Stop with the fireworks already! (Tampa, Spring Hill: rent, living in, law)

[Spring Hillian]

I will take you up on the bet.

Originally Posted by floridagirl777

I am willing to bet that if I asked the kids in my neighborhood WHY they were shooting these things off, they wouldn't have a clue. They just enjoy fire and explosions. And while I haven't seen any bonfires started in my neighborhood, the kids DO have guns.

My family and I will celebrate the 4th with sparklers and the LEGAL kind of fireworks, and we will go watch an amazing professional display. I do believe in remembering our country's independence. Again, I'm not against celebrating the 4th with fireworks. I just think it needs to be done LEGALLY and not for days before and after until all hours of the night. There is nothing wrong with this attitude.

Frankly, I'm a little shocked that some of you think it's OK for minors to shoot off ILLEGAL fireworks into all hours of the night when it isn't even July 4th.

[chevyck1500]

Me personally, I love making the drive to Alabama, where they sell the fireworks that really go boom, when they go on sale. I live in a part of Flordia where the only legal fireworks are the ones that sparkle, not boom. But just an hour north, in Alabama, you can buy basically 1/8th a stick of dynamite as a firecracker (AKA M-80). I’m not rich by any means. We do just fine spending about $100-$200 on our fireworks. We don’t just shoot them on the 4th. We shoot them the entire week because we have them. As long as you’re doing it safely (and I’m not even going to begin to say that I shoot them safely) there shouldn’t be much cause for fuss. Fireworks are not that loud, and if they are, you’re too old. The sound system in my car alone gets louder than most of the fireworks we shoot off, and as another person mentioned, concerts get deafening loud a lot more than fireworks. Part of the reason is that with fireworks, much like gunfire, yes its a loud noise, but its over in seconds (or less). Concerts, air planes, and other things like that (including your common home lawn mower) all exhibit decibel levels that can cause deafness, with prolonged exposure, and each recommend that you wear hearing protection.

As for neighborhood kids shooting it of throughout the night, yeah it can be annoying, but it’s usually only one week in July, and one week in December/January for new years. Yes they shoot them off throughout the night. They are kids. What do you expect? Hell, I’ve been shooting them since I was probably 7 years old on my own. I’ve had bottle rockets blow up in my face (because I was holding the stick with my teeth – on purpose). I’ve shot roman candles and bottle rockets at friends. Growing up, we used to buy $20 worth of bottle rockets alone (usually about 1000+) and we have large bottle rocket wars where the objective is to hit the other person with the rocket. I’ve had other exploding firecrackers blow up under my shoe. I’ve thrown M-80’s into ponds and watched them blow up like depth charges. I still have all my 10 fingers and my 10 toes. The worst accident I have ever been in involved my motorcycle.

Fireworks and their use are not dependent on age, social class, or education level. A person with a PHD in nuclear physics can blow a finger off just as easily as a 3 year old with a working knowledge of a child-proof lighter. Bill Gates and the hobo just down the road begging for change all enjoy fireworks. Just because I currently have a high school education (I am starting college this fall) doesn’t mean that I’m more inept to wanting to shoot fireworks. I come from a high income, well-to-do family, where both of my parents are college graduates, and we have shot fireworks for every 4th of July and New Years that I can remember, and usually buy the very large mortars and invite our friends over. If we still have any left over, we shoot them for special occasions and birthdays too. It’s a way to celebrate.

As for the pollutants? If you live in a big city, you have a lot worse pollutants than a little exploded gun powder and sulfur. Sure, it creates smoke, and sure it kind of stinks, but if you compare the amount of smoke a very large professional fireworks display creates, it’s really small compared to the amount of air in the area. The smoke dissipates extremely quickly (usually within an hour or so), and frankly, I don’t think many study’s have been done on the negative side effects that fireworks has on our planet. As it is, the amount of fireworks being fired across the entire United States, and the total pollution that they produce is very small compared to the amount of pollution our cars produce. I have this feeling cows (which produce methane) are destroying our ozone faster than fireworks are.

As for the military, I think it’s awesome that they get to blow stuff up on a regular basis, and think that adds to the ambiance of a place. Getting to hear and feel the raw power of the explosions in and of itself is almost a turn on. When a bomb is exploded 40 miles away and your windows rattles tells you that America aint playing around. I’d love to actually go to where they are setting them off and watch the explosions.

[sinatras]

For those who don't know what they are talkin' about, here's a recent article from Orlando Sentinel which states that "most fireworks are illegal for consumer use in Florida".

Florida fireworks laws Q&A: Questions and answers about Florida's fireworks laws - Orlando Sentinel

Also, a simple Google search will reveal that due to the fires and dry conditions, thousands of cities (and a few states) are banning fireworks. Another simple Google search will show that many states have measures to ban fireworks being considered. This is due to long-term drought conditions, unnecessary deaths (and injuries), fire hazard, and pollution.

Indiana is just one example:

Enforcing the fireworks ban - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

It seems like many states have been in severe drought for years. These states are smart to ban fireworks and prosecute those who use them.

[Spring Hillian]

Yes, typical mindset of this forum. People are presented with facts and figures and they still can't see beyond their wild observations. It seems to me Rezfreak posted more than "a handful" of examples. Go find some where it does not happen and then you can prove your comment. What made you leave your well educated and higher class living to come to FL?

Yeah, only high school grads or less enjoy fireworks.

Originally Posted by user8

Oh so you throw out a handful of examples and that means it happens "everywhere."

Typical mindset on this forum.

I've lived in many cities and never seen this occur until now. Not saying it never happens but I'm certainly not foolish enough to assume that it never happens anywhere.

Maybe it's just that the places I've lived are generally (before now) well educated and higher class.

[sinatras]

Whether you love fireworks or hate fireworks, I think it's something that will eventually be completely outlawed, except in controlled events. Interestingly Disney World recognized that fireworks are a source of pollution and all their parks now use "environmentally friendly" fireworks.

Disney’s Fireworks | GreenCupboards Blog

[floridagirl777]

Originally Posted by Spring Hillian

Keep trying.

Nah. I'll pass, thank you very much.

[floridagirl777]

From a newspaper in Orlando:

What kinds of fireworks can I use legally?

The short answer: not many. Fireworks generally approved for use by consumers include sparklers; small fireworks that emit colored smoke only; and "glow worms," which burn in bright colors without exploding. The state fire marshal has a full list, including brand names, at Sparkler List.

"These are the only items consumers without a permit can legally use," said Nina Ashley, a fire marshal's spokeswoman. Other, more high-powered fireworks are permitted only for industrial use or by professionals in public displays.

Again, all personal preferences aside, the kind of fireworks that the minors in my neighborhood set off are NOT LEGAL in the state of Florida.

But obviously some folks don't care if something is legal or not. If they like it, they'll do it. I guess it's naive of me to expect people to obey the law.

[Spring Hillian]

Lots of things are illegal in this country. Speeding is illegal. You don't ever drive over the speed limit?

Originally Posted by floridagirl777

From a newspaper in Orlando:

What kinds of fireworks can I use legally?

The short answer: not many. Fireworks generally approved for use by consumers include sparklers; small fireworks that emit colored smoke only; and "glow worms," which burn in bright colors without exploding. The state fire marshal has a full list, including brand names, at Sparkler List.

"These are the only items consumers without a permit can legally use," said Nina Ashley, a fire marshal's spokeswoman. Other, more high-powered fireworks are permitted only for industrial use or by professionals in public displays.

Again, all personal preferences aside, the kind of fireworks that the minors in my neighborhood set off are NOT LEGAL in the state of Florida.

But obviously some folks don't care if something is legal or not. If they like it, they'll do it. I guess it's naive of me to expect people to obey the law.

[Keeper]

If you buy bottle rockets and other fireworks you have to sign a statement saying you are using them to scare birds away or for use by a railroad IIRC.

I totally understand where I lived we had the same problem. For weeks before and weeks after the 4th of July, the kids would set off fireworks during the day and night. We would set off fireworks with our grandkids and neighborhood kids on the 4th. We were done no later than 9 PM.

I enjoy them as much as everyone else but not for weeks at a time. You have every right to be upset IMO when they keep it up for weeks at a time.

I suggest you call your local law enforcement if they keep it up especially late at night.

[user8]

Originally Posted by Spring Hillian

Yes, typical mindset of this forum. People are presented with facts and figures and they still can't see beyond their wild observations. It seems to me Rezfreak posted more than "a handful" of examples. Go find some where it does not happen and then you can prove your comment. What made you leave your well educated and higher class living to come to FL?

Yeah, only high school grads or less enjoy fireworks.

Facts and figures? Rez posted a few single comments from a general discussion forum. Remind me how a handful of comments equates to EVERYWHERE.

Oh that's right, it doesn't, because anyone who generalized that microscopic example into meaning "everywhere" is clearly delusional. You know all about that, though... well that or you're doing your normal daily trolling.

I have found many places it doesn't happen, as I already mentioned and you conveniently ignored to suit your reply. Coincidentally, the people in said places were generally of a higher intelligence than your average knuckle-dragging Floridian.

Hey, if you're cool with idiots lighting off fireworks on your street for a week or two, at all hours, potentially causing damage to your house, car, yard, street, neighbors, etc. that's fine. As has been shown there are plenty of low-grade citizens who feel similarly.