The closer we get to the 4th of July in Texas, the harder it is to distinguish gun shots from fireworks.
I remember driving around the Houston beltway on one of my first business trips to Houston. I was on an elevated road when I saw a sign advertising BULLET PROOF ROOFS. I was kind of stunned and couldn't understand what they were for. At the client meeting the next day I inquired and they explained about all the drunk yahoos shooting in the air on the fourth and NYE.
Yea . I am never living there.
I live out in the country. Gunshots are not unusual; not common, either. During hunting season, plenty of deer so it’s rifles then.
In Canada we only hear gunshots during hunting season, so basically October and November.
Thankfully here it's only during hunting season(s) that I worry about gunfire.
Though now and then there is one fired at 1 am for no apparent reason. Usually a shotgun.
I feel for you as fireworks can make you jumpy without adding in the possibility of gunfire.
I remember when I lived in the city and heard what I thought was a car backfiring - looked out the bay window and there was a fellow running down the street being chased by another fellow with a gun. - Thankfully there was so much ice on the sidewalk that it impeded their running and the shooters ability to fire.
Over 30 years ago and I still remember dropping to the floor and crawling over to the phone to call it in.