Missouri bans celebratory gun firing

By Jenna Wilson

Celebratory gunfire now is prohibited statewide thanks to a new safety law signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson

Senate Bill 754, also known as Blair’s Law, took effect on Aug. 28 after one Kansas City family fought for years for a legislative change following the death of Blair S. Lane, who was killed by a stray bullet shot on the Fourth of July in 2011.

“Any time you see laws like this passed there’s a cause and effect and unfortunately, there was a tragedy that led to this,” said Capt. Shawn Collie with the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force. “Any time you fire a weapon up in the air, that bullet has to come down somewhere. Depending on the distance and size of the city, it’s going to come down somewhere within that same area, whether it hits a vehicle, a person or residence. There’s still that chance that somebody is going to get hurt or killed by that bullet.”

The new law specifies that a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if he or she recklessly discharges a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality.

Under Blair’s Law, a first offense would be a Class A misdemeanor, with felony charges on further offenses. A second offense would be a Class E felony, and it becomes a Class D felony for any third or subsequent offenses.

While many cities in Missouri don’t experience celebratory gunfire causing harm very often, it only takes one mistake to take a life. With many people having plans to celebrate at gatherings on Labor Day, officials are cautioning the community to avoid recklessly firing weapons.

“It comes down to common sense,” Collie said. “If you’re within the city limits or if you’re not within a safe area to be shooting firearms, you should not be possessing them or shooting them during that celebration. We want to see everybody have a safe and fun holiday weekend, but especially safe. Wherever that bullet ends up could affect your entire family and other people.”