filed under America
let me have my fireworks
4:53PM ON
06/30/2008
BY
Beth Comery
Flaming balls… can you ever have enough? Rhode Island is one of only five states left with a complete ban on all consumer fireworks according to this refreshing piece in the ProJo by William A. Weimer, president of Phantom Fireworks. Sure he’s motivated by self-interest, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong. According to Mr. Weimer,
The fireworks-related injuries in America have dropped dramatically, and the use of consumer fireworks has gone up several fold. From 1992 to 2006, the actual number of fireworks-related injuries has dropped over 26 percent, while during the same period use of fireworks measured by imports from China has increased from 87.1 million pounds to 278.2 million pounds, or almost 220 percent. Based on injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks used, injuries have dropped an amazing 76 percent since 1992. This is based on information published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
And besides, a Founding Father said so!!!
John Adams, before he was our second president, said in 1776 in a letter to his wife, Abigail, that Independence Day “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade . . . bonfires and . . . illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward forevermore.” Fireworks provide the citizens of this state and this nation a means to celebrate their freedoms.
I’ll even concede the bottle rockets, but I want everything else. And if I see one more idiot local news reporter blowing up a watermelon with what is clearly a whole stick of dynamite, I’ll just spit.
(The item pictured here is from Brothers Pyrotechnics. I doubt that I could ever bring myself to detonate the awesome packaging.)
The Dose reminds you to obey all laws. Contact your representatives about changing this one.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:43PM
Jim Rizzo Says:
You know, I have no problems with smart, safe use of fireworks by individuals. What I have a problem with is shooting them off in the middle of a dense neighborhood (we’ll use Federal Hill as an example) about 6 feet from a house. Federal Hill sounds like downtown Baghdad during the 4th of July. Can’t people get together in a big open space and shoot them off together? Does everyone really need to shoot their own?
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June 30th, 2008 at 10:56PM
JOE BERNSTEIN Says:
When I was growing up in Brooklyn I once saw a Roman candle tip over on the roof of a three story wood-frame tenement and set the building ablaze.Six families were burned out.It was not a very fun night for them.
I liked dropping cherry bombs in the corner sewer opening and seeing the water shoot out across the street.
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July 1st, 2008 at 10:21AM
Eric Smith Says:
No, the bottle rockets must be in. I will never concede them…
Nothing settles settles neighborly skirmishes over unshoveled sidewalks like a few well timed (around 4 am) bottle rockets against the broad side of some jerk’s house. Not that my roommates and I have ever done that. Obviously.
Obey the law, kids.
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July 2nd, 2008 at 5:32PM
Jim Rizzo Says:
@ Joe
I actually had one of those things that comes out of a Roman candle land on my lap and I was a good distance away from it and there was no wind. It burned a hole through my shirt and charred my shorts and my leg didn’t feel too good either.
I’ve got a bunch of idiots in my neighborhood who shoot them off right next to the houses.
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