The San Francisco division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is asking all you trigger-happy people to please refrain from ringing in 2012 with celebratory gun shots -- it's just not safe.
And if you don't believe us, Special Agent Stephen C. Herkins offers this refresher course in physics.
"It's Newton's basic law of gravity, 'what goes up must come down,' and if it is a bullet, it could easily kill an innocent person," Herkins said. "Too often we hear about it in the news the next day that someone's child, parent, spouse, or friend was tragically killed by someone who irresponsibly and illegally chose to shoot a gun into the air."
If the human element isn't enough reason to trade your firearm for a noisemaker, perhaps the threat of prison time is. The ATF notes that it is a violation of the California Penal Code to "recklessly and unlawfully" discharge a firearm. It's a double whammy to do so if you've been banned from possessing a firearm.
In other words, fire that gun and you could be ringing in the next 10 New Years in prison.
If
you see any idiots shooting a gun into the air come midnight on Sunday, then call ATF at
1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). They'll be sure to put an end to that celebration.
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