Celebratory gunfire ‘turns weddings into funerals’

File photo shows musicians at a wedding celebration in the kingdom. Celebratory gunfire remain a common fare in weddings in some parts of the kingdom.

RIYADH: The phenomenon of shooting at weddings has become a dangerous practice, and unfortunately it has become a custom associated with weddings and receiving guests.
Officials and journalists have stressed the need to address the phenomenon of celebratory shootings during weddings, and the necessity of community involvement in stopping this practice where some shoot off guns to welcome guests, and shoot heavily celebrating the groom at the festival venue.
This phenomenon is widespread in most regions of the Kingdom and has become a threat to everyone, because those who carry weapons are very young and do not realize the seriousness of their behavior.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that they limited wedding facility owners and banned shooting at weddings, and whoever involved in this during weddings will be referred to the investigation and prosecution body, but these actions have not stopped, which may convert a wedding to a funeral in light of the childish behavior.
Social worker Nawal Al-Anzi pointed out that this phenomenon has widened significantly. She said: “It has become a behavior followed by many of the members of the community to express their joy, until it became a disturbing phenomenon that caused deaths and serious injuries.”
Lawyer and specialist in criminal legal cases Dr. Ibrahim Al-Abadi stressed that the use of weapons at weddings is a clear violation of the Weapons and Ammunition Law. The perpetrator of this crime will be punished by imprisonment or a fine, or both penalties in some cases.
Key figures in society pointed to the need to involve the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in following up on this case, and also the need to involve mosque preachers to talk about the damage caused by these irresponsible actions.
Others have put forward the idea of employing observers at marriage celebrations to prevent such practices from occurring, with the task of immediately reporting to authorities.