Celebratory Gunfire: A Common Aggravation To Those Living With PTSD

Not only does the 4th of July bring the threat of Celebratory Gunfire, it is also a very stressful time for our veterans that are suffering with PTSD. According to the National Library of Medicine, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you have gone through an extreme emotional trauma that involved the threat of injury or death. Many of our veterans suffer from PTSD.

The sudden sounds of Celebratory Gunfire bring back vivid reminders of the stress that was inflicted on these brave men and women that once defended our great country. The 4th of July and NYE is peak season for Celebratory Gunfire among Georgia and other areas. Even though this activity is dangerous and intrusive to the safety of others, it is still very much practiced. There are many groups that have united to educate on the dangers of Celebratory Gunfire in hopes to stop senseless violence that is a result of falling Celebratory bullets however, let us remember the precious people that defend and or have defended our freedom during this difficult season.

Peg Thon, a mother who works in the Medical Field and Actress understands this issue on a personal level. This is what she says about the potential effects of Celebratory Gunfire on people living with PTSD.

“I am incredibly proud of my son, Spec Colin T. Thon of the US Army. He was stationed in Afghanistan as medic to a MP unit. He turned 19 and 20 there. When he came home, he brought with him a host of problems such as a bad back, knee, TBI and unfortunately, PTSD. My neighborhood has always been one with a lot of Celebratory Gunfire. In fact, any excuse to fire a gun into the air was the rule of thumb. Do you know what it’s like to have someone shooting away on a Christmas night right next door and to watch your son’s face turn from smiles and laughter to one of anxiety, confusion, and pain? You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. You want to rush in and protect your child from the pain and you know that you really can’t. I watched him being torn apart and felt the rage mounting.  He rushed outside with all of us trying to stop him. To my surprise, he asked very politely for the gentleman next door to stop discharging his weapon into the air, as the PTSD reaction it was causing was unbearable. Of course this did not happen. As soon as we came back inside our home, the firing commenced again.  I can only imagine the feelings that arose in my son that night. I can only imagine the feeling of desperation that overtook him. It was heartbreaking to watch. To him those sounds meant that he must protect himself and the lives of those closest to him. They took him back to memories of things that I can only imagine. The dangers of Celebratory Gunfire with its potential for physical harm are greatly documented. But that night I realized that surely my son was not the only returning vet who is affected by the sounds and smells and brought back to situations that trigger some of their worst memories. PTSD is a horror. These brave men and women returning from a war zone are still fighting to overcome the effects of what the experience has done to them mentally. They do not need that kind of immediate reminder of the horrors. I hope and pray that someone will think of them before they decide to fire a weapon into the night. But, I doubt they will”.

According to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, June was PTSD Awareness Month.   PTSD can strike anyone that has been through a traumatic situation and is a condition that is very common among veterans. Let us take the time this holiday season to do all we can to educate on the dangers of Celebratory Gunfire and also educate on how this activity can aggravate many of the millions of Americans that suffer with this condition. How do you feel when you hear or see people engage in Celebratory Gunfire? Do you know anyone suffering from PTSD? What can we do to make our environment safer and more peaceful for all? Is education the answer?