I know that fireworks have been a Fourth of July tradition for hundreds of years. It is interesting to see an outstanding, professionally-produced and executed show. The best ones I've seen have come from orchestral accompaniment, especially when they play "1812 Overture".
Notice I said professional above. This leaves out the amateurs and the fools who want to put on their own show. In Michigan, there are issues with that, not counting the huge injury risk one takes.
According to the law, anything that explodes or shoots up in the air is illegal. This eliminates virtually everything but hand-held sparklers and those fun little "balls" that bounce around & change color. Do we see that in this neighborhood? Absolutely not: bottle rockets are the order of the day. The louder, the better. Not only can I hear a firecracker blast three blocks away, but I can actually see the flash of light from that distance.
Considering I live three blocks from a police station, you have to wonder why they're not going after these lawbreakers (which indeed they are) and collecting money to balance the city's budget. That is not a joke. Why can't a law be forced to any degree when people know the consequences: second or third-degree burns, or even worse?
Perhaps half the fireworks fired off by amateurs are bought in Ohio. In my book, doesn't matter where they were bought; if they're fired in Michigan, that's a no-no. I can even remember back 15 or 20 years when this became the rage in the old neighborhood: half the time, there was no parental guidance for these teenagers, stoned on something, who lit a fuse and teased their friends by remaining in the danger zone until the last second.
They don't even consider the consequences: they just care about showing off. And that's what today's people are doing as well. Now I know it's impossible to nab everyone that does this. But it's not something I would recommend doing. And if the use is blatantly obvious and a policeman is in the vicinity - why not put an end to the amateur theatrics and place public safety first?
Let the Fourth of July come in with a bang. Just be sure the "bang" doesn't involve a body part.
