowner vs. floater disputes, but it would make the meramac, current, black, niangua and elk a lot more fun to fish on the weekends.

thats insane.

[Old plug]

In Missouri they have always been wble to arrests drunk floaters. They are just not enforcing it. They can nail you ith drunk and disorderly.plus littering. And if you have a child in you tube with you they can add child endangerment to the list.

[Rustynuts]

I think it comes down to having a county sheriff dept with the boats and manpower to enforce the existing laws. Was on the lower James Saturday and was involved with a Drunken Disorderly Lewd bunch of young adults, that had to be calmed down and sobered up. When I got home and caught this story , it made me second guess going over to talk to those kids as maybe not such a smart thing to do , but someone had to remind them a little about Morality as they obviously hadn't learned this at home or school.