While it is all too obvious that there are many terminally stupid Americans (Democrats especially), the insane act of firing a gun into the air in celebration has not, IMHO, been a tradition here, north of the Rio Grande. So is this yet another job for immigrants to do that normal citizens won’t do?
Sympathies and prayers for the family and friends. R.I.P.!
Never heard gunfire in Southern California on NYE back in the 50’s and 60’s.
But by the early 80’s it was very prevalent.
Wonder what demographic coincidence happened during that period?
Only an idiot celebrates with gunfire in a city-there are people everywhere you might hit-I live in a rural area and some of my neighbors were firing pistols into the air right along with the fireworks-but my neighbors are acres away-no one gets hurt...
I grew up on a ranch in W Texas-some of my uncles and cousins used to fire guns into the air on New Years-along with other people on the road-it was common-I’ve never indulged in that myself-seems unsafe and wastes ammo, but it has always been common where I’m from-the custom did not cross the river with the mojados...
Quite likely. I used to live in a small town in southern New Mexico, and there were definitely locals who fired guns in the air. Friend of mine found a hole in the hood of his pickup, after one night of "celebratory" gun fire. He said it was the size of a 12 gauge slug (glad it hit his truck, and not him or his wife)...
Firing guns in the air is a time-honored tradition in New Orleans, and IIRC several random innocents have died as a result over the years, with little reduction in the activity despite public pleas.
Thousands of Katrina evacuees landed in Houston & never left. So that could be it.