A .22 is lethal. For pest control we normally use something like a pellet gun to shoot birds off of eaves or keep raccoons at bay. Otherwise you end up with holes in your siding. To say a 22 isn't worthy of killing a person is a moronic assessment. Anyway, all kidding aside, you can't fire a 22 into the air or anything other than an earthen burm or you will be charged with reckless discharge.