It wasn’t many years ago that Michigan banned Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets and the like. Then the law changed and suddenly you could own and fire off everything short of a nuclear missile, which scared enough dogs and ticked off enough people to force lawmakers to limit fireworks use to around national holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day and the like.
The Fourth, of course, of course, is nearing quickly. Where do you stand on the personal fireworks issue?
Image credit: VasenkaPhotography
I like fireworks. Shot off far away from me. Done by actual pyro-technicians who know what they’re doing. “Ignite and get away” is a fine warning label, but not always effective.
I love personal fireworks but think we’d be better off going to back to the lame ones.
Agree. Love a big show, but no need to endanger anyone/thing for the thrill. I feel like this is a law that puts the wants of one before the rights of others. I don’t choose to set fireworks off because I don’t like the risk to my family or property, but my neighbor, who lives within feet of me, has the right to put my house/trees/self in danger just because he likes the adrenaline rush?! That makes no sense.
apparently my neighbor’s think Father’s Day counts as a national holiday! There were some deafeningly loud ones being shot off about three doors down on Saturday and Sunday.
My neighborhood too!
We could hear fireworks going off for about an hour last night, haven’t figured out what holiday it is and why on a Monday when people need to get up for work? I guess its true, laws are merely suggestions.
They have been going off nightly since the first warm night in Flint.
They have been shooting them all night, and all day, since the first warm June
night. Some just went off now. I am glad I don’t have a sleeping baby or terrified pet.
Speaking for the dogs of America. Ban the big bangs at private residences.
And could we get it over in one night instead of spread out over three days in all the little villages.
Ever hear of the Big Bang Theory? We dogs just can’t take it more than one time, once a year. It’s ruff!!
Legalizing big fireworks was one of the first things our philosophically-sophisticated conservative Republicans did when they took over the state government. The other early supremely important USA-saving law they passed was allowing motorcyclists to ride without helmets.
Two dopey shallow laws. We still have terrible roads and school systems and poison water, but, thank goodness, we can shoot off killer fireworks and let the free breeze blow through our hair on the open American road.
These Republicans are low-hanging fruit. Vote them out!
Seriously hoping they are all voted out
so we love our new neighbors, refugees from Yemen. Damn, they saw their house destroyed on CNN. Now they want to be American, you know, blow shit up till midnight. They seemed real confused when we shared that that wasn’t acceptable. They’re just trying to fit in so it’s very revealing what others outside our culture experience about us. Others seem to see us as destroyers, personified in our vengeance on July 4th. My vote is calm it down and take a closer look at history…our own in particular.
The number of injuries from fireworks has not risen. The recent motorcycle data is overstated and not true. Progressive wanting to protect people from themselves because of a feeling that something is ‘bad’ ‘dangerous’ ‘not healthy’ when they don’t poses facts. Yes staying at home is safer then leaving it. A house cat lives longer then a wild cat, but which leads a better life?
I’d say the house cat. it gets delicious meat out of a can and gets pets. the wild cat eats live mice and sleeps under porches.
Got blasted out of bed Sunday night by a huge bang that I swear shook our house. I tend to get a little cranky when woke up in such a mannor!
Manner!
Since the people of Michigan wanted businessmen running the state by voting for them, i’m sure if nuclear missiles, Crystal Meth, and murder made money for the state I’m sure they’d all be legalized too.
Living in the country, I will speak for not just the dogs, and cats, too, but for the large animals ….. Horses, Cows, sheep, llamas, emus, and even deer, wild and some that are legally kept in a protected enclosed compound. There is one within 9miles of us.
What significance do fireworks have to Memorial Day, when we honor those who gave their all for our freedom. Taps and the traditional 21-gun salute, but not fireworks for 3 days. Another point, why so many days??
I agree with Karen get it over with in one day, PLEASE!!! Give them an inch, they’ll take a yard. Give them a yard, they’ll take a mile. National Holiday and 3 days ….. Now it’s Fathers’Day, Graduation, birthday, any other celebration……we’ve experienced it, even here in the country.
A Catholic Church burnt to the ground from fireworks landing on roof in Grand Rapids area. Dry grass catches fire easily when these land. We live by Michigan Vets facility. Some residents have a bad time when the fireworks go off, no warning. Bad memories.
Stupid waste of our legislative bodies time.
Fireworks are unnerving to those with mental health issues and especially PTSD. I personally find fireworks to be offensive if used other than on a holiday. If it’s not a holiday the folks blowing them up seem to be incredibly narcissistic in nature…their entertainment is all that matters. The days of common decency and manners are gone.
Thanks for letting me vent as I listen to them going off in the neighborhood. Sigh…
Fireworks are generally safe and noisy. And festive. Of course, anything can be abused. And some folks have no manners. The present restrictions seem sane to me. Perhaps there should be some restrictions for children.
Should we ban automobiles because some of them crash and some folks have road rage? We restrict auto operation from children.
For those of us here in S.W. Michigan nothing much has changed. Indiana has always sold the big ones and no one thought anything about driving there to get the good stuff. At least Michigan is now making the sales tax. That being said, I personally hate that for the 2 weeks before and the 2 weeks after the 4th, my dog will only go outside at 6am.
I just learned there are silent fireworks. http://dogtime.com/trending/33475-town-italy-switches-silent-fireworks-reduce-anxiety-animals
We live in a state with GREAT natural resources. The timber, fields of amber (grain), and 20 % of the WORLD’s FRESH WATER are under our protection in the Great Lakes region. Fireworks are an unnecessary risk This was painfully poignant a few years ago when Historic White’s Bridge was burnt to the water’s edge, polluting the Flat River in Northern Kent County- on the 7th of July.
Some sad sack with a bottle rocket affected thousands who have opened their hearts and brought their wallets to have the bridge area rebuilt.
Can not say I like it, cause people do not follow rules……
AT TIME THE SUPPLY SEEMS ENDLESS.
DOGS HATE IT….
IF IT WERE JUST ORGANIZED FIRE WORKS FINE, BUT THE EVERY BODY AND THERE BROTHER STUFF SUCKS…
SORRY !
I work nights so miss most of explosions that scare the snot out of my dogs. It’s been going on daily for a few weeks in Flint. Of course on Saturday it’s been quiet all day, 10:00pm and I just heard a couple fireworks off in the distance. That’s normal in my neighborhood on a weekend, there’s little or no traffic too.