I have always wondered where the tradition of shooting your gun in the air on New Year’s Eve started. My mother and grandmother recalled that in the early part of the 20th century it was common practice to shoot fireworks on December 31st, like the Fourth of July. That tradition seemingly morphed into the notion that New Year’s Eve is the one night of the year that it is OK to take your gun out and shot into the air.
I live in the Shaker Square area of Cleveland. Friday night, starting about 10pm and continuing until well after midnight, my neighborhood sounded like the Battle of the Bulge. Granted, there were some firecrackers but clearly not all of what I heard can be blamed on fireworks. Thousands of rounds were fired in an almost three-hour barrage of gunfire. From what I heard, people in my neighborhood must have arsenals of weapons ranging from side arms to automatic weapons and machine guns.
What these New Years’ Eve Rambos do not seem to understand is that what goes up must come down. Every year across the country, people die because of their stupidity. Homes are damaged and property destroyed because these idiots think that New Year’s Eve gives them the right to exercise their Second Amendment rights and bring in the new year with a bang.
I suggested to someone who is working with Mayor Justin Bibb that he and the Department of Public Safety consider a public awareness program for next year to try and curb this ridiculous tradition. Maybe work with the clergy, neighborhood groups, and the media to create public service announcements and a media blitz to hopefully put a stop to it.
But the problem is the mental giants who engage in this insanity are hardly the type who respond to public service announcements. The only thing that is likely to deter them is a jail sentence for unlawful discharge of a firearm and confiscation of their weapon — assuming they could be caught and convicted.
When I had contact with the police on a daily as a municipal court judge, the police used to tell me that many police officers go into the station around 11:45 on New Year’s Eve and stay in until after midnight for fear of being shot by a stray bullet. I don’t know if this is true anymore, but I can’t blame them. I remember some years ago an east side minister was struck and killed by a bullet that came through the wall of his church when he was preaching a watch night service.
If I were a pilot of one of the many helicopters that transport patients to local hospitals, there is no way that I would fly on New Year’s Eve. Anyone flying a plane, large or small, over Cleveland on New Year’s Eve is taking their life into their own hands.
The mayor has a lot on his plate, and it will a year before the city is faced with this problem again. But I am willing to volunteer to work with fellow citizens and public safety officials to put our heads together and see if we can figure out a plan to stop the New Year’s Eve sounds of Armageddon on December 31, 2022.
CoolCleveland is open to host a forum to accept suggestions as to a proper approach. We have a year to figure something out. Let’s put our heads together.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
2 Responses to “COMMENTARY: Bringing In the New Year With a Bang Needs to Stop”
John McGrail
My New Years morning stroll through Euclid Beach park took me past an area near the pier with at least 2 dozen shell casings on the ground. At least…..
Ms J
I love to read your commentaries, Judge Connally. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find like-minded Clevelander’s to support this important issue. Peace and love to you!