Celebratory Gunfire

Celebratory gunfire (also called aerial firing) is the shooting of a firearm into the air in celebration. It is culturally accepted in parts of the Balkans, the Middle East, the South Asian regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Northern India as well as Latin American regions. In regions such as Puerto Rico as well as some areas of the United States it is practiced illegally, especially on holidays like New Year's Eve. Common occasions for celebratory gunfire include New Year's Day as well as the religious holidays Christmas and Eid. The practice may result in random death and injury from stray bullets. Property damage is sometimes another result of celebratory gunfire; shattered windows and damaged roofs are often found after such celebrations. Describing the practice, an American sheriff from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, David A. Clarke Jr., said, "Even though some consider this a tradition, it is extremely dangerous and a violation of the law. In densely populated urban areas, this behavior is not only illegal, but it's reckless. There is no way of predicting where the bullet will land." However, it is generally not as dangerous if one uses blank rounds.