JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – New Year's Eve is a wonderful time to celebrate. However a tradition that has been going on for decades is not only dangerous, but it can also be deadly.
Celebratory gun fire is seen nearly every year, and cases of people getting hit by the bullets are seen like clockwork.
In Jacksonville, several people have been injured, and around the country, people have lost their lives because of celebratory gun fire.
It’s a warning for people who may be celebrating outdoors. What goes up, must come down, and News4Jax Crime and Safety Analyst Gil Smith said people should never shoot their guns up in the air.
Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between fireworks and gun shooting, but on a holiday meant for celebration, both seem to ring out at the stroke of midnight.
"It's just the noise. People like to hear the noise. It's something that's been done for a long time. Celebratory gun fire is something we've seen all around the world. You look at the Middle East, when a new regime comes in. They are firing automatic weapons. It's something they do to celebrate,” Smith said.
In 2013, many saw the repercussions of celebratory gun fire, when Graham Hill, a local pilot, took his girlfriend in the air to see the fireworks from above, but their plans changed in seconds when a bullet hit the him and the plane.
"We were just about across the Mathews Bridge when everything happened, and (I heard) a loud pop and (saw) a bullet hole here. And the next thing I knew, I was bleeding down my neck," said Hill.
Hill's girlfriend at the time, Amber Born, had taken some lessons in flying but told News4Jax she wasn't ready to land the plane. Fortunately, she didn't have to, and Hill was able to get them on the ground safely.
Smith said most of the time people firing their guns into the air don't realize the consequences. He said it's best to stay inside for News Year's Eve but if you do go out, he warns people to be aware of their surroundings.
"It's very dangerous, especially depending on the community you're living in and the population, because as you know, what goes up must come down," said Smith.
A national Facebook page has been made, asking people to pledge an end to celebratory gun fire.
“They shouldn't shoot them in the air at all. First of all it's illegal. You can't just fire your weapon unless it's in an act of self-defense or at a gun range or hunting. It's illegal. So my advice would be to not do it at all,” Smith said.
The same night Hill was injured – a young boy was also shot in the foot from celebratory gun fire. News4Jax spoke with the boy’s mother Thursday evening, and she said he is doing much better and has healed but still gets some numbness in the injured area.