Stock Photo: Angel Esquivel-AE News

As we continue to enjoy this Independence Day weekend, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office/Fillmore Police Department would like to remind our community members to do so with due regard for the safety of others. Public safety is our number one concern, and we want to make sure our community members are safe and celebrate responsibly.

During these celebrations, we want to remind our community members that the discharge of firearms in a celebratory fashion is extremely dangerous and against the law. Anyone who willfully discharges a firearm in a grossly negligent manner will be subject to arrest. Discharging firearms in such a manner can lead to great bodily injury or the death of an individual. Although one might think that firing rounds in the air is safe, it is negligent and dangerous. Those rounds will come down and they have the potential to injure people. In addition to being subject to arrest, anyone who willfully discharges a firearm in a gross and negligent manner will be subject to having their firearms and ammunition seized, as well as face other law violations depending on the circumstances.

Differentiating between the sounds of fireworks and gunshots can be difficult, especially during the Fourth of July weekend. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately call our dispatch center at 805-654-9511 or 911 if they observe anyone discharging firearms. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their ongoing support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon