Be that as it may, that farmer would find himself in prison today. Unless he could somehow make a convincing case that he was in fear for his life from some kids cutting across one of his fields.
Oh yeh, for sure. I was addressing the assertion that crossing someone's fields wasn't criminal, not whether or not the farmer should shoot. Everywhere I've ever been aware of it would be trespassing, even armed trespassing. But it wasn't always a big concern and in years past land was more often than not left open to people. In fact in many years past even cattle ran wild/free over the state with not even a fence law in place. Today that just ain't the case and trespassing is considered a serious offense.
Way back when I was a kid, I could come home from school, change clothes, grab my shotgun and/or fishing gear and hike over several land owner's fields to the lakes that are now part of Disney World in about 2 1/2 hrs, hunting/shooting all the way whatever was in season. Would often make camp on the banks of those lakes and fish, run trot lines or set hooks all weekend, and not one landowner between home and the lakes cared whether we crossed their properties or not. Today even walking on your neighbor's front lawn is technically trespassing and will often be enforced.
'Course back then we all carried a pocket full of fence staples with us and if we found a strand of wire down, we'd nail it back up. Or if we found a gate/gap left open, we'd close it. The farmers and ranchers back then knew we would take care of their property instead of tearing it up like some do today.
Rip roaring through pastures, farming land with their big 4X4's, ATV's, UTV's, etc, leaving tracks from doing donuts, etc. Running through fences and tearing them down letting hundreds of cattle mix from one herd to another. All the bad and reckless things kids/people will sometimes do.
These are examples of what has caused all the trespassing laws to be tightened and enforced over time. I don't blame the land owners anymore for their change in attitudes about their land/fields regarding trespassing. But I hate it because it prevents today's good kids from enjoying so much of the outdoors due to so much of it being posted today.
Jus' sayin' !!!