The Dangers Of Shooting Guns Into The Air In Louisiana

(99.9 KTDY) - It was Sir Isaac Newton who coined the phrase, "What goes up, must come down", and that includes bullets that are fired into the air. It's a matter of gravity, and St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has a warning for anyone wanting to shoot a gun in the air for the holidays: it's dangerous and illegal.

Celebratory Gunfire in Louisiana Can Kill

The rules of physics are the same. When you fire a gun, that bullet is going to go up, and it's going to come down somewhere, and that's the dangerous part. It is extremely difficult to determine a bullet's trajectory. This is a serious issue that has led to deaths. It's not worth taking the chance.

Sheriff Guidroz and the St. Landry Crime Stoppers Board of Directors say this is a serious issue that bears repeating during the holiday season. They decided to issue a public service announcement. One local citizen in St. Landry Parish who documents how many shots have been fired in recent years calls it "The most Predictable Crime", and Guidroz and board members agree.

A History of Tragedy in Louisiana Linked to Celebratory Gunfire

The warning comes not as something frivolous, as history shows people have been injured and killed by celebratory gunfire in Louisiana. In 1994, Amy Silverman of Boston was celebrating in the French Quarter when someone fired into the air, and the bullet came down and killed her.

In 2022, a 10-year-old boy was injured on New Year's Eve by a falling bullet. On the last day of 2021, a bullet went through the little boy's face.

What the Law Says About Shooting Firearms Into the Air

Sheriff Guidroz wants people to know the penalties for the felony are a fine and a possible two-year jail sentence. According to officials, "last year, 359 shots were fired in the Opelousas area on one holiday alone."

As Major Mark Leblanc, Public Information Officer, points out in the video,

If you want to celebrate, that is wonderful. Make some noise, light fireworks (if legal), blow horns, play music. But shooting firearms in the air is an invitation to trouble and is outright dangerous.

Even if someone fires a bullet into the air and no one is hurt, but that bullet hits someone else's property, you're going to be the person on the hook to pay for the damages.

What Do You Do If You Hear Gunfire?

If you hear gunfire, whether it's a holiday or not, you should call 911 immediately and report it.

If you know of any criminal activity, you can anonymously call the St. Landry Crime Stoppers Tips Line at 337-948-TIPS (8477). Another way to anonymously give information to authorities is to download and use the P3 on any mobile device.

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If there are any instances of celebratory gunfire in Louisiana, we will be sure to update this story.

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