Regarding the approach of New Year's Eve this weekend, Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson would like to remind the public that the city of Blytheville has an ordinance against discharging a firearm within the city limits. This includes firing a gun in the air on New Years Eve.
"The last few years we have increased patrols during the hours leading up to and after midnight on New Years Eve just to confront people shooting their guns," he said.
City Ordinance 1622 Section I. states: Any person who shall willfully and intentionally discharge any cannon, gun, pistol or other firearm within the corporate limits of the City of Blytheville, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum no less than five hundred dollars, ($500.00) and not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1000.00) for each such offense.
According to Thompson, in addition to a fine, the judge can order firearms seized.
"Mixing alcohol and firearms is never a good idea and New Years Eve is no exception. No law abiding responsible gun owner would ever shoot their gun in the air and attempt to call it celebrating. So if you are a law-abiding responsible gun owner, then don't shoot your guns on New Years Eve. If it's unlawful, dangerous and frightening, then it is not a celebration, it's a crime with serious consequences," he said.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com