Midnight New Year’s Eve in Oak Cliff comes close to the Fourth of July for intensity.
Illegal fireworks are one thing. But there’s a log of gunfire too.
An Oak Cliff woman told CBS DFW that a bullet came through the ceiling of her bathroom. In Uptown, a stray bullet hit a man in the leg while he was sleeping around 4 a.m.
The stray-bullet story making national news comes from the Texas Rio Grande Valley. State Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez was hit in the back of the head by a stray bullet while attending a ranch party in Hidalgo County Saturday night. Martinez was taken to the hospital and was well enough to speak to a reporter Sunday. The nearby Edinburg Police Department had warned Dec. 29 that celebratory gunfire increases every year.
It’s simple physics — what goes up must come down. Bullets fired into the air often are found embedded into roof shingles, windows and other property. Eventually someone will be hurt.
In Dallas, there were more than 900 calls to 911 reporting celebratory gunfire between 8 p.m. and Midnight Dec. 31, 2015.
The Dallas Police Department released a video, below, warning that being caught shooting into the air could result in a fine and jail time. Injuring or killing someone with “happy bullets” could result in more serious charges.
From my couch, it sounded like that message wasn’t received.
Do you have any ideas to curb celebratory gunfire in Oak Cliff? One neighbor suggested emailing Mayor Mike Rawlings if so.
