Aside from the inconveniences that would be caused, the neighborhood could very well end up stuck with the bill for repairing damage done to infrastructure (street, sewer, underground power lines, ...)
After criminal damage is done, the state can press charges. Everything else is a very slippery slope.
As an example, imagine your neighbor has a gas stove and accidentally leaves it on, unlit, all day. A pilot light turns on, and the house explodes, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage.
Should the government ban gas stoves? How about electricity?
Finally, stockpiling firearms, making meth in the basement, keeping pet tigers, and storing 3000 gallons of highly-flammable liquid is not the same as having a small swimming pool. The things you list are generally illegal in all circumstances, but having a swimming pool is never illegal. Also, water just isn't that dangerous. The pool collapsing would probably not cause any more damage than watering a tree and forgetting you left the hose on.
So, as I mentioned earlier, you are heading down a very slippery slope. Individual rights should trump the possibility of "inconvenience" to your neighbors.
If anyone should be upset, it's this guy's insurance company.
I don't think the government should ban gas stoves, but I don't want my neighbor running his own gas lines that don't meet the building codes.
Can we agree that there is a grey area which covers where lines should be drawn in terms of personal rights vs. infringing the rights of others? It is certainly the crux of our system of government.
We obviously disagree where the line is in this particular case, and I totally respect your vigilance.
I do take issue with your statement "having a swimming pool is never illegal" -- that is certainly incorrect, at least by definition of the building codes in the jurisdiction I live in.
But I agree, we are surrounded by slippery slopes.
After criminal damage is done, the state can press charges. Everything else is a very slippery slope.
As an example, imagine your neighbor has a gas stove and accidentally leaves it on, unlit, all day. A pilot light turns on, and the house explodes, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage.
Should the government ban gas stoves? How about electricity?
Finally, stockpiling firearms, making meth in the basement, keeping pet tigers, and storing 3000 gallons of highly-flammable liquid is not the same as having a small swimming pool. The things you list are generally illegal in all circumstances, but having a swimming pool is never illegal. Also, water just isn't that dangerous. The pool collapsing would probably not cause any more damage than watering a tree and forgetting you left the hose on.
So, as I mentioned earlier, you are heading down a very slippery slope. Individual rights should trump the possibility of "inconvenience" to your neighbors.
If anyone should be upset, it's this guy's insurance company.