Many discourage gunfire as means to celebrate Fourth - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Many discourage gunfire as means to celebrate Fourth

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By Jennifer Emert - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) –  At least one Georgia county is pushing for Fourth of July celebrations to be gun free.

DeKalb County leaders asked citizens to sign a pledge to refrain from firing guns in the air after a four year old was killed by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve. Firearm experts say the adage what goes up must come down applies directly to bullets fired in the air.

In DeKalb County, the stray bullet came through the roof of a church and struck the four year old in the head. Experts say the bullet is slowed, but can still cause a great deal of harm.

"The round it's going to come back down to Earth somewhere and it does have a slow, it slows it down going straight up, but the projectile is fast enough that it can pierce a human body," said Michael Tranthem, Backwoods Outdoors Inc.

Firearm experts say most firearm ranges have an earthen berm several feet deep behind targets to stop stray bullets. Law enforcement also reminds people, in Albany it's illegal to discharge a firearm within the city limits.


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