This is the issue that I have with arrangements under which many fireworks are sold. I don’t think that there should be laws that create contempt for the law. Either let fireworks be legal (perhaps with a signed waiver filed stating that the buyer assumes all responsibility for the proper use of them) or if they are so dangerous that their use is illegal, then the sale (and the states profit from the sales) should not be allowed.

They dealt calmly and quickly with the real emergency — the 22-yo about to leave for his stint in the military out drinking beer and talking on his cell phone who ran into the pickup truck parked in front of the neighbor’s house, injuring (but not as badly as everyone thought at first) the visiting uncle who was sitting on the back of the truck watching the fireworks.

They ignored the numerous calls on their walkie-talkies, or whatever they are, complaining about noise from fireworks. They told DH that later in the evening they would drive by neighborhoods that still had complaints to encourage winding the festivities down.

And, yes, fireworks other than sparklers are illegal here, too. Unless you sign a waiver saying you are buying them to scare away birds from your crops. Which everyone signs and everyone knows is a lie.

Nance

When people get hurt in car or bicycle accidents, we have safety campaigns. In October we see trick or treat safety projects, but we never see “Fireworks safety” being promoted around the Fourth.

I would think most harm resulting to other persons or property could be dealt with under existing law; shouldn’t purposefully aiming a Roman candle at someone else be treated as some sort of misdemeanor assault? In other words, if you are foolish and cause harm, the law should hold you responsible for that harm.

Limited to this one day, I don’t mind it, but like Michele, I’d like there to be a bit more to the celebration than “Ooh, sparklies!”

Fortunately, none of our animals mind, and the children are fine so long as they are inside.

(sparklers – those skinny grey things – didn’t count)

I have a relative who was involved with enforcing the laws on sale of fireworks and big fireworks displays for a few years. There is a lot of money at stake with these sales. The states get plenty in tax money and legislators get a fair amount in campaign donations from the companies involved in selling fireworks, so they are loath to change a system that boils down to, “Too dangerous to use in our state but to profitable to stop selling.”

But then, I have so many family members in the fire and rescue service with stories of fires or horrible injuries from fireworks to be anything but a terrible fireworks grinch. Big, well set up display or nothing for our family.

Needless to say, I am glad his presidential ambitions never materialized.

There’s some interesting info on how the founders forsaw the 4th being “celebrated” (hint, no beer or firecrackers were mentioned!)

http://liveandlearnonthespectrum.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-day.html

A lot of states have actually stepped away from anti-fireworks laws in recent years, and I think I remember CT being on the list, though I can’t find the list now. At least some seem to be legal. Curious about the novelty items though. From my understanding, novelties are things like those little poppers that drop out prizes when you pull on the tube. Nothing is lit.