Police Warn, Hold Your Fire on New Years
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It's almost time to ring in the new year, but as the clock strikes midnight local law enforcement say hold your fire. Video by kmir6.com
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PALM SPRINGS--As New Years Eve draws nearer, law enforcement is taking extra precautions to keep you safe. Encouraging all law abiding citizens to leave their firearms at home.
"When a bullet goes up in the air and it comes down, it has the potential of going through a roof or we've seen it go through roofs on trailers and other types of residents where people do get hit," Sgt. Robert Pickowitz, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, said.
Sergeant Pickowitz says reports of shots fired spike on New Years, partly due to people celebrating by shooting their guns into the air.
"Individuals who celebrate the new years with as much fun as they can but without firearms. We really want people to enjoy their time, enjoy their friends and family in a safe manner," Sgt. Pickowitz said.
Even a moment of celebratory gun fire could easily land you in jail.
At The Palm Springs Gun Club, retired police officer and firearms instructor, Phillip Contreras is adamant about gun safety.
"It's a gun. I'm not going to use. It has no business being loaded. It should be unloaded, locked up in a safe or with a good gun lock," Firearms instructor, Phillip Contreras said.
But despite warnings year after year, Contreras says people still party with pistols, risking the lives of everyone around them.
"Once that bullet leaves the muzzle and travels up, gravity eventually brings it down and it comes down at a velocity that has more than enough velocity to kill someone," Contreras said.
Be safe this New Years. Don't drink and drive and keep you guns locked up and away from the party.
--Adrianna Weingold
aweingold@kmir6.com
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