Celebratory Gunfire Prohibited For July 4th Weekend In Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH — Don't fire your guns to celebrate Independence Day. For some, that admonition may seem like common sense but Cleveland Police felt compelled to remind residents and party goers to restrain themselves from shooting weapons over the holiday weekend.

In a message to residents sent out on Friday, the department noted that discharging a weapon in celebration will result in arrest and could lead to serious bodily harm or death if a gun is mishandled. Anyone found in Cleveland city limits shooting a gun to celebrate July 4th will be prosecuted. Did you feel the wave of disappointment washing across the city as people holstered their weapons?

The firing of guns isn't the only safety concern heading into Independence Day weekend. Police departments across the region are reminding residents that setting off fireworks is illegal in Ohio and will result in an arrest or citation.

"Illegal fireworks pose an even greater threat to those using or storing them and to revelers. They are notoriously unreliable and dangerous, and can quickly turn a holiday into a tragic day. The vast majority of injuries occur during the weeks leading up to and following the Fourth of July," Cleveland Police said in a statement.

Noise complaints will also be prosecuted, though many of the complaints may come from the illegal setting off of fireworks or celebratory gunfire. That could mean a double whammy in charges.

Suburban police have joined in the effort to curtail July 4th-related injuries. Strongsville Police noted on Facebook that 6,200 firework-related injuries in the U.S. were treated in emergency rooms in 2011, between June 17 and July 17, a staggering rate of 200 injuries per day.

Solon Police took the role of assuming residents would ignore the law and set off fireworks. Instead, the department advocated safe practice, and reminded folks that 69 percent of injuries caused by fireworks are burns. No one likes being burned.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission released a list of safety tips for handling fireworks:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• The full list is available for viewing here.

Photo from Pixabay