THIS is apropos of the news item ‘Boy killed, over 20 wounded in jubilant firing in city’ (Jan 2). It is sad to know that a boy was killed and many others were injured in celebratory firing in the air on the New Year eve.

Aerial firing has become a tradition in the country and there are always reports of people getting killed every year. If one is living in a tribal area with open terrain, firing in the air is not as lethal compared to doing it in thickly populated areas.

People involved in this act should understand that the bullet they fire in the air returns and it can land anywhere. Studies show that the bullet fired in the air travels a long way but when it comes down at a fast speed it could be equally lethal. Even in the US where keeping guns is allowed, some of the states have outlawed aerial firing.

Anas A. Khan

Edmonton, Canada

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2017