Heavily populated areas along the coasts will likely prohibit firing guns within a certain distance of any dwelling. Stray bullets have killed and injured many people. Rural areas and small towns, mostly in pro gun states in the west and south, may have no restrictions. It's generally a local or state law.
Source(s):
various websites of city ordinances.

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No shooting in the city limits where I live. Otherwise the rabbit on my front lawn would be in the pot.
http://www.saynotocrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/bunny-walkers.jpg

OK, everyone who sees this and thinks I am being excessively mean should know that me and bunnyphuphu are sworn enemies. Well, not really but we are fierce competitors in the race for the black belt.
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This is a matter of local city law (municipal). If your city doesn't prohibit it, then check with your county regulations. If the county doesn't specifically prohibit this action, then check with your state statutes. Most states closely regulate guns. If the city ordinance doesn't speak to this issue, state law almost certainly will.

It is almost certain that this is unlawful conduct.
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In New Hampshire you may not shoot across or within 15 feet of a road, or within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission of the owner or the occupant of the dwelling

You also may not discharge a firearm within the compact part of a town or city, which means the area where houses and businesses are in close proximity.
Source(s):
http://freestateblogs.net/nhgunfaq

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It is definitely illegal here in my small town in rural Texas. Outside of the city limits however is a totally different story. However, some rural homeowners associations also prohibit the discharge of firearms except in the event of an emergency situation (self defense, varmint control, etc.).

I really find it hard to believe that a city the size of Mobile would allow firearms to be discharged within the city limits, even on private property. The safety consideration is usually about where the rounds will go with people living in such tight neighborhood arrangements. In light of this, there are two questions I would ask ...

1. Are you sure you were hearing firearms and not fireworks? Even fireworks within city limits are usually prohibited because of fire hazards, but people usually ignore these laws on July 4th and January 1st.

2. Even if you did hear gunshots, why do you think it is legal? Just because a group of people are doing something doesn't mean it's legal - they could all be breaking the law.

I found a PDF document stating some overall Alabama state laws, but as someone previously pointed out, many laws remain in the hands of the individual municipalities.
Source(s):
http://www.ago.state.al.us/issue/Alabama_Weapon_Law.pdf

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Those kind of laws are usually local ordinances. In my area (Central Texas) it is illegal to shoot a gun in the city limits OR on less than 10 acres of land, and even if you are on ten acres of land, if a bullet crosses a property line or roadway, there are some hefty fines involved. Some people who aren't accustomed to guns and shooting like to come out here to this area to hunt and seem to believe their bullet stops at the fenceline, but of course it doesn't.

As for shooting in the air, yes, people can still get hurt from bullets traveling far up into the air and then falling very quickly onto someone's head. In fact, a bullet taking that kind of flight path has almost the same fire power as being shot directly with a gun.
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1. Gun Discharges happen all the time
2. A high percent of the gun discharges are accidental
3. The law states, "it shall be unlawful for any person, knowingly or with reckless disregard for the safety of another, to discharge or attempt to discharge a firearm that has moved in or that in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the person knows is a school zone."
4. The discharge of firearms does not apply to private property not part of school grounds or by law enforcement officer acting in his official capacity.
Source(s):
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/922.html

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