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Should fireworks be outlawed?

We can buy and light fireworks here but I personally am not allowed to anymore for good reason. I do like to watch everyone else shoot off theirs and we have a really nice fireworks show over the capital building that I can see from my place. But I'm glad it is only for a short time my cats have been crying all day and won't come out from under the bed.

Happy 4th ...
 
Call me what you will (names never kept me from voicing my opinion before! :D)...

I am really tired of a small, but vocal, minority deciding that because they think something is not "right", it should be illegal for all.

In Maryland, and soon, so I hear, in Virginia, it will be illegal for me to have a cigarette with my beer in my favorite neighborhood bar because some people find it offensive. HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT TELL A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER that he cannot allow people to smoke in his establishment? What happened to free enterprise? If you don't like the smoke, THEN LEAVE! Find a place that doesn't allow smoking. If non-smokers are truly that powerful, then wouldn't the lack of business cause establishments that allowed smoking to close, or go non-smoking?

While fireworks may be dangerous, illegalizing them doesn't make them go away. It seems the government, if they are so intent on "keeping us safe" could be more effective, and more profitable, if they were to remove all restrictions from fireworks, but require a license to purchase them. To get a license, you have to pass a state regulated test on safety and proper deployment techniques. Charge a fee for the license to fund the program, and, badda-bing, you're done. If you violate established regulations (like hours of operation, or age of pyros involved) you pay a fine and/or lose your license.

I have a final word for the government...

GET OUT OF MY LIVINGROOM!!!
 
MotoKid...

I noticed you are currently reading something by Patrick McManus!

As a kid, I used to love his segment in Field and Stream (Leave Laughing?). That guy is absolutely hilarious.

I didn't know he wrote books, though. I will have to get the one you are reading.
 
leckert said:
I am really tired of a small, but vocal, minority deciding that because they think something is not "right", it should be illegal for all.QUOTE]

There's something to be said for what you just said. Actually (as a card-carrying member of the ACLU), I'm glad you just said it.

;)
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StillILearn said:
There's something to be said for what you just said. Actually (as a card-carrying member of the ACLU), I'm glad you just said it.

;)
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Being in California, haven't you seen a lot of this going on? I was amazed to learn that there was a town which tried to illegalize smoking in your own vehicle while within the town limits?

There seems to be a lot of "politically correct" legislation floating around that infringes on our rights. I'm not a conspiracy theorist (yet), but it seems the government nibbles away at our liberty and we say "it's no big deal" or "it's good for you". It can be kind of scary.

What business is it of my neighbor's if I want to look at porn on my computer? (as long as the porn I am looking at doesn't abuse or objectify minors)? I am 100% in favor of protecting the rights of those who cannot protect themselves, but leave us adult, tax-paying, job-holding, law-abiding, economy-contributing citizens alone. I have much respect for those who say "I think that is wrong, so I am not going to participate". I have only disdane for those who say "I think that is wrong, so I am going to stop you from participating."

Unfortunately, it seems to be the inconsiderate and rude actions of others that prompt such attitudes.
 
leckert said:
I have much respect for those who say "I think that is wrong, so I am not going to participate". I have only disdane for those who say "I think that is wrong, so I am going to stop you from participating."
QUOTE]

I'm an ex-smoker, and you know how we are -- I hate to even be in the same vicinity of a cigarette or a cigar. I've changed tables to put distance between me and a cigarette smoker when traveling outside of California, and I love it that I don't have to do that here.

I've had one family member (a smoker) die of lung cancer and another (he's been trying to quit for years) has recently been diagnosed, so I do have my opinions.

I also object to adult pornography on the grounds that it objectifies human beings (usually women.)

That all being said, you are still in the right in this case.

Have you read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" yet?

It deals with just these issues.
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StillILearn said:
Have you read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" yet?

It deals with just these issues.
Click to expand...

I have not read "Reading Lolita in Tehran". Wow. My "to read" list has more than doubled in the short time I have been on this forum. How cool is that?

I must say, especially given your views, I greatly admire your position. Ex-smokers, in my experience, typically have a very "anti-smoking-nazi" approach to the subject! Bravo for your acceptance of the rights of others!

:D
 
Motokid said:
It's 4th of July weekend. Every good pyro's mind in America turns to fireworks. In many states it's illegal to sell, purchase, and set off anything that's considered a firework. In some places, like the state I live in even sparklers are against the law.

I can buy any number af assorted, potentially deadly things in this state and be well within my legal rights. Cars, knives, guns, propane, baseball bats, motorcycles, gasoline.....

Any and all of the above have the potential to permanently disfigure, injure, and kill not just me, but others around me as well.

Some states in this great country of freedom actually allow the sales of fireworks, but don't allow the purchaser to ignite them. What the hell is that all about?

I want to know why I can't buy, and ignite firecrackers, bottle-rockets, roman candles, sparklers, aerial bombs, and other such wonders of pyro-technics...????

Yes people lose fingers,eyes, and hands and other such accidents...and sometimes fireworks are the cause of this, but why is it that fireworks are illegal when so many other things are not?

I want my roman candles damn-it.....

Anybody else feel my pain....?????
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Fireworks should not be outlawed. Sure, some people get hurt by them, but despite what some people would like to think, you can't idiot proof the whole world. We can (and do) get just about everything where I live, and there are never issues with fires or injuries.

And before writing them off as a waste of tax payer money, I would remind people that fireworks employ many people.

I imagine fireworks will eventually go away as patriotism in this country will be outlawed as being politically incorrect.
 
Certainly did not intend to hijack...

The smoking thing was the closest analogy I could come up with.

Sorry.

Please see my previous earlier post in this thread on my views concerning fireworks.
 
leckert said:
Sorry.
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leckert!!!!! never apologize!!!! for one, moto loves a hijack, it rocks his world, and while he does prefer to have that world rocked by nubile young things, he will take it where he can.
secondly, that is what keeps all of this so interesting. eventually, all arguments re: fireworks will die out and the thread will die, or someone will shift gears and it will continue. if someone still wants to post on topic they can and the topic will shift again.

hijack away my friend. :)
 
Well, as I am no longer young (though younger than MotoKid :p), and certainly would never be confused with "nubile", I have been compared to "Thing" ! ;)

I'm still new, and don't want to incur the wrath of the dread moderators!

But now I can just blame you! :)
 
yes you can blame it on me, it will be totally expected. :D and the mods will be the last to be wrathful, guaranteed.


back to fireworks....... :D
 
jenngorham said:
oh honey. you are on the wrong thread. this is the fireworks thread.......
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No...not wrong thread...

Moto said I was hijacking, then I said "sorry", then you said it was okay, then Moto said "Ka-F'n-Boom", Then I said I was providing Moto with a good example of hijacking...

I wasn't trying to get back to the fireworks thread, just providing MotoKid with an example of his hijacking of another thread.
 
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