blindndead
NES Member
By Eddie Jimenez / The Fresno Bee12/29/06 04:48:19
"I shot a bullet into the air, it fell to earth, I knew not where — nor do I care."
That's seems to be the motto of the idiots who believe it's a good idea to ring in the new year with gunfire.
Yeah, I know taking a shot at these numbskulls is too easy, pardon the bad pun, and one columnist's rant won't stop this dimwitted behavior.
I don't have any illusions that this will put an end to the insane tradition of drinking all night, stepping outside at midnight, pointing a gun in the air and pulling the trigger.
But humor me and allow me to vent just a little.
If nothing else, this might make at least a few people think twice about hoisting a few rounds and then firing off a few more with the naïve belief that it's all harmless and won't kill someone.
It does happen.
Eight years ago, a shot fired by a New Year's reveler killed a Visalia man. The bullet passed through the wall of his home and struck him in the head. The same year, two people in Fresno were wounded by New Year's gunfire.
And every year, there are similar incidents around the country.
Some people just don't learn.
Bill Ferguson of Fresno is a hunter and an NRA member. He doesn't pretend to speak for all members of the National Rifle Association, but he's right on target on the topic.
"To shoot into the air, you've got to be a moron," Ferguson said.
"I can't imagine — ever — a conscientious hunter going out and firing a gun in the air, let alone in the middle of a city."
The reasons for his disgust and frustration are twofold.
Safety, obviously, is the first one. He knows the dangers firsthand. A bullet put a hole on the outside wall of his bedroom about eight years ago on New Year's Eve. "We definitely heard it hit the house," Ferguson said.
Secondly, he doesn't appreciate that the ritual reflects poorly on all gun owners.
Ferguson said firing a shot in celebration violates one of the basic rules of gun safety — be sure of your target. "How can you be sure of your target if you're shooting it in the air?" he asked.
He wonders how many of the people who do this would throw rocks in the air and wait for them to come down.
And bullets come down with much greater force.
New Year's is a nightmarish evening for law-enforcement officers.
Lt. Neil Dadian with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department said officers check out complaints of "shots fired," but arresting and prosecuting someone is tough without a witness.
"If we don't see them doing the shooting, there's not a lot we can do," Dadian said.
He said gunfire on New Year's Eve in some neighborhoods is so widespread it sounds "like downtown Baghdad."
Dadian remembers many years ago when he and another officer were on New Year's Eve patrol parked near Cedar and Jensen avenues and a bullet hit the hood of their patrol car.
So what do bullets fired in the air have in common with the IQs of those who shoot them?
They both drop rapidly on New Year's Eve.
And that's no joke.
The columnist can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6386.
http://www.fresnobee.com/190/story/21348.html
"I shot a bullet into the air, it fell to earth, I knew not where — nor do I care."
That's seems to be the motto of the idiots who believe it's a good idea to ring in the new year with gunfire.
Yeah, I know taking a shot at these numbskulls is too easy, pardon the bad pun, and one columnist's rant won't stop this dimwitted behavior.
I don't have any illusions that this will put an end to the insane tradition of drinking all night, stepping outside at midnight, pointing a gun in the air and pulling the trigger.
But humor me and allow me to vent just a little.
If nothing else, this might make at least a few people think twice about hoisting a few rounds and then firing off a few more with the naïve belief that it's all harmless and won't kill someone.
It does happen.
Eight years ago, a shot fired by a New Year's reveler killed a Visalia man. The bullet passed through the wall of his home and struck him in the head. The same year, two people in Fresno were wounded by New Year's gunfire.
And every year, there are similar incidents around the country.
Some people just don't learn.
Bill Ferguson of Fresno is a hunter and an NRA member. He doesn't pretend to speak for all members of the National Rifle Association, but he's right on target on the topic.
"To shoot into the air, you've got to be a moron," Ferguson said.
"I can't imagine — ever — a conscientious hunter going out and firing a gun in the air, let alone in the middle of a city."
The reasons for his disgust and frustration are twofold.
Safety, obviously, is the first one. He knows the dangers firsthand. A bullet put a hole on the outside wall of his bedroom about eight years ago on New Year's Eve. "We definitely heard it hit the house," Ferguson said.
Secondly, he doesn't appreciate that the ritual reflects poorly on all gun owners.
Ferguson said firing a shot in celebration violates one of the basic rules of gun safety — be sure of your target. "How can you be sure of your target if you're shooting it in the air?" he asked.
He wonders how many of the people who do this would throw rocks in the air and wait for them to come down.
And bullets come down with much greater force.
New Year's is a nightmarish evening for law-enforcement officers.
Lt. Neil Dadian with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department said officers check out complaints of "shots fired," but arresting and prosecuting someone is tough without a witness.
"If we don't see them doing the shooting, there's not a lot we can do," Dadian said.
He said gunfire on New Year's Eve in some neighborhoods is so widespread it sounds "like downtown Baghdad."
Dadian remembers many years ago when he and another officer were on New Year's Eve patrol parked near Cedar and Jensen avenues and a bullet hit the hood of their patrol car.
So what do bullets fired in the air have in common with the IQs of those who shoot them?
They both drop rapidly on New Year's Eve.
And that's no joke.
The columnist can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6386.
http://www.fresnobee.com/190/story/21348.html