Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Dec. 28, 2000

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

Citizens could pay price for shooting guns on New Years

Instead of celebrating the new year, people caught firing guns on New Year’s Eve could be spending the first part of 2001 in jail.

The city of Shreveport has increased the penalty for discharging firearms, and officers are being encouraged to arrest offenders and seize the guns.

"They could be issued summonses to appear in court or be arrested. I will ask that the statute be strictly enforced," Police Chief Jim Roberts said. "Discharging of firearms could not only injure innocent citizens, but we have had complaints of property damage in prior years due to falling projectiles."

If convicted of discharging a firearm on a state-recognized holiday, a person would be fined a minimum of $500 or ordered to spend 30 to 60 days in jail. The law not only applies to the actual holiday, but it also includes the day before and the day after the holiday as well.

If convicted of a second offense, the person will be fined a minimum of $500 and sent to jail for 60 days.

The law was changed by the Shreveport City Council in April after the Police Department requested the fine be increased from $250 to $500.

On the last day of 1999 and the first day of 2000, 87 calls were made to 911 to report the discharging of firearms. Thirty-four disturbance calls were made and another 51 calls were for loudness complaints.

While some of the 911 calls may not have been specifically related to the discharging of firearms, it is estimated that only about half of the shooting incidents are actually reported to police.

- spd -