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The fear of fireworks, Not having the freedom to celebrate freedom
Washington Times ^ | Friday, July 3, 2009 | editorial

Posted on 07/02/2009 9:26:32 PM PDT by JohnRLott

Americans will celebrate their freedom on Independence Day with a certain irony tomorrow. Not all Americans have the freedom to celebrate the holiday with the traditional festive bang. That's because many places ban fireworks.

Although about 94 million of us live in states that allow all sorts of fireworks and firecracker use, 43 million Americans live in six states - including New York and New Jersey - where you need a permit to even light a sparkler. California bans some types of fireworks and allows cities to expand what is prohibited. Safety is supposedly the major concern of those who ban our celebratory backyard light-and-noise shows, but their fears are overblown.

Banning personal use of fireworks may actually result in more accidental fires because some of those who try to avoid getting caught set them off in remote fields, causing fires that take longer to discover.

This issue is badly distorted by the media. . . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: fireworks; lping; nannystate; regulation; washingtontimes
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1 posted on 07/02/2009 9:26:32 PM PDT by JohnRLott
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To: JohnRLott

How many Americans understand why we set off fire works?

Most “occupants” of this land have no idea.


2 posted on 07/02/2009 9:29:23 PM PDT by unkus
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To: JohnRLott; bamahead
"Safety is supposedly the major concern of those who ban our celebratory backyard light-and-noise shows, but their fears are overblown."

.... The government MUST do EVERYTHING it can to keep anyone and everyone from even possibly getting hurt in any way. /barf

I remember when I was a kid, it used to be illegal to use fireworks where I live. We would travel out of state to buy them, and bring them back home and set them off anyway.

3 posted on 07/02/2009 9:32:38 PM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: unkus

Sad but true.


4 posted on 07/02/2009 9:32:57 PM PDT by c-b 1 (Reporting from behind enemy lines, in occupied AZTLAN.)
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To: unkus

Was in China visiting friends during their Lunar New Year. Almost THREE weeks of non-stop 24/7 SERIOUS (BIG, LOUD, FLASHY) fireworks everywhere, especially in the CITY. No restrictions whatsoever...

Made me sick to see that and compare it to our Nanny State who makes rules “for our own good.”

Unfortunately, America’s NOT lookin’ so “FREE” anymore.


5 posted on 07/02/2009 9:34:21 PM PDT by Mister Muggles
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To: JohnRLott

CA is a dry place in the summer. Fire are easy to start and
difficult and expensive to suppress. Idiots will shoot off
bottle rockets into the weeds sending the CDF into action
or into some neighbors roof, destroying the house.

Thats why they have a low tolerance for fireworks. If you want to go make loud noises, take your guns to the range and celebrate your freedom to bear arms. Far more meaningful
on the 4th in my opinion...


6 posted on 07/02/2009 9:40:11 PM PDT by rahbert ("...but Rush....but Rush...")
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To: Mister Muggles

Unfortunately, America’s NOT lookin’ so “FREE” anymore.
_________________________

Yes, we are like a spoiled child wondering why we are now slaves to mama and papa.


7 posted on 07/02/2009 9:57:35 PM PDT by unkus
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To: rahbert

Thats why they have a low tolerance for fireworks. If you want to go make loud noises, take your guns to the range and celebrate your freedom to bear arms. Far more meaningful
on the 4th in my opinion...
________________________

We used to have garden hoses at hand and didn’t shoot off fire eworks where fires might start. We used common sense and then went out to shoot our guns...and it wasn’t on a Range.

You’ve lost your Common Sense.


8 posted on 07/02/2009 10:02:19 PM PDT by unkus
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To: unkus

Most of California has lost its common sense. We have no rain from June through November so it gets really dry really quick. Our climate is not conducive to having summer fireworks.


9 posted on 07/02/2009 10:11:46 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Riding the Korean Wave, one Bae Yong Joon drama at a time!)
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To: c-b 1

Yep. And when the SHTF, there are going to be people in trouble.


10 posted on 07/02/2009 10:12:18 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Tamar1973

Most of America has lost it’s common sense.

Time for the Survival of the fittest.


11 posted on 07/02/2009 10:21:21 PM PDT by unkus
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To: unkus

I am in Florida and have purchased enough fireworks to blow up North Korea.July 4th,Agenda Go to Tea Party go home b-bq ribs,shoot off my fireworks with my cop buddy across the street,drink beer and remember how lucky are Country is to have those brave souls back in 1776.


12 posted on 07/02/2009 10:21:39 PM PDT by Canes101
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To: JohnRLott

I use to live in Jersey before the great exodus of indigenous peoples. They have a lot of pine barrens and it gets very dry in the summer. A tender box. There seemed to be forest fires every summer and some to close for comfort. And that was without being started by fireworks. Common sense has to prevail in some places.


13 posted on 07/02/2009 10:23:09 PM PDT by smellmygunpowder
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To: Tamar1973

>> Our climate is not conducive to having summer fireworks.

Same here is the mountains west of Denver. Several years ago when it was REALLY dry in the hills, we had two idiot teenage brothers firing bottle rockets into a vacant pasture near our house. It started one hell of a grass fire - about 5-6 acres burned. There were some 15-20 neighbors fighting it with shovels by the time the volunteer Fire Department arrived. The mother actually had the nerve to defend them. Jerks. They were never charged, but at least the VFD chief scared the hell out of them.


14 posted on 07/02/2009 10:27:13 PM PDT by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
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To: smellmygunpowder

You are completely right,Luckily we have been bombarded by rain this year.I can remember a few years back,they had to postpone the NASCAR race in Daytona because of the brush fires.Good point


15 posted on 07/02/2009 10:30:57 PM PDT by Canes101
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To: JohnRLott
This issue is badly distorted by the media. A search of newspapers found over 300 news stories in the last year warning that fireworks could be "deadly" if used improperly. But the facts don't show sparklers and bottle rockets to be much of a public menace. Eleven people died in 2006 from the use of fireworks. The average from 1999 to 2006 was just over six a year.

If people would limit their fireworks use to the holidays it wouldn't bother me. It does, however, when they think they have to shot the d@*# things off every other day. Animals don't understand what the noise is from. As a friend told me, vet bills for a horse torn up by barb wire aren't cheap.

16 posted on 07/02/2009 10:40:08 PM PDT by Razz Barry (Round'em up, send'em home.)
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To: Canes101

I am in Florida and have purchased enough fireworks to blow up North Korea.July 4th,Agenda Go to Tea Party go home b-bq ribs,shoot off my fireworks with my cop buddy across the street,drink beer and remember how lucky are Country is to have those brave souls back in 1776.


You’ve got the Spirit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


17 posted on 07/02/2009 10:41:38 PM PDT by unkus
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To: unkus

Yep, lots of them.


18 posted on 07/02/2009 11:00:28 PM PDT by c-b 1 (Reporting from behind enemy lines, in occupied AZTLAN.)
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To: JohnRLott
Hummm - fireworks is fun

Fireworks is dangerous, and in some places illegal. Wanna know why?

On June 2, 1996, a small wildfire was ignited by fireworks in the Miller's Reach, Alaska area. On June 7th the President signed a Disaster Declaration for the Miller's Reach Fire. By June 15th the fire was considered under control. Approximately 37,366 acres burned and 344 structures were destroyed. Luckily, there were no causalities.

I'm thinking fireworks should be left to professionals. But, that's just me.

19 posted on 07/02/2009 11:16:17 PM PDT by ASOC (Who is that fat lady? And why is she singing???)
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To: KoRn

We used to have firefights using roman candles, and used sling shots to launch cherry bombs.


20 posted on 07/03/2009 1:27:49 AM PDT by Cobra64
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