WHEN will we learn that moments of joy can be celebrated in less lethal ways? On Independence Day, about a dozen people were admitted to hospitals across Karachi, some with serious injuries caused by the hail of bullets fired by trigger-happy individuals into the air in various neighbourhoods of the city.

Despite the hazards of this practice, there has been little attempt to crack down on those mindlessly carrying on with this exercise in celebration.

It is high time people were made to understand that bullets thus fired will inevitably come down, and those caught indulging in such a show of joy must be penalised for endangering the lives of others.

Curbing the practice is a challenge. Guns are commonly owned and many people see it as a matter of ego to ignore advice about other people’s safety.

An awareness campaign is badly needed to sensitise people to the hazards posed by the practice. The frivolous discharge of firearms is a serious menace to society and the practice can only end if it is delegitimised to the point where people are willing to report those who indulge in it.

Unfortunately, with firearms as ubiquitous as they are in our society, one does not expect the police to be able to do much to discourage such firing. Help is needed from the community to take collective ownership of the effort to discourage the practice, and apprehend those who engage in it.

It is completely unacceptable that firing joy shots into the air should be allowed as a way of celebrating anything, whether it is Independence Day, a wedding, or any other occasion, especially in densely populated cities.

The practice needs to be countered through a large and coordinated effort. The state can lead the way and the media can also help in spreading awareness about its dangers. Too many injuries, in some cases fatal, have been caused by the practice and it is high time to pull all resources together to end it.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2016