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Bullets Come Down: Help Stop Celebratory Gunfire this New Years
Million Mom March (united with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence) ^ | 12/23/2004 | Brady Campaign/MMM

Posted on 12/28/2004 3:02:39 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Bullets Come Down: Help Stop Celebratory Gunfire this New Years
Action Alert
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
United with the Million Mom March
1225 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
www.bradycampaign.org

Brady/MMM is joining with America's police departments to urge Americans not to engage in what police call "celebratory gunfire" -- the indiscriminate firing of weapons into the air. On New Years Eve, scores of people will place others at risk of injury or death because of celebratory gunfire. When a bullet is fired into the air, the bullet has to come down somewhere.

This holiday season, help spread the word about the dangers of "celebratory gunfire" - the practice of firing a gun indiscriminately into the air to celebrate the beginning of the New Year.

For activists and chapters looking for a project over the holiday week, we suggest contacting your local police and asking them if you can help spread the word about an annual firearm threat that more-and-more cities are facing.

Brady/MMM will be issuing a press release on Tuesday, December 28, urging Americans not to engage in celebratory gunfire. The body of the press release is below.

Your local police department would probably appreciate help from the Moms in spreading the word about this problem. It is not just about convincing potential shooters to think again - public attention on the problem can also increase peer pressure from the potential shooter's friends and relatives. Your efforts could lead to someone urging a spouse or friend to "put the gun away."

Here's an early draft of next Tuesday's press release:

Washington, D.C. - In dozens of American communities this New Years Eve, overexcited individuals will welcome in 2005 with an act of stupidity that may kill an innocent person in the bargain.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March is joining with America's police departments to urge Americans not to engage in what police call "celebratory gunfire" - the indiscriminate unloading of weapons into the air. On New Years Eve and Independence Day each year, scores of people place others at risk of injury or death as a result of celebratory gunfire. When a bullet is fired into the air, the bullet has to come down somewhere.

The practice of celebratory gunfire has been a problem in cities like Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix and Los Angeles and in towns along the U.S. and Mexico border. Last year, it became such a problem in Puerto Rico that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were called in for advice.

"Every police group in America supports national and local efforts to educate citizens on the dangers of celebratory gunfire," said John Shanks, Law Enforcement Relations Director for Brady/MMM. "Every police officer in America would urge people not to do something as reckless as this."

"The danger inherent in this activity ought to be obvious," continued Shanks. "It makes no sense whatsoever to fire a weapon into the air, not knowing where the bullet may fall. This is probably the most unsafe, crazy practice people engage in on New Years Eve."

Four years ago, Phoenix, Arizona enacted Shannon's law, in memory of 14 year-old Shannon Smith, killed by a stray bullet in June 1999 while talking on her phone in her back yard. The law makes it a felony to fire a gun into the air within the city limits. Yet in 2003, there were still 95 cases of random gunfire successfully prosecuted in the city of Phoenix.

How dangerous can it get? Consider one of the risks facing America's service men and women in Iraq. Last November, celebratory gunfire in Baghdad following the death of Saddam Hussein's two sons cost 31 Iraqis their lives, including two young children. Seventy-six others were wounded.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: accidents; bang; banglist; celebratorygunfire; deaths; gunfire; injuries; injury; laws; millionmommarch; mmm; newyears; nye; straybullets
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You know what's amazing about this article? It actually makes sense. That's right; something from The Brady Campaign/MMM actually makes sense! People who frivolously fire live ammo into the air are acting like major dumbies!
1 posted on 12/28/2004 3:02:40 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I cannot believe people actually do this.

I mean, I know they do, but my brain refuses to investigate possible motive.


2 posted on 12/28/2004 3:03:57 PM PST by Xenalyte (Who you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco?)
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To: abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; alisasny; AnnaSASsyFR; Angelwood; aristeides; Askel5; basil; bayliving; ..

This actually makes sense PING!


3 posted on 12/28/2004 3:04:17 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Deport 'em all; let Fox sort 'em out!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The NRA should be at the forefront of this, not the Brady Campaign. They've been teaching firearms safety for over a hundred years.


4 posted on 12/28/2004 3:04:48 PM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: Xenalyte

I dunno why people do this either. They should use blanks!


5 posted on 12/28/2004 3:05:00 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Deport 'em all; let Fox sort 'em out!)
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To: mvpel

Indeed the NRA should be. Why let these lefty socialists steal our thunder?


6 posted on 12/28/2004 3:05:46 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Deport 'em all; let Fox sort 'em out!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.

Shoot into a safe backstop. Berm or hill is best - large tree will do in a pinch.

Better yet, use blanks or shotgun shells with wadding only. Still a good idea to fire at a safe backstop.

We had a case here in GA where a girl was killed on New Years Eve in College Park while standing in a parking lot . . . bad part of town, lots of guns being fired into the air, but it wasn't clear whether she was shot by a bullet falling or by a stray bullet fired parallel with the ground . . .

7 posted on 12/28/2004 3:06:13 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

It is amazing that people do this. My hubby's cousin used to work at a newspaper plant in Richmond, CA. He always got New Year's eve off because they closed the plant that night - it wasn't safe due to the locals firing into the air.


8 posted on 12/28/2004 3:06:16 PM PST by .38sw
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Party poopers.


9 posted on 12/28/2004 3:06:46 PM PST by G32
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Common sense. On New Year's Eve, we fire into the ground, or into a tree trunk. The gun isn't going to go 'Bang!' any louder by shooting into the air, as opposed to into a backstop of some sort.

Having said that, the Million Mammary March can still go to hell.


10 posted on 12/28/2004 3:09:31 PM PST by Viking2002 (Taglines? Vikings don't need no steenkin' taglines..............)
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To: Xenalyte

We just use fireworks. One of the great things about living in South Carolina, we give you lots of options regarding blowing s**t up.

}:-)4


11 posted on 12/28/2004 3:09:58 PM PST by Moose4 (I'm patriotic--just a white guy in a blue county in a red state.)
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To: Xenalyte
I cannot believe people actually do this.

It is a Third World tradition and as we've increasingly opened our nation up to Third World immigrants we've allowed their customs to follow as well.

12 posted on 12/28/2004 3:10:10 PM PST by Drew68
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The first time I've every agreed with anything from the Brady campaign. I always stayed indoors at my home in San Diego at midnight on New Years. My idiot neighbors in Mira Mesa would let loose with gunfire. One jackass clearly had a full auto AK-47. The cadence of a full auto AK-47 is unmistakable. Another jackass was firing a 15-round semi-auto handgun...with two reloads.

My wife worked for the San Diego Sheriff's Office while we were in San Diego. The law enforcement folks on patrol will park their vehicle under concrete overpasses at midnight to avoid falling bullets.

People in southeastern Idaho don't waste ammo like that. The city/county permits lighting off "safe" fireworks on New Year's Eve. No need for stupid, dangerous behavior.

13 posted on 12/28/2004 3:11:17 PM PST by Myrddin
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To: Xenalyte
I cannot believe people actually do this.

I mean, I know they do, but my brain refuses to investigate possible motive.

One New Year's Eve, somebody started shooting TRACER rounds into the air.

I was on post as a rent-a-cop. I spent that moment (a) looking to see which way the tracers were headed when they burned out, (b) racing for hard overhead over, and (c) praying the damn things landed somewhere else.

14 posted on 12/28/2004 3:12:25 PM PST by Poohbah (God must love fools. He makes so many of them...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Now you're really in trouble, Saddam.

15 posted on 12/28/2004 3:13:11 PM PST by AdamSelene235
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To: Viking2002
Having said that, the Million Mammary March can still go to hell.

Shouldn't that be the Two Million Mammary March?

16 posted on 12/28/2004 3:13:54 PM PST by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
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To: Myrddin
One jackass clearly had a full auto AK-47. The cadence of a full auto AK-47 is unmistakable.

He moved to La Jolla and started using tracers...see post #14 (c8

17 posted on 12/28/2004 3:13:59 PM PST by Poohbah (God must love fools. He makes so many of them...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

We witnessed this when we lived in Memphis. The perpetrators were immigrants from South of the border who lived in our friends' apartment complex. Never seen it done here in W. Washington. I am sure it might happen, but I haven't witnessed it.


18 posted on 12/28/2004 3:14:20 PM PST by conservative cat
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

It sounds like a set-up for a lawsuit. The bullets must be defective if they come down and hurt or kill someone.


19 posted on 12/28/2004 3:14:31 PM PST by SmithL (People who are willing to accept everything, don't believe in anything.)
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To: Still Thinking

Maybe it should be called the 80,000 Mammary March.


20 posted on 12/28/2004 3:17:03 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Deport 'em all; let Fox sort 'em out!)
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