Illegal Fireworks Shows (Rant)

[krcit]

It was with a mortar - he's a friend of mine.

That's terrible. I keep thinking of the poor people who witnessed it, esp. kids. So scary. I hope your friend is ok. While I'm not a fan of fireworks, I hate to see someone seriously hurt or killed.

 

[disneyfans95]

Sweetie, I'm married to a cop and know all about how "tolerated" illegal fireworks actually are. If he'd have been home last night, the fireworks would have stopped by 11:00 because he'd have been out there saying something to neighbors. If the activity had continued, the fireworks would have been confiscated by the officer(s) on duty.

You strike me as probably male, in your late teens or perhaps early 20's, who likely was participating in the "fun" of illegal fireworks and is now trying to defend your view on how it's only once a year and everyone needs to chill out because you're going to do it anyway, the hell with the rest of us and you just don't want to hear us complain about it.

Welcome to adulthood, ZeitgeistDuck.

Unlike when you were growing up and everyone around you was trying to instill a 'healthy self-esteem' in everything you did, things have changed. Now when you do something selfish, inconsiderate and totally disrespectful of those around you, you're likely going to be hearing from the rest of the adults about how selfish, inconsiderate and totally disrespectful that act truly is.

Get used to it.

How rude. No need to make personal attacks Carly

 

[plutotek]

In my life I've never head fireworks going off till 2am or every night for two weeks.

Sheesh. Quit whining and call the cops once it violates your noise ordinance.

Well, you are fortunate to have not had to suffer through it, but it is fairly evident that you are in the minority here.

Same here. We had people setting off fireworks in our neighborhood on Friday night, including the neighbor who puts on a show for all the kids. Not last night, but that's probably because the big show in our area was last night in the town just to the south of us and everyone was there. There may or may not be people setting them off tonight, because most folks around here don't have jobs that give them tomorrow off - that's why the neighbor had his BBQ and show on Friday, he has to be at work at 7am tomorrow. And that's the end of it. Two or three nights, usually wrapping up around 11ish, hardly something worth the outrage it seems to generate in some folks.

I can understand it if the majority of the neighborhood is involved, like an old-fashioned block party, but when the majority is against it, that's when it should stop.

I think it is far more selfish, inconsiderate, and totally disrespectful to declare that because you don't like something, it should be illegal. We have far too much of that in our society already, thankyouverymuch.

I understand your because your comment had nothing to do w/what the original quote was saying. And the various ordinances that have been passed against various fireworks HAVE been the result of a majority of people finding fault w/the explosives, whether it be a noise, nuisance, or safety issue.

I think as soon as the sun came up, about 5:30 - 6:00 am I'd be out mowing my lawn as close to the neighbors house as possible. But then I'm evil like that...

Oh, but I like your style.

 

[plutotek]

That's terrible. I keep thinking of the poor people who witnessed it, esp. kids. So scary. I hope your friend is ok. While I'm not a fan of fireworks, I hate to see someone seriously hurt or killed.

I agree. Whatever may have resulted in the injury, I don't wish anyone harm of a physical nature. That said, I don't have an issue w/the financial harm they might suffer when the authorities confiscate their $500 worth of explosives.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My old neighbor would shoot his illegal fireworks towards our house. I would always find pieces of burnt paper, etc in my year the next day.

I'm relieved to be in a sane neighborhood. Most of my neighbors here in WA are out camping or at the beach, so it's pretty quiet.

It's funny, my kids are spoiled from Disney fireworks. We have gone to the local display for two years and they were very disappointed. Now no one wants to go today.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Luckily they stopped before midnight last night so me and my terrified cat were able to sleep. Found some trash in my yard from them this morning. It didn't bother me last night because they stopped before midnight.

Have not heard any so far today but the big show is tonight so I am assuming they will start leading up to it and after it. I am curious to see how the cat handles the show tonight since it is right by my house.
I am watching from my front yard (in a tourist town this is very exciting lol)

 

[maxiesmom]

Carly Roach: 1 ZeitgeistDuck:0

I don't agree. Carly Roach came off very condesending. "Sweetie". Brother.

As a 40 something female who also lives in Michigan, I happen to agree with ZeitgeistDuck. Call the cops if it bothers you, and stop whining. Especially as how all of those fireworks are going to be legal in Michigan next year.

As I stated before, our local paper quoted police saying how low a priority responding to fireworks calls is. As in, well, if we are bored stiff we will check it out. Police have better things to deal with, as in traffic accidents, robberies, and other crimes.

Anyway, better try to figure out now how to deal with all of the noise as it is bound to be 10 times worse in 2011.

 

[Carly_Roach]

How rude. No need to make personal attacks Carly

That wasn't a personal attack, short-timer. And if you want to see rude, see the quotes below from ZeitgeistDuck.

Nice! Do you always go around wishing harm on people who like sparkly lights and colors? Its one thing not to like them, its another to hope someone gets harmed. What's next: "she posted something I didn't like on the Dis, I hope her fingers fall off?"

I think a lot of you are being whiny mcwhinersons. I definitely see the point of the poster that lost the solar cover and for people who are worried about the dangers of off-the-ground fireworks, but those who are all hyped up about their dogs being upset? That is absurd, expecting people to tiptoe around your dog's nervous sensibilities.

Our neighbor went ape on some kids down the street last 4th over their fireworks. They were setting off fire crackers and fountains, all legal. She was screaming about her dog getting upset and I was thinking really? you expect people to stop what they are doing because of your snowflake dog's feelings? Seriously? Anyway, now she's know as crazy neighbor.

I thought the crazy neighbor was pretty inconsiderate- complaining about traditional forth of july fireworks because she's too snowflaky to realize she should just suck it up for one week a year. See? Considerate goes both ways.

Sheesh. Quit whining and call the cops once it violates your noise ordinance.

ZeitgeistDuck is behaving exactly as I characterized him in my post except I never called him on his (and your) trollish behavior until now. While ZeitgeistDuck may think he's being smart and believes he can defend his attack on another poster here who mentioned she has to tranquilize her dog during this time of year by saying he was referring to his "crazy neighbor", I've been around long enough to have seen this kind of tactic used on regular DIS posters before.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I think as soon as the sun came up, about 5:30 - 6:00 am I'd be out mowing my lawn as close to the neighbors house as possible. But then I'm evil like that...

Good idea!! Not after the 4th of July, but if they do it any other days then yes

 

[plutotek]

I don't agree. Carly Roach came off very condesending. "Sweetie". Brother.

As a 40 something female who also lives in Michigan, I happen to agree with ZeitgeistDuck. Call the cops if it bothers you, and stop whining. Especially as how all of those fireworks are going to be legal in Michigan next year.

It's unfortunate the MI legislators are so backward thinking, unless it's some way to add to the state coffers, in which case it's just sad.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Especially as how all of those fireworks are going to be legal in Michigan next year.

Anyway, better try to figure out now how to deal with all of the noise as it is bound to be 10 times worse in 2011.

We'll see, won't we? That bill only passed the House. It still has to get past the Senate, where a lot of our bills go to die.

 

[Carly_Roach]

It's unfortunate the MI legislators are so backward thinking, unless it's some way to add to the state coffers, in which case it's just sad.

I don't know that it's backward thinking or a desire to forget the past (thereby forcing us to repeat its lessons).

Here's an interesting article about why fireworks were outlawed in Michigan in or around 1926. Interestingly enough, it was outlawed when the 4th fell on a Sunday just like it has fallen this year.

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=112

What's particularly haunting is this:

The crackling of fireworks began slowly in the streets, gaining momentum like a fiery pinwheel by Monday. The streets were littered with fragmented firecrackers. Three doctors and nurses on duty at Receiving Hospital's admitting room reported they could not keep up with the injuries.

The first death occurred Sunday. A 2 1/2 year old boy burned to death. Among the injured that day was a family of six, seriously burned when a firecracker ignited in a pan of gasoline. On Monday the first aid stations were as busy as those on a battlefield. Among the injuries reported were two boys, burned when a group of youths fired Roman candles at them, and six children, burned when a table of fireworks went off accidentally at Kennedy School.

As if purposely designed to climax this stupendous holiday, a blaze leveled one of the city's largest lumber yards at the end of the day, causing $500,000 worth of damage.

On Tuesday, an exhausted city sat down to total its fireworks casualties - seven dead and 46 injured. All of the dead were children. Five died of burns; two were poisoned when they ate firecrackers.

The city was shocked.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

 

[KiminChicago]

We had a dad in our Cub Scout pack who used to brag about his illegal fireworks displays. He used to have his 10 year old son help him light them -- now he wonders why his son is going around starting fires in their neighborhood. I'm not saying it's a cause and effect kind of thing, but if you teach your child that one illegal activity is ok, how do you then prevent him from thinking that other laws shouldn't apply to him either?

There was a book I read as a child called "Follow My Leader" about a boy who was accidentally blinded by a firecracker that he and his buddies found. The book was about all the struggles he had to relearn how to do everything for himself. It had a huge impact on me -- my dad used to set off some small ones that he had "found" (he'd only light one a year, I guess it was to make them last ) and every time I'd worry that he was going to blow off a finger or some other part of his body.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'm relieved to be in a sane neighborhood. Most of my neighbors here in WA are out camping or at the beach, so it's pretty quiet.

It irks me when people go to the beaches to set off the fireworks though. I'm not saying your neighbors are but I think people think it's OK because they're doing it over the water. They only end up polluting the water and the day after you can see the remnants of the fireworks all over the beaches. It makes me mad.

 

[aprilgail2]

Sheesh. Quit whining and call the cops once it violates your noise ordinance.

We used to love it when my friends dad worked on 4th of july--he was a cop and he would be taking fireworks away from people but stopping by here and loading us all up with them!

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't know that it's backward thinking or a desire to forget the past (thereby forcing us to repeat its lessons).

Here's an interesting article about why fireworks were outlawed in Michigan in or around 1926. Interestingly enough, it was outlawed when the 4th fell on a Sunday just like it has fallen this year.

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=112

What's particularly haunting is this:



"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

So you can't find a more recent article to prove how dangerous fireworks are? Now you are reaching to prove your point. Not to mention, I'm sure firefighting skills and equipment have improved greatly over the last 90 years.

 

[Jennasis]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist (snicker) to know that explosives...even small ones...do not belong in the hands of John/Jane Public. That's just common sense.

 

[rszdtrvl]

In this area, fireworks are legal on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

That doesn't stop us from wishing that we get a lot of rain tonight though, as DH has to be up at 3am Monday to go to work.

We are hearing a lot of loud booms, which qualify as illegal fireworks. There are indian reservations all over the place here, and I am sure people are buying the fireworks there and bringing them to places where they are illegal to light them.

We will spend $10 on fireworks today, light them around 8pm-ish, and watch the city fireworks from our backyard. We get a pretty good view of them, if you look around the trees, LOL.

I don't wish harm on anybody from fireworks, legal or not, but do wish that there was more patrols and fines issued to people who are lighting the fireworks that are illegal. I don't mean to dampen anyone's fun, but what is the point of having a law if it is not enforced?

 

[disneyfans95]

So you can't find a more recent article to prove how dangerous fireworks are? Now you are reaching to prove your point. Not to mention, I'm sure firefighting skills and equipment have improved greatly over the last 90 years.

Bingo.. bringing up stuff from 1920's is very odd.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Sadly, it seems as if those that are shooting off the fireworks are usually the last that should be anywhere around them. Like people that have had too much to drink and kids that don't think through the consequences of their actions.

When I was younger (in the 80's) our roof caught on fire from the neighbor's teen aged kids shooting off Roman Candles. Luckily it was not too bad because my dad had been watching these kids all night. This was about 1 in the morning - 4 days after the 4th of July. Yeah, so now I am very nervous about non-professionals messing around with any kind of firework.

But here are more recent stats if you would like:

http://badfirecracker.com/