I can never understand why my fellow citizens run to their elected officials in order to enforce common sense and decency. 
This last Monday I mentioned to my wife after going swimming with the kids, that I should go down to the Town meeting and see what my fellow citizens have in store for me. I regret not going now after copping out about heat, time and other previous wasted efforts of energy that is government and its muted participation. It seems like governmentis has creeped in the form of a 'noise' ordinance however and July 14th is on my calendar now.
Apparently there are those who seek to imprison me if I "would annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, and repose of a reasonable person of normal sensibilities". Notwithstanding the enforcement nightmare that would ensue and all the other externalities that would accrue from such busy body legislation, I wonder why people of reasonable and normal sensibilities would seek to bring the monopoly of force (that is, what government is) into my life if I get a little rowdy on Saturday morning.
I would hope that my neighbor would personally petition me, rather than sick the grudging and ultimately brutal mandate of law enforcement officials on me. Quite frankly these people scare me more than kids having a good time over summer vacation. The even deeper implication is the 'white trash' factor that so many elites and effetes bring into play.
Should this law pass, I would take immediate civil disobedience action and stay up past midnight just to make noise and tempt arrest. In fact I might even implore a good neighbor to call the police right away so my point could be made with minimal disruption to my other neighbors.
People rarely consider the invisible gun in the room when they haul off and make these decisions for the public good. I personally always ask others invested and consumed by governmentis to release their inner thug. Get over it. Visit your neighbor instead of seeking to imprison them for a little ruckus here and there.
I had neighbors who lived in a rental home across the street from me. There favorite music was tinny hispanic trumpet with a few I,I Ieeee's thrown in for good measure. They played this music every weekend for MONTHS. Yes, I went over with a smile and asked them to turn it down. I did this many, many times. I guesss they thought if they turned it down once that was enough of a good neighbor policy. Well, I called the police about 5 times. About the 5th visit they told me if I called again I would have to go to court and have a judge settle it. I asked the officer, "when you go to my neighbors house, are you going to tell them the same thing?" He said yes, he would tell my neighbor that we would be going to court. Well, guess the heck what. Not another peep! from the tinny trumput.
Yes, well that threat of that monopoly of force often gets people to comply, doesn't it ? Doesn't mean the world is a better place because of it . . .
MY world was quieted. My neighbors world went on. He turned his music down and was still happy. That "force" as you call it was THE ONLY way he understood the seriousness of my complaint. He would not comply to my simple request. I DO NOT LIKE MIRACHI music. Why should I be forced to listen to it? I live in a very close neighborhood. You seem to fail to understand this concept:
"your freedom to swing your arm ends where my nose begins."
Your loving aunt Shari
While I don't disagree about the arm and nose analogy and rights, I do wonder whether it is the decibel level or the type of music that causes harm.
If it's the decibel level than proving some harm may have standing. If it's the type of music, what separates harm to you from harm to others ?
Even so, at what point does one tolerate another's habits and likes vs. the capacity to bring armed thugs into the situation ? Thus my original point stands. I've seen neighbors run to the boards of control over every little thing a neighbor does because they dislike it. Eventually they are placated by accommodating politicians and police. But my suspicion of the neighbor runs deeper at that point.
Limited government is the key here. A government that we must still insist is our employer. We CANNOT handle all the problems by ourselves, we cannot. There is no way in the world we can do without police...etc. I can guarantee complete chaos in my neighborhood without the rule of law. Please respond to my main point. I could NOT tolerate the music, any loud music is an affront to my privacy. I should be at peace in my own home. I CAN tolerate ANY music for an hour or two. But in this situation, it was EVERY weekend for many hours Saturday and Sunday.
If you cannot recognize my pain in this situation, you just want to win the argument at any cost. Both the decibel and the type of music were DEEPLY disturbing to me. What would YOU have done?
A common response to the issue of dispute resolution outside the confines of the current monopolies of force is the Dispute Resolution Organization. Without going into a dissertation it's sort of like an insurance company. I've had neighbors play loud acid rock music all weekend, it's annoying sure, but call the cops ? Never.