HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – As New Year’s Eve arrives, Sheriff Al Nienhuis and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office are reminding residents of the dangers of celebratory gunfire. Firing guns into the air is not only illegal but also poses a significant risk to public safety.
In previous years, there have been instances of people being seriously injured or killed by stray bullets on New Year’s Eve.
To prevent such tragedies, the Sheriff’s Office is taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal gun use and gun crime during the holiday period.
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Sheriff Nienhuis urged residents to celebrate responsibly and avoid actions that could endanger others.
“Celebrating the New Year should never be at the expense of someone else’s safety,” he said. “Impaired driving and celebratory gunfire are both ways to start the new year off with the sobering reality that your actions took the life of an innocent person. Please leave the firearms secured and never drive impaired.”
The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who hears gunfire or observes suspicious activity to report it to their local law enforcement agency immediately.
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