The Amish get a taste of the modern world

[Lil' Bitch 0]

MOUNT HOPE, Ohio - It's an annual prank in this tranquil Amish community, where men wear straw hats and women bonnets and plain dresses: Youngsters hide in cornfields and hurl tomatoes at passing cars.

 

This year, the mischief turned deadly.

 

A motorist who had been pelted several times on Labor Day got out of his car and fired three to five rounds into the 7-foot-high corn, killing 23-year-old Steven L. Keim.

 

No arrest has been made.

 

Residents are reeling from shock, unable to understand why anybody would retaliate so violently. Authorities say the county hadn't seen a firearm-related homicide in about three decades.

 

 

"The prank has gone on for years and years," said Marty Yoder, who owns Marty's Shoes in this town about 60 miles south of Cleveland. "All over the county it's been happening every year."

 

The shooting occurred just north of Mount Hope in Holmes County, where the clip-clop of horses pulling Amish buggies is just as common as the sound of passing automobiles.

 

 

Holmes County has what is believed to be the world's largest population of Amish, who do not believe in modern conveniences such as electricity and automobiles.

 

 

Keim, 23, an Apple Creek resident of Amish heritage, died of multiple wounds to the chest, Holmes County Coroner Robert Anthony said.

 

 

Keim was with about 10 other members of the Amish community, ages 15 to 23. The group told the sheriff's office they had been throwing tomatoes and firing paintball guns at passing vehicles.

 

The crime scene is marked by trampled corn stalks that interrupt an otherwise uniform stretch roadside corn. About eight rows into the cornfield, well hidden from the road, two buckets of rotting, fly-covered tomatoes still sat.

 

According to the sheriff's department, the driver of a Lincoln or Cadillac stopped, got out and threatened to shoot whoever threw the tomatoes Monday night.

 

The vehicle turned around and drove past the cornfield again. The car was struck with tomatoes a second time.

 

About 25 minutes later the vehicle passed the cornfield two more times. On a third pass, the driver stopped and challenged the group to throw more tomatoes — then fired his shotgun into the cornfield.

 

The sheriff's department did not have a suspect, only a vague description of a middle-aged male of medium height.

 

Residents say the community will be nervous until the shooter is caught.

 

"People won't be resting too good until they know who it is at least," said Ivan Miller, 41. "He should be punished. The guy lost it."

 

Wayne Miller, an Amish man from nearby Kidron, said the young people "shouldn't have been throwing tomatoes."

 

"But if people start shooting people for throwing tomatoes, this country's in bad shape," he said.

 

Keim was born into an Amish family, but his family left the Amish church and became Mennonites, said Yoder.

 

Mennonites share similar beliefs with the Amish, but drive cars and use more modern conveniences.

 

"He was a real outgoing person, always willing to help you," Yoder said.

 

I know worse reasons why someone's life was taken away through a gun, but this is fucked up still.

[Guest JMA]

Guys like him are reason enough to bring back the guillotine.

[Ced 0]

I don't know. On one hand, the group should have stop with the tomato throwing once the driver made it clear that it was inconveniencing him. On the other hand, the driver should not have incited them to throw more tomatoes, thus encouraging them. From my perspective, it's a case of two wrongs making a bigger wrong.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Guys like him are reason enough to bring back the guillotine.

Why? Because it was the most painless form of execution known to man?

[Guest Ten Ton Lid]

Because it's one of the most visually satisfying - it definitely gets the point across in clear and understandable fashion.

[Lando Griffin 0]

Steve Keirn, eh? That Skinner gimmick must've still been eating away at him.

 

/wrestling geek

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Well, if that dumbass kid hadn't been

firing paintball guns

at passing motorists, this wouldn't have been a problem. Someone can go off the road and die from that kind of shit.

 

Not that he deserved a .12 gauge round to the ribcage, but he definitely had an asskicking coming.

[TSA09 0]

I'm inclined to agree with AoO. Firing paintball guns at passing cars takes it too far.

[CanadianChris 0]

I won't go so far as to say the kid got what he deserved...but why were all the Amish people so shocked? Right, everyone would take someone throwing things at their car really well.

 

 

<<< Just one more example...

[Guest Ten Ton Lid]

I'm inclined to agree with AoO. Firing paintball guns at passing cars takes it too far.

Exactly. All it does is help get paintball equipment banned.

[Guest TheGame2705]

The title of this makes me giggle uncontrollably.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

^

agreed

[Dr. Tom 0]

But shouldn't the Amish shun "modern technology" like paintball guns?

 

Clearly this man was a sinner and was struck down by his vengeful god...

[Guest Retro Rob]

Stern mentioned this story today. His reasoning for it: If the Amish would only let their kids watch TV there would be no reason for them to go out and throw tomatoes. Plus that "kid" was 23. How fucking retarded could he have possible been?

[NoCalMike 0]

What the hell was the Amish kid doing with a paintball gun?

 

Was the motorist purposely passing by 3 times again hoping to get in a confrontation? I mean what the hell was that all about?

[Guest wrestlingbs]

The title of this makes me giggle uncontrollably.

Agreed What moron shoots a guy over throwing tomatoes? Sure, I would have gotten out of the car and kicked some god-fearing ass, but shoot them? I hope he likes jail.

[BX 0]

More then likely, this "boy" was tin the middle of "Rumschpringe", the one time in an Amish kids life when he can go wild and sow their oats before taking his Amish vows. That would explain the paintballs and tomato tossing. Too bad he got shot over all of this.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

He wasn't Amish, he was a Mennonite, which is diet Amish. They try to go for the whole moral purity thing, without all the hard work and diligence.

[Guest TheGame2705]

He should've just stopped to ask if he could have some lettuce, bread, cheese and whatnot to go with the tomatoes. Or joined in the tomato-throwing festivities himself.

 

Some people are just waaaaay too witless and irritable.

Well if I was this guy and a fucking 23 year old is throwing tomatoes at my vehicle while it's in motion and I'm in it he damn well better run. Don't kill him but he atleast deserves a shot in the ankle.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Damn right. If someone was hucking crap at my car I'd kick his ass.

[Tully316 0]

This incident took place in my hometown. This whole county is full of either Amish or mullets.

[CanadianChris 0]

I hope he likes jail.

They have to catch him first.

[King Kamala 0]

Off subject: I once saw (and didn't click) a link to an Amish porn site. What the fuck is Amish porn? Is there really that high of a demand for naked Amish people?

[Firestarter 0]

...

 

<goes off to do a Google search, utterly bewildered>

[CanadianChris 0]

http://www.msu.edu/~ostran14/freeporn2.htm

 

Careful; not for the squeamish.

[Guest Anglesault]

My evil and sinister mind would have turned the car in the direction of the cornfield and drove at about 80 mph until heard the "thump" Then I would have made sure there was substantial tomato on the windshield, and claim that the tomato blocked my view and sent me off the road.

[Firestarter 0]

http://www.msu.edu/~ostran14/freeporn2.htm

 

Careful; not for the squeamish.

Fairly amusing, all things considered. But then, it's the Amish; it's bound to be at least somewhat funny.

[Vyce 0]

You know what would have been really stellar?

 

If instead of being shot this Amish kid had been devoured by He Who Walks Behind The Rows.

 

Someone here must get that joke.

[Firestarter 0]

Children of the Corn. The only reason I watched that movie was because it had Linda Hamilton in it. Fairly decent, surprisingly, but the ending sucked beyond belief.

[Ripper 0]

Being Amish myself, I am disgusted and appalled by the title of this thread. i will be sending Dames a IM about the RASIZM in this thread regarding the Amish race, and if he doesn't respond, I will have to fax him.

 

I am very insulted and you should all be ashamed.