Posted on 07/04/2008 11:13:20 PM PDT by Marie2
OAKLAND -- The fact that fireworks are illegal and potentially dangerous did not prevent many Oakland residents from setting them off on Friday night.
KTVU's Amber Lee found adults and children playing with fireworks on 100th Avenue. "I spent a hundred dollars for my kids, for the Fourth of July", said Vitalino Acabal of Oakland. He insisted it was just part of summer vacation fun.
A few blocks away, a four year old girl and her 12 year old brother were setting off bottle rockets. Their 15 year old sister said their parents weren't home, but it's part of her family's tradition to set off fireworks. She also said her family buys them legally.
Across the street from that family, two men in their 20's said fireworks should not be outlawed. "I've been playing with fireworks since I was pretty much in diapers", said Jeff Myers.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktvu.com ...
There is no parking to go see the local fireworks display. You have to devote hours to public transit to go see them.
You can't do your own fireworks on you own driveway/pavement.
There's no Independence Day parade to attend.
So, you sit around and eat. It's no decent 4th of July celebration.
This is the one holiday that's associated with fireworks. Fireworks make things special and fun. They should just let people do the safe and sane ones in paved areas IMO.
“The fact that fireworks are illegal and potentially dangerous”
let freedom ring.
Gotta close those straw-purchaser loopholes...
I will hand it to the illegals...their just celebrating the 4th in way that we used too...Stupid liberals.
Most of my company just went home and the rest who are staying the night just went off to bed. I live in a town of about 600 people. We started the fourth off on the evening of the third with a street dance on our closed off main street. The morning of the fourth starts with a parade led by Vets color guard.(the parade goes around twice). Following the parade, we have an ice cream social, races for the little kids, an egg tossing contest, pie eating contest, etc. Most people than go back to their homes where they entertain many friends and relatives who came to get in on the fun. The afternoon is filled with a golf scramble, volley ball tournament, soft ball and horse shoes. Of course, grilling burgers and brats are part of the deal.
In the evening about the time the sun sets, the fireworks start. No organized display, just each party gathering setting off their own fireworks. It went on for a good two hours, fireworks exploding all around us. My own 15 year old nephew brought out about $600 worth of fireworks and put up quite a display. He lives for this every year. We told him that he should go into the service after graduation as a demolition expert.lol
Just a small slice of heaven in a rural community where freedom is still cherished.
btw, there were flags flying proudly all over town. Anyone messing with them would create a whole set of problems for themselves.
Very soon, we’ll have so many onerous laws that everyone will be breaking the law in some manner throughout an average day. This is no longer the land of the free.
There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.Ayn Rand
Thank you, what a perfect quote. I really do have to read more of her work.
Back when I lived in the East Bay as a much smaller child than I am now, we had the same problem. BART was a complete cluster on the 4th, so a friend of our family always had a July 4 BBQ. They were also unusually religious (Lutheran IIRC) for the Bay Area, so it was kind of neat to see very well adjusted people in an otherwise maladjusted part of the world.
No illegal fireworks in my neighborhood last night. Not even the traditional flurry of celebratory gunshots from the nearby low income neighborhood.
Hard rain hit around 8:00 PM.
The managing partner of the law firm (defense) that I work for asked another attorney today if he had the “illegal fireworks” ready for his kid. You know things are bad when attorneys say things like this.
If you lived in El Dorado county, CA, you’d think differently. Every summer we sweat, not so much the heat, but the fire danger. I thank God that fireworks are illegal in this county.
“Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against . . . We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted ... - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”
- Ayn Rand
Sounds like my pal, Uncle Ellsworth.
Ye Gads!!!
Wrong book . . .
I love fireworks. Thankfully all sorts of crazy stuff is legal in SC.
Very soon, we’ll have so many onerous laws that everyone will be breaking the law in some manner throughout an average day.
You just described California. We have so many laws noone knows what they are.
Throw a dead battery in the trash here and you are breaking the law.
Meanwhile, there are 27 fires burning in CA. Is there not one person left in CA who gets it???
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