# Celebratory gunfire -- why not straight down? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778 "2015-01-02T16:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/1 "2015-01-02T16:12:28Z")
Bullets shot up or sideways at various angles could find a target. This is often bemoaned in articles about the dangers involved in shooting just to make noise. Yet I’ve never seen a suggestion to shoot straight down. It would seem to me that on normal earth (dirt/grass/etc.) the bullet would simply be buried. (I don’t know if a rock surface would present a ricochet problem at that angle, but if so of course it wouldn’t be advised.) Is there a reason to avoid shooting straight down when one wants to shoot a gun without risking any damage? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/2 "2015-01-02T16:19:15Z")
Because it doesn’t look/feel as celebratory. up=approve, joy down=condemn, contempt In addition, people who shoot guns outside shooting ranges are not all that safety-minded/sober. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/3 "2015-01-02T16:20:46Z")
dirt and hard particles will be propelled into the air at damaging speeds. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/4 "2015-01-02T16:29:17Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > dirt and hard particles will be propelled into the air at damaging speeds. A lot less damaging than a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/5 "2015-01-02T16:33:10Z")
Because your feet are down there? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/6 "2015-01-02T16:33:25Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > dirt and hard particles will be propelled into the air at damaging speeds. > [@running\_coach](#): > > A lot less damaging than a bullet. depends on what and where. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/7 "2015-01-02T16:52:44Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Because your feet are down there? This. A blind shot in the air MAY find a target. Fire straight down and if nothing else your ankle is going to be bleeding from the splatter. The real question is – you usually know when celebrations are going to occur. Why didn’t you spring for some damn blanks you cheap shit? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/8 "2015-01-02T17:00:09Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Is there a reason to avoid shooting straight down when one wants to shoot a gun without risking any damage? Shooting straight down means any damage occurs to me or my stuff. Shooting up/away means any damage occurs to somebody else who can’t trace it back to me. Seems pretty obvious to me which is the preferred choice for folks ignorant enough to shoot live rounds for celebration. Consider also that shooting into the air, at least in the US, is more of an urban thing, rather than rural. There’s lots less lawns and lots more concrete/asphalt in urban areas. So even IF somebody was safety minded (not likely IMO), they may not have the opportunity to act on their idea for safer shooting. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/9 "2015-01-02T17:09:26Z")
Just shoot, if you must, at what you normally use as a back stop. The big log end, that dirt embankment, the wife. Don’t shoot drunk. Get drunk after shooting if you must. Up = bad Near yourself = bad ¼ stick of dynamite makes a good boom 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/10 "2015-01-02T17:24:18Z")
Shooting straight (or relatively so) up is of little to no risk to anything on the ground. Angles above the horizon, but not straight up, can be dangerous when the trajectory preserves the forward energy. But straight up, all the forward energy is lost because the round comes to a complete stop, losing all its energy, before it falls back down. Gravity isn’t enough to create a harmful velocity which such a small mass as a bullet of any civilian caliber. Mythbusters tested it with guns as well as something like a quarter dropped from extreme height (i.e., Empire State Building). Not enough energy/mass to cause any injury. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/11 "2015-01-02T17:47:16Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Just shoot, if you must, at what you normally use as a back stop. > > The big log end, that dirt embankment, the wife. That is one strong woman if she is normally used as a backstop! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/12 "2015-01-02T17:58:48Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > Shooting straight (or relatively so) up is of little to no risk to anything on the ground. Angles above the horizon, but not straight up, can be dangerous when the trajectory preserves the forward energy. > > But straight up, all the forward energy is lost because the round comes to a complete stop, losing all its energy, before it falls back down. Gravity isn’t enough to create a harmful velocity which such a small mass as a bullet of any civilian caliber. > > Mythbusters tested it with guns as well as something like a quarter dropped from extreme height (i.e., Empire State Building). Not enough energy/mass to cause any injury. Cecil isn’t quite so sure it’s safe. [The Straight Dope: Can a bullet fired into the air kill someone when it comes down?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=18021327) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/13 "2015-01-02T18:11:57Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Cecil isn’t quite so sure it’s safe. > > [The Straight Dope: Can a bullet fired into the air kill someone when it comes down?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=18021327) I think you meant to link [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1199/can-a-bullet-fired-into-the-air-kill-someone-when-it-comes-down). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/14 "2015-01-02T18:13:14Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I think you meant to link [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1199/can-a-bullet-fired-into-the-air-kill-someone-when-it-comes-down). D’oh! :smack: Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/15 "2015-01-02T18:15:50Z")
goes to show you can’t be certain of your target. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/16 "2015-01-02T18:19:33Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Cecil isn’t quite so sure it’s safe. > > [The Straight Dope: Can a bullet fired into the air kill someone when it comes down?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=18021327) From 1995 - lots of that data is theoretical. I went and searched for the relevant episode and found this: "busted / plausible / confirmed In the case of a bullet fired at a precisely vertical angle (something extremely difficult for a human being to duplicate), the bullet would tumble, lose its spin, and fall at a much slower speed due to terminal velocity and is therefore rendered less than lethal on impact. However, if a bullet is fired upward at a non-vertical angle (a far more probable possibility), it will maintain its spin and will reach a high enough speed to be lethal on impact. Because of this potentiality, firing a gun into the air is illegal in most states, and even in the states that it is legal, it is not recommended by the police. Also the MythBusters were able to identify two people who had been injured by falling bullets, one of them fatally injured. To date, this is the only myth to receive all three ratings at the same time." > **[Max88: สล็อตเว็บตรง รองรับทุกธนาคาร ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ เว็บแท้ 100% เล่นง่าย...](https://pec9.com/)** > > Max88 เล่นสล็อตเว็บตรง เว็บแท้ 100% รองรับทุกธนาคาร ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ ถอนได้จริง เล่นง่าย สะดวก ปลอดภัยทุกการลงทุน รับประสบการณ์ที่ดีที่สุดในการสร้างรายได้ออนไลน์กับเราวันนี้! Appears I mis-remembered many of the details in that show. Bottom line, neither is a smart thing to do. FWIW - in firearms training I have always been taught that pointing a firearm up in the air is a safer rest position than pointing it down - for many of the reasons noted already in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/17 "2015-01-02T20:31:32Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > In addition, people who shoot guns outside shooting ranges are not all that safety-minded/sober. So ALL hunters aren’t safety minded and drunk? Nice. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/18 "2015-01-03T01:25:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **thatguyjeff** : > > But straight up, all the forward energy is lost because the round comes to a complete stop, losing all its energy, before it falls back down. Gravity isn’t enough to create a harmful velocity which such a small mass as a bullet of any civilian caliber. Your conclusions are mostly correct, but the reasoning is misleading. It’s not a matter of gravity not being enough. In fact, if you shot straight up on the Moon (with only a sixth of Earth’s gravity), the bullets _would_ be lethal coming back down. Rather, it’s a matter of the atmosphere. Both going up and going down, a bullet will lose some of its energy to air resistance, and in fact going down there’s an upper limit to how much energy it can retain. This upper limit is low enough that it’s unlikely that the bullet would remain lethal, unless it hit just the right vulnerable target. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/19 "2015-01-03T05:07:01Z")
A nice fat .38 short that can’t get too high coming out of a 2" barrel and has enough cross section that it can’t push through the atmosphere too well, I’ll let you stand under. Now a real pointy180 grain .270 rifle bullet sent up from a good rifle, I don’t think either of us should stand under. Hitting square on the top of the head pointy end down could mess up our day. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebratory-gunfire-why-not-straight-down/708778/20 "2015-01-03T05:11:54Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > Shooting straight (or relatively so) up is of little to no risk to anything on the ground. Angles above the horizon, but not straight up, can be dangerous when the trajectory preserves the forward energy. > > But straight up, all the forward energy is lost because the round comes to a complete stop, losing all its energy, before it falls back down. Gravity isn’t enough to create a harmful velocity which such a small mass as a bullet of any civilian caliber. > > Mythbusters tested it with guns as well as something like a quarter dropped from extreme height (i.e., Empire State Building). Not enough energy/mass to cause any injury. I knew we had a couple recent local incidents of injuries due to celebratory gunfire. I only googled for Florida and there were plenty of hits. I also remember a case from a few years ago of a boy who was hit on the Fourth of July and suffered severe brain injury. You can try to explain away that maybe some of the bullets may not have been fired straight into the air but I don’t think that would explain the kid that was hit on the top of the head. [http://www.wspa.com/story/27741790/celebratory-gun-fire-injures-woman-in-tampa](http://www.wspa.com/story/27741790/celebratory-gun-fire-injures-woman-in-tampa) [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/01/celebratory-gunfire-blamed-for-injuries-in-florida/](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/01/celebratory-gunfire-blamed-for-injuries-in-florida/) [http://www.nba.com/2013/news/06/23/teen-hit-by-gunfire-finals.ap/index.html?rss=true](http://www.nba.com/2013/news/06/23/teen-hit-by-gunfire-finals.ap/index.html?rss=true) > **[Florida boy injured by celebratory gunfire is improving | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/03/us/florida-celebratory-gunfire/index.html)** > > A 12-year-old west Florida boy apparently struck by a bullet fired skyward during a New Year’s Eve celebration is improving, but remains in serious condition.