Celebratory Gunfire on the Fourth of July is Unpatriotic, and Dangerous

The risks are not just physical

By: Morgan Spry

From parades to hot dog eating contests to community firework displays, the Fourth of July is a time of celebration and patriotic fervor in the United States. The holiday's traditions are old, storied, innocent, and safe — for the most part.

In recent decades, a dangerous new custom has wormed its way into Independence Day cookouts and family gatherings: celebratory gunfire. This reckless practice involves the indiscriminate firing of guns into the air for no better reason than filling the sky with the racket of gunshots. While noise does little harm, the same cannot be said for errant bullets rushing headlong back to earth.

The risks to public health and safety associated with such wildly irresponsible shooting are not just physical. It often also has an emotional effect on veterans and gun violence survivors living with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).

Around the world, celebratory gunfire is a common means of marking special events, like ringing in the New Year. In the United States, Independence Day in particular has witnessed a noticeable increase in the phenomenon over the years, likely due in large part to the uniquely American association of guns with freedom, which the Fourth celebrates as a cornerstone of our history and way of life. For many, firearms are a vital part of what the day commemorates, so why not express that patriotic belief loudly and proudly by taking potshots at a cloud?

Naturally, not everybody considers firearms so vital to American freedoms that the one cannot exist without the other. Patriotism, they say, honors ideas, not weapons — the Fourth needs less of the latter and more of the former. Others agree, but for different reasons.

Though many veterans and other Americans appreciate the sentiment behind the Fourth of July, activities like fireworks and celebratory gunfire can trigger those living with PTSD. When people go through traumatic events such as war, a mass shooting, or common gun violence, the mental health effects are long-term and devastating. This is because the brain remembers the environment of a traumatic event such that when an environmental stimulus is sensed — like the sounds and smells of gunfire — it triggers thoughts about the traumatic event, causing the body to go into its natural “fight or flight” state without the actual presence of an immediate threat.

Those living with PTSD commonly dread early July due to the prevalence of fireworks, which can sound like rapid gunfire and whose smoke has a similar odor — each a potent trauma trigger. Celebratory gunfire obviously worsens even more this time of year for survivors.

Gunfire of any kind is often triggering for survivors of gun violence, and just being in the rough vicinity of shots can have deadly consequences.

There have been many instances of healthy people crumpling to the ground outside for no apparent reason at all. Only once they are admitted to a hospital do doctors find the bullet that struck them out of nowhere. Sometimes that discovery comes soon enough to save a life, sometimes it does not. Amethyst Silva, from Corpus Christi, TX, was only 11 years old when she died in January after being struck by a celebratory bullet while standing outside her home watching fireworks.

When celebratory shooters fire into the air, the bullet's trajectory becomes extremely unpredictable, capable of traveling anywhere between 100 and 400 meters. Calculating where these shots originate from is very difficult, and consequently so is identifying the shooters. When a bullet is fired into the air, it follows a ballistic trajectory before ultimately falling to the ground — but, when returning, it does not come straight down.

A falling bullet's descent is highly unpredictable, making it hazardous to anyone in the general vicinity of its path.

Just as it was originally thought that celebratory bullets would come straight down, the belief that the falling projectiles cannot penetrate skin has since been debunked. According to recent research published in the The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, when bullets leave a firearm in a vertical trajectory, they can reach a terminal velocity of around 300 to 600 feet per second (fps) during their descent to the ground. This is higher than the 148 to 197 fps and 200 fps thresholds necessary to penetrate skin and bone. Bullets streaking out of the sky are, quite simply, very dangerous.

The fatality rate of those hit by such shootings is higher than that of individuals hit by the average gunshot.

A bullet falling from a height will likely hit the top of one’s head, neck, or shoulders — areas which are both exposed to the sky when tilting your head back to look at fireworks and less able to survive serious wounds than many other parts of the body.

The risk of being struck by a celebratory bullet is clearly increased in densely populated areas. People attending outdoor gatherings or public events on the Fourth of July are at an increased risk of being injured by celebratory gunfire as crowded areas with limited overhead cover amplify the danger posed by falling bullets. Urban environments with higher population densities are also more prone to celebratory gunfire injuries due to the combination of greater bullet density and a higher likelihood of people being outdoors. Celebratory gunfire during the Fourth of July is not a victimless act.

To summarize, all uncontrolled shooting poses a grave threat to public safety. Science has shown that, contrary to legend and popular belief, falling bullets do indeed have more than sufficient velocity to pierce flesh and bone; the most common injury patterns involve the head and shoulders, and outdoor gatherings, particularly in densely-populated areas, are especially vulnerable. Furthermore, the sounds and smells produced by this activity can ruin the holiday for individuals with trauma disorders, which are common among veterans and gun violence survivors.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July celebration for all, it is essential to raise awareness about the dangers of celebratory gunfire and discourage this reckless practice. Education, community outreach, and responsible gun ownership are key components in preventing injuries and preserving the true spirit of the holiday. Let us celebrate responsibly, respect gun violence survivors and their families, and prioritize the well-being of our communities this Independence Day.

Morgan Spry is a senior at The Ohio State University studying Public Affairs and Political Science. She is a communications intern at Brady, and previously served as a press intern in the United States Senate.

Fireworks image by Rahul Pandit from Pixabay