Did you just hear fireworks or gunshots in SC? Here’s how to tell the difference

Here comes the July 4th weekend with its pops and booms and all sorts of loud noises that can send your dog into a frenzy.

Or are you wondering, is that fireworks or gunshots?

Even some seasoned law enforcement officers wonder.

“It is very difficult to discern the difference between the gunshots and the fireworks just by listening to their individual sounds,” AmmoMan’s School of Guns says.

They point out three noticeable differences.

Gunshots have a rhythm. Firecrackers do not.

“When a pistol fires, the pistol needs to cycle the action and reload another round, and the recoil of the pistol discharging forces the muzzle to rise,” AmmoMan says. “The time needed to complete these mechanical actions is identical for each shot. “

Fireworks, on the other hand, are random and sometimes almost simultaneous. They are faster than gunshots.

A gunshot is much louder and with 9mm handguns there’s a secondary “crack” of the bullet that firecrackers don’t make.

Firecrackers emit smoke.

“This means that if a person hears a “pop pop pop” sound and there is no smoke appearing, chances are it’s random gunfire and not fireworks,” AmmoMan said.

Many South Carolina law enforcement agencies see an increase in calls about what people perceive as gunshots. And some actually are people celebrating by firing a gun into the air.

Not cool, officers say.

You could hurt or kill someone since a bullet that goes up eventually comes down.

“It’s a really, really dumb idea,” AmmoMan said.

Here’s what the law says about fireworks:

In Greenville, no shooting fireworks between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. except on July 4 and New Year’s Eve when you can fire away until 12:30 a.m. No discharging fireworks in city parks, on public property, or near hospitals.

In Greenville County, fireworks are permitted between 10 a.m. on July 4th and 1 a.m. on July 5th and other days between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Punishment is a $100 fine.

In Columbia fireworks are permitted between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., except on July 4 and New Year’s Eve, when use is allowed until 12:30 a.m. Fireworks are not permitted in city parks.

In Richland County, it is unlawful to ignite fireworks or similar explosives between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. For July 5 and Jan. 1, the time is 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.

The ordinance also says no fireworks within 600 feet of a church, hospital or public school or to fire from a motor vehicle.

The fine is $500 for a 1st offense, $750, for a 2nd offense and $1,000 for a 3rd or subsequent offense.