Oregon Marijuana Grower Busted for Spring Gun

A quick search indicates that these weapons, sometimes used to trap animals, have been illegal in England since 1827.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Jefferson marijuana grower was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's deputies after they spotted his garden during a burglary investigation.

But it isn't the marijuana that the man was arrested over, his garden was legal. The man, 45-year old John Roger Bauer, was arrested after investigators spotted a "spring gun" in the garden.

Marion County Undersheriff Troy Clausen, said, "The marijuana grow turned out to be a legal medical marijuana grow but upon inspecting the area with the owners consent it was found that a setgun or springgun trip wire had been set by John Roger Bauer Sr."

Wikipedia states that: "A spring-gun is a gun, often a shotgun, rigged to fire when a string or other triggering device is tripped by contact of sufficient force to 'spring' the trigger so that anyone stumbling over or treading on them would discharge it and wound themselves."

Clausen said, "The spring gun, designed to scare away anyone approaching the grow, was disabled by the Oregon State Police bomb squad who were called to the area by Sergeant Shane Burnham."

He says Senior Deputy Shawn Bush had noticed a small fishing line attached to the spring gun which was loaded with a shotgun shell. The shotgun shell had been emptied and the "wad" left inside.

"The suspect, Mr. Bauer, had indicated that the spring gun was not intended to hurt anyone rather to keep people away from the grow."

Clausen says Bauer was arrested for the offense of Setting Springgun or Setgun. He was cited and released from the Marion County Jail.

A quick search indicates that these weapons, sometimes used to trap animals, have been illegal in England since 1827.

Although there have been "few" reported cases, there are a number of unconfirmed cases that occurred during the 20th century.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office would like to remind people that the setting of spring guns is illegal, dangerous, and could be seriously injure or kill someone or law enforcement personnel.

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Daniel October 11, 2009 12:36 pm (Pacific time)

Mike I live in oregon , for over 30 years , I grew up in New York . My point was not about your father being a thief , it was about excessive use of force and overreaction to what may be simple trespass . If I was to shoot someone it would have to be for a darn good reason , not as just a reaction from fear or anger or to punish some kid . Once that bullet leaves the chamber you can not take it back . I worry more about fearful people with guns than the very small population of armed criminals in Oregon . Its the guns that thieves look for when they rip off a home , casing it out when the owners away . Most thieves are looking to rip easy cash and guns that bring big bucks on the black market . If the home owner is armed and invaded I just hope they know how to use the weapon without fear because they may get more than they bargained for . Many people talk tough but to be in a shoot out is not for many . Mike thank you for your respect of those who served .

Mike H. October 11, 2009 2:33 am (Pacific time)

Oh damn, you're a vet. I sincerely apologize for any disrespectful statements that were thrown your way. I was simply angered by the fact that you assumed my father was a thief, then calling me a violent wanna be screw ball or whatever. I am not violent at all, in fact, quite the opposite. Just some people have different standings on issues, which is great, it's what makes our country our country. Freedom of...damn near everything. What state you from Daniel? I could assume Oregon but you never know...

Daniel October 9, 2009 1:46 pm (Pacific time)

mike H the society of respect and social niceties has always existed as a small fragment of many society thru out history , often the controlling fraction . The fact is we have more justice and civility today then 50 or 100 or 200 years ago . Our numbers have increased greatly and the underlying problems are amplified thru the media magnifier . The entertainment and brainwash transmissions take the masses to the lowest common denominator . The constant bombardment of unhealthy choices and fear mongering sicken me . The fear factor is not just about the criminals brought into your homes every night via the mind numbing transmission its all the crazy health scares . Sell people unhealthy fattening junk and then sell them a toxic drug to cover up the symptom . Americans die prematurely every year from an unhealthy diet not from some violent crime . The media is like someone telling you to watch out for your neighbor as they stab you in the heart . As for Mr B I am sure he will get off with a slap on the wrist , the state has bigger problems to deal with .

Daniel October 9, 2009 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

Jana you condone breaking the law by advocating shooting kids with rock salt for simple trespass . This excess use of force is illegal . Punishment that is done with a loving heart and that is not excessive works . Violent punishment for vengeance or control just helps to create more violent monsters ! The so called spoiled wimps I am not worried about , its the abused unsupervised and unloved I watch out for . We are also doing the kids no favor with junk food and caffeine sodas making them hyperactive , then drugging them to keep still in the classroom . BTW California has much stricter laws against trespass and has a castle law unlike oregon , you should move down there . Mike H I am not daniel J from canada , he does seem a decent fellow , I am Daniel , the vet , from the USA . Mike growing up in the 50s I saw plenty of violent kids in the city I grew up in , its not that new its just getting worse .

Mike H. October 8, 2009 1:25 am (Pacific time)

Look Daniel, I read your biography and you seem like a really decent guy. Out to change the world. Someone has to do it. Things need to change. What I am saying here is. 1. His spring gun was not loaded. It was not intended to hurt anyone. 2. Yes, if I felt in danger or felt that others around me were in danger, I would take it seriously. 3. The 'good old days' were when kids were punished for their actions. When they got whacked with a ruler for misbehaving in class. When kids respected their teachers and elders, not brought guns to school and killed them. Sir and Maam are terms that should still be used. 3. Even if a young passerby did go by and set the spring gun off, it was NOT loaded. He did not 'get lucky' that it wasn't loaded, he intended it the way it was, to be an alarm. You are right though, maybe people will be after his garden now. If I were him, I would grow it behind locked doors.

JanaBanana October 7, 2009 7:34 pm (Pacific time)

"Daniel October 7, 2009 7:47 am (Pacific time)
Please leave the USA if you do not like it here or respect the laws"
I would like to know WHERE in my post I implied I did not LOVE my country nor like it's laws???? I follow the letter of the law ALWAYS, I was simply remembering a time when total wimps didn't go running to mommy every time they had a problem to settle, when a school yard fight settled an argument, when there wasn't some syndrome or another to explain away people's behavior, when a parent could put the fear of GOD into a kid, AND when private property was private. This does not condone child abuse, as you put it, and I am NOT a sicko. It just reflects a time when we did not have the government running EVERYTHING and EVERYONE.

Hey John Bauer READ: October 7, 2009 7:57 pm (Pacific time)

Here is some Oregon law for you... Here is the actual Oregon code: 161.225 Use of physical force in defense of premises. (1) A person in lawful possession or control of premises is justified in using physical force upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or terminate what the person reasonably believes to be the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by the other person in or upon the premises. (2) A person may use deadly physical force under the circumstances set forth in subsection (1) of this section only: (a) In defense of a person as provided in ORS 161.219; or (b) When the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent the commission of arson or a felony by force and violence by the trespasser. (3) As used in subsection (1) and subsection (2)(a) of this section, “premises” includes any building as defined in ORS 164.205 and any real property. As used in subsection (2)(b) of this section, “premises” includes any building. [1971 c.743 §25] 161.229 Use of physical force in defense of property. A person is justified in using physical force, other than deadly physical force, upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes it to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission by the other person of theft or criminal mischief of property. [1971 c.743 Since Mr. B's contraption was not intended to cause bodily harm of any type...I think he will not be prosecuted in the end...

MikeTubbs October 7, 2009 10:57 am (Pacific time)

A couple of Geese are good for an early warning system. 'Mad Max' my fathers goose, never failed to announce the presence of a stranger.

Daniel October 7, 2009 9:20 am (Pacific time)

John Bauer sorry if I was a bit hard on you on my posts . Please look into much better high tech ways to guard your space that are not against the law . Please check it out on line ,and call the police if you have intruders , your grow is legal . Also watch out for the hard core who may have picked up on the story . Use video , motion detectors and alarms . Call the police unless you are willing to be in a shoot out ,with perhaps 2 or 3 tweeked out shoot at anything nuts .

Daniel October 7, 2009 8:57 am (Pacific time)

One more note Mike H you say you would shoot a 13 yr old just for being on your property as the farmer did to your father. How about some of that salt hitting the kids eye and blinding them ? Then you say you would not shoot someone for just treapass , make up your mind . What is it ? Jana wants to take us back to the good old days of shooting and beating kids for the crime of building a tree house . To me this is child abuse !

Daniel October 7, 2009 7:47 am (Pacific time)

Roseanna Banana California has a castle law Oregon does not , look it up . Please leave the USA if you do not like it here or respect the laws . What mr b did was stupid , if it was filled with buck that would be insane . Mike H , mr b has to watch his back because of rip offs not the police , or did you not think of that .Mike why is it most of your posts are about shooting someone . Are you that fearful or are you doing something unlawful ? A young person may be walking in a remote area to shoot there bbgun or just hiking, did you not think of this . Jana if you think shooting kids is the good old days , you are very sick . You are not part of the russian group that beats children are you ? It sure sounds like it . As for mr b I feel sorry his stupid actions put him on the front page , I hope he learned a lesson . Mike h if I was a tweeker looking to rip someone off I would be armed and shoot back if I heard a shot , like you I would not run off in fear . Mike h I am on a ipod and have a hard time with the small keyboard . BTW you state , ""I doubt he operation " , HE OPERATION,please check your typing as well as you check mine .

Mike H. October 6, 2009 11:34 pm (Pacific time)

Daniel, my father was 13 or 14 around the time he said and he was with his friend plucking at Canadian geese with their bb guns. No, I would not shoot someone simply for trespassing on my property. Who knows, maybe they needed help and were coming but if I felt threated or any of my family was threated or if I did not like what was going on, yes, I would shoot live rounds. Pertaining to this incident, it is clear to anyone that the man did not intend to maim anybody. He was simply protecting his perfectly legal plants from people trying to steal them. If you heard a shotgun go off when you knew you were trespassing and trying to steal drugs, that would be illegal for you to have, wouldn't you shit yourself and run away? Daniel, perhaps you should read the entire article before you shoot your mouth off. Why would he have to watch his back for growing legal medical marijuana? "What Mr Bauer did was stupid , he is luckey it did not have a load and kill a police officer or a young passerby." 1. Spell check. 2. Lucky? Gun's don't load themselves. He sure got lucky he intentionally took the rounds out! 3. Why on Earth would a young passerby be on someone else's property, in what I assume was fairly secluded. I doubt he operation was a block from the school. Get real. Thanks JanaBanana, it's good to know there are others.

MikeTubbs October 6, 2009 7:07 pm (Pacific time)

I just got off the phone with Johns' sister (I've known the family for over twenty years)the device was pointed upwards towards the sky, the device was meant only to be a noise-maker. Johns' goal was never to hurt anyone, the device was only meant to be an alarm.

Troy October 6, 2009 8:09 pm (Pacific time)

Ummm-why the note it is illegal in England? We don't live in England. Are they illegal here? What does Oregon law say about it. Mentioning England was a red herring.

Editor: I just thought it was interesting.

JanaBanana October 6, 2009 8:06 pm (Pacific time)

Daniel, aside from the terrible spelling, you need to get the facts straight, Mr. B did not have the gun loaded with shot, it was a NOISE maker, that's it. He intended to SCARE a thief, nothing more nothing less. I was shot with rock salt as a kid too, for building a tree fort. That was the Good Ole Days, when property rights meant something. After the farmer peppered my butt with salt, my folks laid a belt on that sore hiney. There are still places in the US where it is still LEGAL to shoot someone with deadly force for property violations. Go back to CALIFORNIA Danny. They like your kind there.

Daniel October 6, 2009 6:19 pm (Pacific time)

Back to the story , what Mr Bauer did was stupid , he is luckey it did not have a load and kill a police officer or a young passerby . If this was the case Rodger would be sitting in jail for a long time !There are uninformed posters who think they can take shots at every person who makes the mistake of walking on someones land . THIS IS AGAINST THE LAW ! To do so or advise other to do so is a crime . Now that everyone knows Rodger Bauer is growing pot he will really have to watch his back , nice move rodger !

Daniel October 6, 2009 11:26 am (Pacific time)

Mike H So you think its ok to shoot someone for simple trespass as your father was guilty of . Maybe your father was not there to rip off the farmer , just wandered stupidly in , you are luckey the farmer did not use live rounds , you might not be here today . We have laws in the country if you do not want to follow them move to somewhere lawless . Yes my father was a judge , did you go before him ? I only know you by your posts , you sound like a want to be violent screw ball .

Mike H. October 6, 2009 9:31 am (Pacific time)

Um, how do I say this nicely, GFY Daniel. Did I say anywhere in there that he was trying to rip him off? No. He was just in his field. I forget why. But the farmer thought it suitable to pepper him with salt. I would too. Regardless if someone was stealing or not. So I guess you could say your father was judgmental and quick to throw insults without knowing the whole story huh? You're right, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Daniel October 6, 2009 8:42 am (Pacific time)

Mike H so your Father was a trespasser trying to rip off a hard working farmer , now you have a big hoorah for illegal actions . The apple does not fall far from the tree .

Police Bastards! October 6, 2009 7:24 am (Pacific time)

So the shotgun was not loaded / intended to cause harm? The podunk police need to have some more learnin'!

Todd October 6, 2009 4:47 am (Pacific time)

How come they didn't just have him disable it. Instead we had to pay for a damn bomb squad? I guess were so rich we don't need to use any common sense.

Mike H. October 5, 2009 11:29 pm (Pacific time)

Too bad, I say hoorah for this guy. Anyone trespassing deserves what they would get from this guy. My Dad, in his teenage years was shot with salt loaded in a shotgun for trespassing in a farmers field.

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Oregon Marijuana Grower Busted for Spring Gun

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