WFAA-TV

DALLAS - Religious and city leaders in Dallas and Fort Worth are speaking out to discourage residents from a New Year's Eve tradition that they said could easily lead to tragedy.

During a Sunday church service, Pastor Michael Rose was among those who took the time to share the warning. Rose said a bullet pierced the roof of an Oak Cliff church last year.

"We know that it came down here through the roof of the building and nearly hit one of the children," he said while speaking at the Freedom Street Church of the Living God.

At midnight in Pleasant Grove and other neighborhoods, a barrage of bullets can be heard at the stroke of midnight. Video shot two years ago in Oak Cliff captured just such an event.

"Basic laws of physics, what goes up, must come down," said Joe Elledge, DFW Gun Range and Training Center, of the dangers of shooting guns into the air. "It's going to travel up a mile come, back down and it's going to have 30 pounds of energy when it comes down."

Police in Fort Worth and Dallas said they will be on the streets cracking down on the illegal activity.

"If you shoot in the sky in this year, it's not going to fly in Fort Worth this year," said Lt. Dean Sullivan, Fort Worth Police Department.

It's a message Rose said he hopes people will keep in their minds before ringing in 2008 with a bang.

"Leave the guns at home; put the guns away," he said. "Come celebrate with the church family or with your family. Do it in a safe way, protect the children [and] protect your loved ones.

Those caught firing a weapon on New Year's Eve face penalties that include up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.