Celebratory gunfire mars another Kansas City New Year’s. And it hurts all gun owners | Opinion

When I left the house, the Chiefs were about to lose a game. A few moments later, they turned it around and won. I knew. I heard the gunfire. The bullets traced someone’s enthusiasm into the sky. Then they fell, as they must, onto whatever was below.

Even if no one was hit, there were several crimes committed. And it’s an ongoing problem in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Police on both sides of the state line reported more than 150 calls about gunfire this New Year’s. One woman in Independence suspects a bullet she found in her bathtub in the early moments of Jan. 1 came from a neighbor’s gun.

Firing a gun inside Kansas City limits is a crime. Creating a public disturbance is a crime. It gets worse. If property is hit, it can be a felony.

If a person is hit, it gets very bad. Negligent firing of a gun is second degree assault in Missouri — a Class D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. If the individual hit is a special victim — a broad category that includes older adults, disabled people, law enforcement officials and utility workers — it is a Class B felony, punishable by five to 15 years in prison.

If a person is killed, it is manslaughter. One case in southern Missouri found that a man irresponsibly violated National Rifle Association gun safety rules, resulting in a death. One of those guidelines is to be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Celebratory gunfire violates this rule.

In addition to criminal charges, there is a very good chance of being sued for any injuries or damage you cause. Some organizations promote lawsuits against gun owners.

Then there is Blair’s Law, Missouri Statute 571.031. A group of men celebrated the Fourth of July in 2011 by firing a handgun into a lake. A bullet skipped off the water like a flat rock skips across a pond and killed a child — Blair Shanahan Lane. The law prohibits firing a gun in a municipality, except for self-defense or on an established firing range. The first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a year in the county jail. I have seen county jails — you do not want to risk that. There is also a $2,000 fine. For a second offense, it is a Class E felony, and after that, it is a Class D felony. Possessing a firearm after getting an E felony is an additional crime — a C felony, punishable by three to 10 years in prison. These sentences may be stacked one on top of another. Then there is armed criminal action, punishable by three to 15 years, which must be served first.

The existence of Blair’s Law demonstrates that the careless use of firearms inspires more restrictions on guns and gun owners. It makes all gun owners look bad.

Celebratory gunfire is illegal, dangerous, stupid and worse. Find a different noisemaker.

This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 11:48 AM.