More than 27,000 people signed up to put themselves on the front line and open fire on the Category 4 hurricane to “show them we shoot first”. The dangerous Facebook event hopes that by peppering the 400-mile wide storm with bullets it will veer away from the US Sunshine State. But the Pasco Sheriff has warned shooters that if they fire correctly the bullet will come back and kill them. WHERE IS HURRICANE IRMA NOW?

TWITTER Hurricane Irma path residents told to NOT SHOOT storm as eye would make it RAIN BULLETS

To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma. You won’t make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effects Pasco Sheriff

He tweeted: “To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma. You won’t make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effects”. The Facebook event, created by Ryon Edwards, 22, told the BBC he launched the group out of “stress and boredom”. He said: “The response is complete and total surprise to me.

FACEBOOK Hurricane Irma latest: Residents vow to 'show them we shoot first'

Hurricane Irma: Damage in Florida latest pictures Wed, September 13, 2017 Strong winds and rain batter Florida as Hurricane Irma hits Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 50 Jose Orosz walks his dog Karen by a beachfront home destroyed by Hurricane Irma

“I never envisioned this event becoming some kind of crazy idea larger than myself. It has become something a little out of my control.” Since Mr Edwards came up with his "masterplan", other similar Facebook pages have been created - including one suggesting using flame throwers to scare away the storm. The event description reads: "It's time we took a stand against this bully! "This is our home, nobody drives us out of our own territory.