Among some Americans a celebration, be it a wedding or an anniversary, July 4th, or New Year – is marked by gunfire.  A majority of people  (it is thought) use blanks, although why it’s necessary to do so at all isn’t explained.  But when an actual bullet is fired up into the air, guess what, it comes down. Duh! In over 70% of cases it causes head injuries to unsuspecting people far distant from the source of gunfire, and, if not, it injures innocent people in the back or on the shoulders.

NPR reports: “On just about every major holiday worldwide we see reports about “celebratory gunfire” deaths. It’s an ironic term — one man’s moment of irresponsible, thoughtless jubilation leads to another family’s woe. And as the bullet may land miles away, the assailant is rarely identified. For example, a Houston family watching a fireworks show from their driveway lost their father just minutes into 2015 as he suddenly fell back onto the concrete. His bloody head wound was caused by a falling bullet. The coroner finally ruled his death a homicide in March”.

Last year, Virginia made celebratory gunfire a felony, but in most States it is only a misdemeanor ( a “misdemeanor”?), and in any case it is usually difficult to find the culprit.   Epicurus  would no doubt deplore the irresponsibility of mindlessly taking the lives of strangers innocently going about their business.  It is potentially manslaughter, and demonstrates a lack of common sense, personal responsibility, and an ability  to think of others.