{"id":35361,"date":"2025-07-03T13:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T13:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/35361\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T13:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T13:13:09","slug":"san-antonio-police-launch-campaign-to-deter-celebratory-gunfire-ahead-of-fourth-of-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/35361\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio police launch campaign to deter celebratory gunfire ahead of Fourth of July"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 As Independence Day approaches, San Antonio police are reminding residents that shooting guns into the air as part of celebrations is dangerous and illegal.<\/p>\n

A new public service announcement (PSA) campaign launched by the San Antonio Police Department aims to reduce injuries caused by stray bullets.<\/p>\n

Jorge Valdez Mesa, a West Side man, is still recovering after being hit by a stray bullet seven months ago.<\/p>\n

Valdez was standing on his porch watching New Year\u2019s Day fireworks when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm. \u201cI was like, what do you mean? I can\u2019t feel my arm,\u201d Valdez said. His wife, standing just inches away, narrowly escaped being hit by the bullet that landed on his elbow. \u201cI thought about later how it could have hit my five-year-old daughter,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Valdez participates in the new PSA campaign urging people to think of others before firing guns into the air. \u201cJust because it\u2019s been a tradition passed down through the family to shoot up in the air, it doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t have consequences for somebody else\u2019s family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Valdez continues to experience numbness in his hand and remains uncertain about watching fireworks from his porch again.<\/p>\n

Firing a gun recklessly in San Antonio is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Offenders face fines up to $4,000 and up to one year in jail.<\/p>\n

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the department receives more calls about celebratory gunfire ahead of the Fourth of July and January 1 than on any other day. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2023, we got over 100 calls every day for people shooting guns. On New Year\u2019s Eve, they had 361 calls, and on July 4, 304, McManus said. \u201cThese shots have the potential to hurt or even kill people,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

While the department has long campaigned against shooting bullets into the air, this is the first time Chief McManus has overseen a full social media PSA campaign to address the issue.<\/p>\n

Firing a gun recklessly in San Antonio is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Offenders face fines up to $4,000 and up to one year in jail.<\/p>\n

The initiative was launched in September 2024 by District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, <\/a>District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, the SAPD, and the Bexar County District Attorney\u2019s Office, who collaborated on the project. <\/p>\n