With 2017 approaching, the Selma Police Department is asking people to not fire guns in the air to ring in the new year or shoot fireworks within the city limits.

“We’re asking that all citizens not shoot fireworks or guns during the New Year’s holiday in city limits or police jurisdiction of Selma,” said interim Selma Police Chief Johnny King. “The main reasons are the ordinance and the public safety.”

It is also dangerous. If a bullet goes up, it must come down, which could hurt someone or cause damage to homes or businesses.

King added the department is also asking people to continue to abide by the city ordinance regardless of what day of the year it is because how dangerous firing a gun into the air can be.

Shooting guns and fireworks is illegal within the city limits.

According to a city ordinance, “it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any gun, including air gun, or firearm of any kind within the corporate limits of the city.”

“Persons who violate any provision of this article or the Selma Fire Code can be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 180 days, or both the fine and imprisonment,” King said.

It is also illegal to sell fireworks within the city limits.

“It shall be unlawful at any time for any person to sell, offer for sale or otherwise dispose of or to have in possession, keep, store, manufacture, handle, explode, discharge or shoot any pyrotechnics, commonly called ‘fireworks,’ within the city or police jurisdiction of the city,” a city ordinance reads.

According to incident reports from last New Year’s Eve, the Selma Police Department had three fireworks calls and 19 shots fired calls.

There were two shootings with victims that night. A 44-year-old woman, Mary Whatley, was shot standing in her front yard on the 1600 block of Maple Street and later died at the hospital.

Antoine Stallworth, 38, was shot on New Year’s Eve after being caught in a crossfire between at GWC Homes. He died a few days later at a Montgomery hospital.

King said the department responds to each call to the best of its ability, but asked people to not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

“If there’s shooting in the neighborhoods, please call the police department at 334-874-6611 (non-emergency) or 911 (emergency),” King said.