Lubbock Police remind residents celebratory gunfire is illegal as Independence Day approaches

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Lubbock Police Department educated people about fireworks in the city limits being illegal along with celebratory gunfire within the city limits when celebrating Independence Day. Shooting in the air could be deadly because the bullets come down and land somewhere.

Lieutenant Brady Cross focused on some of the dangers that celebratory gunfire could bring to people.

“The noise is concerning but I think most importantly is the threat to human life, just discharging, recklessly, a firearm is something that there’s just no call for, there’s no reason to do it,” Cross said.

This crime was a Class A misdemeanor which was one step below a felony. The punishment for getting caught could include a prison sentence up to one year, a fine up to 4,000 dollars, or possibly both. Lieutenant Cross explained what the penal code said.

“So, the penal code says that in a Municipality of 100,000 people or more that it is illegal to recklessly discharge a firearm,” Cross said.

Lieutenant Cross told about a time where he saw this first-hand.

“There was a time when I was on patrol responding to calls where we went to a call where someone called in that a man was on his front porch and armed with a gun and had fired it,” Cross said. “Myself and the other officers who went on this occasion, you know, you’re going to approach cautiously and so it’s a time-consuming call because of the dangers involved.”

According to the CDC, 80 percent of celebratory gunfire injuries affect the feet, shoulders and head. Lieutenant Cross wanted to remind people what they should do in these types of situations.

“If you witness someone, you know discharging a firearm recklessly or in any manner, please that’s a 911 call. We need to know about that immediately,” Cross said.

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