Bullets That Go Up Must Come Down
Carrying a firearm is a legal right for those who have undergone the proper training and secured lawful permits. It is not legal, however, to fire guns in public when no threat exists. Such is the case on New Year’s Eve when thousands of people will fire guns into the air as a way to welcome in the New Year. But what is the problem? Firing a gun into the air doesn’t hurt anyone or pose a threat of any kind. If this is what you believe, you are wrong.
Law enforcement agencies around the country are warning people against celebratory gunfire well ahead of the New Year’s Eve holiday. When a person fires a gun into the air, that bullet will stay in flight for over a minute. We all know that what goes up must come down. On its return to the ground, the bullet that was fired will reach a velocity of between 300 and 700 feet per second. At this speed, a person hit by the bullet could be killed. It only takes a bullet at a velocity of 200 feet per second to penetrate a skull.
According to Margo Bennett of Women Against Gun Violence, “People shooting in the air is an international problem. We see these shootings in other American cities and in videos from the Middle East where soldiers and terrorists shoot guns in the air.”
So what happens if you fire a gun into the air? If you are lucky, the bullet will fall harmlessly to the ground, you will return home and never be questioned by police. In the worst of cases, the bullet will fall, strike someone, and that person will be fatally wounded. When this is the case, you may or may not be caught. If you are, you could very well be charged with homicide and be forced to live with the fact that you unintentionally took someone’s life.
If you want to welcome in the New Year, do so in a safe way. Party with friends. Have dinner with family. Watch the ball drop in New York City from the comfort of your own couch. Have a toast at midnight. There are hundreds of ways that you can ring in the New Year without any risk of harming yourself or another person. Do understand that if you cause harm or serious injury to another, you may be ringing in the New Year from a jail cell. Imagine starting 2017 in the custody of police.
If you do find yourself on the wrong side of the law and arrested for a crime in Orlando this holiday season, our attorneys are here for you. We defend all manner of crimes and we do so successfully. Call our office and schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. A member of our team will speak with you and review the details of your arrest. Let us advise you of your legal options and help you put together a strong defense. Do not fight your charges on your own. We are here for you as you work to protect your reputation and your freedom.