Time for a reminder about fireworks: Inside the Seattle city limits, they’re off-limits — yes, even though you can buy them a stone’s throw away in White Center (they’re legal in unincorporated King County and fireworks stands were allowed to start selling them as of yesterday). If you plan to buy some and fire them off where it’s legal, note that you’re only allowed to do that on the 4th of July.
While I agree with you, at least this only happens two nights a year (4th and New Years). I’m always amazed how you can see amateur fireworks from horizon to horizon if you have a high perch.
I hate amateur fireworks, they turn me into a total curmudgeon. They’re dangerous, they scare the hell out of my pets, and they’re a fire hazard. M80s and bottlerockets do not belong in a neighborhood late at night. Go see one of the big professional displays!
Thanks for the parental reminder. Just the kind of post that keeps this blog vital and interesting.
Boo-Hiss. Fireworks are no different than anything else. If you use them responsibly and are halfway intelligent, they’re fun and don’t cause any harm. I look forward to lighting a few off this year!
I’m with Lauren on this.
I think I’ve heard it argued in the past, that the law is just another of those “Nanny Government/trying to protect me from myself” things.
No, you moron, it’s NOT. It’s to protect my apartment building (used to be my house when I owned one) from being burnt to the ground by the stray bottle rocket set off by your drunken hiney!
Mike
I’m with you on this one, Mike. When I was a homeowner, my next door neighbors, who were normally intelligent, law abiding citizens, would gather the family together at their house, drink all afternoon, and then run around the neighborhood having bottle rock fights…in everyone’s yard. House…you may be responsible, but most out there aren’t…not when it comes to this. You might change your tune if I introduced you to my firefighter friend.
Hope you all have a great, safe 4th :)
When we were wee-little boys my older brother and I damn near burned down the entire town of Wilson Wyoming tossing firecrackers into the…ahem….bone dry Sagebrush and Indian Paintbrush. Dumb, and dumber were we! I thought my grandpa was going to tan-and-hide us he was so angry, but of course he didn’t. At this stage of life I am always relieved when it rains around the Fourth as here in North Delridge it might as well be WW III what with all the fireworks going off.
now there’s the problem , Mike. An adult MIGHT be responsible, but put these “safe and sane” fireworks in the hands of a 13-16 yo “brain damaged” teenager (most are at that age – lol), it’s spells disaster…:) glad that grandpa didn’t harm you…hehe
Hey House,
The problem is there are a lot of people who aren’t “halfway intelligent”. They’d be lucky to make it to “sentient”.
If only people did confine themselves to two nights a year. (Robert) I hear booms already. And there are always episodes for several days after the Fourth. This time of year reminds me once again to be grateful I don’t live in Baghdad.
well, Jiggers and House…if you’ll pass on your respective addresses, I’ll send all of our area fireworks freaks to your places, since you don’t mind them…deal? ;-)
I’m a highly intelligent person who has in the past enjoyed large explosives and has almost burnt down a forest and a neighborhood while “having fun” with fireworks and I wasn’t even drinking. It’s called disturbing the peace, if you want to blow your hands off and piss off your neighbors with illegal fireworks be prepared to pay the price.
We spent a very long evening in a hospital emergency room several years ago on the 4th of July. It pretty much turned me off to the holiday permanently (my husband had a mountain biking accident). It was what I imagine a M.A.S.H. unit must be like: hordes of injured people screaming out in pain, in various stages of intoxication. To say amateur fireworks are fun and don’t cause harm is pretty naive. Not to mention that it scares the hell out of our poor pets.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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