Police: Don’t shoot guns for New Year’s

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 29, 1999

Celebrate the new millennium in style, but leave the firearms at home. Law enforcement officials in the Miss-Lou want to end a tradition of firing bullets in the air to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

&uot;These bullets have got to come down and someone could be hurt by a falling bullet,&uot; said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff.

Although no one has been injured in Natchez from this type of bullet, other cities have not been as lucky.

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In 1994, Amy Silberman, a 31-year-old tourist from Boston, was killed by a falling bullet while waiting to watch the fireworks show in New Orleans. The person responsible was never found.

In 1995-1996 falling bullets also killed people in Detroit, Los Angeles and Chicago. &uot;We’re just lucky that it hasn’t happened here,&uot; Huff said.

Officials in the Miss-Lou are asking community residents not to shoot their guns into the air this weekend.

&uot;There is no tolerance at all,&uot; Huff said. &uot;(If) someone is caught, they’re going to jail.&uot;

Vidalia Police Chief Billy Hammers said anyone caught firing a weapon will be ticketed. &uot;It’s best not to do it,&uot;&160;Hammers said.

People firing guns to mark the New Year is a problem throughout Concordia Parish, and Ferriday police plan to crack down on who do so, said Ferriday Police Chief Eddie Newman. &uot;People need to realize that when they do this, someone innocent could be hurt or killed,&uot; he said.