LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The Lima Police Department is reminding everyone not to ring in the new year by shooting a gun into the air.
Officers are familiar with reports of gunshots going off to celebrate the New Year. Just four years ago in downtown Lima, Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia was hit by a bullet from celebration gunfire. The bullet ricocheted off an LPD cruiser, passed in front of Chief Deputy Todd Mohler's face, and hit Treglia. While lucky he was not injured, the police department says shooting off guns can pose a significant safety risk to you, your family, and your neighbors.
“I know everybody is excited and they want to celebrate,” says Major James Baker, Lima Police Department. “I guess here is the nice thing, we have changed some of the firework laws and New Year’s Eve is one of those days that you can shoot some of those fireworks off. Please do the fireworks and not pull out your gun and shoot it in the air. Physics works ‘What goes up, must come down.’ Every single year somewhere people get injured, hurt or killed because of bullets coming down.”
Ohio made it legal to shoot off fireworks on New Year’s Eve in 2022. Police just want people to act responsibly if you choose to do it.
