Free Republic

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump said Thursday on MSNBC’s “The Last Word” that she found it “absolutely understandable” that some people would be feeling “celebratory” over reports former President Donald Trump will be indicted in the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal probe into a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Host Lawrence O’Donnell said, “I have a feeling that there are millions of people watching this right now in a celebratory mood.” Trump said, “Lawrence, that’s fair. I absolutely think it’s fair because we can feel both things at the same time. It is a dark day. This...

Philippa Ashford, 61, was celebrating with her loved ones just after midnight in a cul-de-sac of Houston’s Laurel Oaks neighborhood — where family and friends were shooting off fireworks — when she suddenly clutched her body and said, “I think I’ve been shot,” Authorities went from house to house searching for shell casings and trying to find out where the gunfire came from. The incident came after Houston authorities had warned locals not to fire their guns during New Year’s celebrations. Another man was also shot in the wrist just after midnight in Houston by celebratory gunfire, while he was...

Image from the Shillong Times Celebratory gunfire is dangerous. Those who engage in it may not consider where their bullets will land. Thirteen year old Noa Inman in Hammond, Indiana, was struck by a bullet on July 1st, 2017. He died from a wound to the head. Such clearcut examples are rare enough to become national news stories. From nbcchicago.com: Noah Inman, of the 1600 block of 171st Pl. in Hammond, was pronounced dead at 2:06 p.m. Friday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Surprisingly few deaths from celebratory gunfire are listed in the wikipedia article.  The...

Image courtesy Mando Martinez Just after midnight on 1 January, 2017, Texas Representative Amando "Mando" Martinez was struck on the head by a bullet or bullet fragment. It seems most likely that it was celebratory gunfire, and a "spent" projectile.  From themonitor.com: The incident, which is being investigated by the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, reportedly occurred just after midnight Sunday, when Martinez was celebrating the New Year with family and friends outside a residence located north of Weslaco in the 5400 block of Sago. The sheriff said Martinez felt something on top of his head and was rushed to a...

Award-winning author Joyce Carol Oates came under intense fire from social media users on Sunday after tweeting that she has only heard “puritanical & punitive” things about the Islamic State and wonders whether there is anything “celebratory & joyous” about the terrorist group. "All we hear of ISIS is puritanical & punitive; is there nothing celebratory & joyous? Or is query naive?"