Fireworks absurdity

[altivo]

I don't get it, never have, never will. The idiot neighbors are trying to set the woods on fire with professional grade rocketry that is utterly illegal for them to possess or use.

In other news, I planted a second crop of lettuce, spinach, arugula, cilantro, and chard today, between rain drips.

Oh, and Argos has signed on for Le Tour de Fleece.

Comments

[drelonek]

In my case I'm fairly surrounded by houses and my attempts to sleep for work last night were somewhat thwarted by constant fireworks for hours on end.

[altivo]

I agree. That's part of a wider problem though. People generally have no consideration for others when it comes to noise levels, regardless of the time of day, the location, or the kind of noise. Where I live, it can just as easily be loud music or bad mufflers, or noisy motorcycles or snowmobiles traveling in large groups at 1 or 2 am.

[heavens_steed]

I'm not sure if you know what "Roman Candles" are but just in case you don't, they are basically long sticks you hold in your hand and they fire 10 different bursts ignited gun powder which are projected to about 50 feet or so, like a small cannon. I actually think they are kind of cool but not as cool as the guys across the street who were having a war with them at my sister's block party :P I'm sure at least some of them were drunk. While firing at each other they almost hit other people and there were a lot of kids around.

And I guess that's why they are illegal in Oregon. You may find it hard to understand why people buy illegal fireworks but I find it harder to understand why they even have such laws to begin with when so many people people just ignore them. Having a law that is neither obeyed nor enforced is not really a law.

[altivo]

Because the problem is so widespread, and social attitudes fail to put pressure on offenders for the most part, enforcement usually focuses on sales and shipments of fireworks. I have no idea how that is handled out there, but Illinois used to be pretty strict about it. Unfortunately, some neighboring states have no regulations at all so people go there and smuggle the stuff in.

Your Roman candle example shows why these laws were passed. If the product only endangered the person who was dumb enough to play with it, that would be bad enough when it gets into the hands of children; but as used in practice, it often is a risk to bystanders, property, children, AND the immediate user.

The news here had several bad accidents reported that involved licensed professionals and public displays. It's a bad situation all around, every year, but trying to do something about it would be about as popular as outlawing football or television. Very difficult.

Fireworks Epic Fail

[saythename]

On the way to work on 07/04/09 I had to stop at the red
light that leads out of Wrights Corners. Theres a car
dealership to the right and a Sheriff's car was sitting
there with lights out. I thought it was a check point
or something like that 'cause of the holiday.

As I waited at the light a house about a block up started
using HUGE, looked like almost pro-grade fireworks for
about fifteen seconds.

The light turned green, I kept to the speed limit strictly
and the Sherrif's car kept its lights off and followed
me slowly and pulled into the houses driveway.

Oh boy, thats gonna be in the papers.

Epic Fail!

Re: Fireworks Epic Fail

[altivo]

Unfortunately, the sheriff here has little interest in enforcing laws that might be "unpopular" with voters. In Michigan, when I lived there, enforcement was taken much more seriously. Even so, there are just so many people scoffing at the law in this respect that it's impossible to do much but get the most flagrant offenders (like the one you just described.)

[hellmutt]

Over here the main firework nights are 31 October and New Year's Eve. The effect on pets is, of course, much the same.

We've generally gone to public displays rather than buy our own. A friend of mine buys a case of fireworks for 31/10 and goes to his family's remote cottage (in the pretty Lake District) to set them off.

[altivo]

Guy Fawkes has always seemed like a really bizarre celebration to me. So you celebrate a failed attempt to blow up Parliament by trying to blow yourself up instead?

Attempts to focus on public displays here have failed to reduce the incidence of private violations and accidents by much. Every year we hear about deaths and destruction caused when errors or malfunctions occurred at public displays being put on by supposed professionals.

[cabcat]

How about moving to Samford Valley :), no guns, no fireworks (except for special days) No snow, and room for the horsies :)

Unfortunately we do have stupid people too so I can't guarantee anything.

[altivo]

But I *like* snow. I might be able to move as far as Canada, but at this point in my life, moving to the other side of the world has no appeal, even if I have friends there.

Besides, as you say, there are stupid people everywhere. Probably even in Antarctica...

[cabcat]

Actually there wouldn't be any at Antarctica :)
They'd all have frozen to death or starved or something similar.