Ban New Years fireworks?

[Barry]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

It is now 00.25 here in England and the fireworks are still going off especially the rockets. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[zff]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

I grew up in Hawaii a 2nd-generation Japanese-American, so I played with a LOT of fireworks growing up. I'd lean towards a ban only because fireworks aren't as much fun to me anymore, and I'd rather have the peace and quiet.

Sure, the kids nowadays won't get to enjoy the same childhood I did growing up, but hell, I never had a Playstation 3.

[Ron Whitfield]

Ban the 5am marathon fireworks!

I've long ago outgrown the joy of bang boom pow, especially when done outside of the legal parameters. Now it's merely a bother to those of us who don't participate, and a real danger to life/limb/lungs/critters/property. The cons outweigh the few, if any, pros.
Add to that the multi-facited legal ramifications, like mentioned by Helen, and the sensible decision is obvious.

[1stwahine]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

PS - Hey Auntie!! I'll be in the area, and we're stopping by for a hug tonight!! Are you allowed to hug civillians while on duty?

Shua! I'm looking forward to hugging plenny celebrants tonight.

Auntie Lynn

[helen]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

Wednesday's Advertiser had this story about 2 people being arrested after trying to sell aerial fireworks.

As far as enforcing the laws it is kind of difficult to do, I think anyone attempting to fire off an aerial is not going to stick around long enough to be caught by the police.

[turtlegirl]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

I voted that everyone should be allowed to use fireworks because there's no "undecided" option. I'm really undecided.

I hate the trash and noise associated with fireworks, but the state has laws about noise and trash, so if HPD chooses not to enforce them on holidays, the beauty and peace of everyone's neigborhoods will suffer.

The possibility of fires and injury is scary. So called safe fireworks make no difference - I had a firecracker go off in my hands when I was 15, while I was being supervised by my whole family one 4th of July. When I was 27 I got hit in the face with a bottle rocket in Mexico. I'm still not sure if that was one of the ones I was lighting, or one from down the beach. Thankfully I had no serious injuries from either incident, but what if I had to live with one less thumb or eye?! I don't light fireworks anymore!

Still, though, I LOVE to watch fireworks, especially the really big sparkly ones. At home here the neighborhood has been festive with fireworks, and whenever I hear one that sounds like it might be pretty, I run outside to watch.

Sidenote - as a kid we always had to spend part of the day afterward cleaning the yard until every trace of fireworks was picked up. And my old roommate from Hollywood would always spend "fireworks holidays" with the fire extinguisher in one hand and his cellphone to CHP in the other. A bit extreme...

PS - Hey Auntie!! I'll be in the area, and we're stopping by for a hug tonight!! Are you allowed to hug civillians while on duty?

[Menehune Man]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

All the tons of illegal aerials just proves the unsatisfactory security of our ports.
The stuff isn't made here but does get here.

Small kine comparison:
Cigarette smokers can't invade the space of others with their smoke while firecracker smoke disturbs many, in even worse ways?

By reading over some HT'ers responses to this, it seems that laws can't be enforced here in Hawaii... so why try?
Did I get that right? Huh?

[timkona]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

Gecko is totally right on this one.

It's the same as the War on Drugs. A ban only benefits the sellers by keeping price high.

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

I could be wrong here, but I don't remember having much of a problem with the illegal aerials until we had a restrictive law on firecrackers.

Too many people didn't want to be limited to a pack of 500, so they went to the black market. Then they found the black market has other goodies .... it's been downhill a lost cause since.

[Da Rolling Eye]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

Legal fireworks, sure, but some legal stuff I've seen are borderline like those ground bloom flowers with report. My thinking is anything that pops is supposed to be limited to only a certain amount of powder, hence the anemic firecrackers we've had for years now. Even the classic Duck Brand has lacked the punch and flash they once had in their glory days. I suppose they got around the law as GBF's aren't classified as a "firecracker".

Illegal aerials, don't get me started. Been hearing them around the block almost everynight since Halloween. Been like this for the past decade+. Dogs are now totally neurotic. Noone bothers calling in a complaint anymore cause the cops always give the excuse that they have to catch the person lighting them. Yeah, whatever officer. Go'way den.

Now don't get me wrong. I love all sorts of privately used fireworks so long as they're used responsibly and only when they're supposed to be used. Unfortunately, there are way too many stupidheads nowdays....on both sides of the law.

Btw, I find those particulate respirators made of "paper" work pretty darned good. Can't even smell the smoke at midnight. The one we have is the 3M 8000 and bought a whole box of 30 from Gaspro for $15. Some may argue that it isn't enough, but I no longer get that "tight" chest, the next morning, from breathing all that smoke for hours the previous night. Other users also report getting good results. YMMV.

[1stwahine]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

We've discussed this topic at length so many times.

It's all in the archives.

Anyways, I say leave it to the professionals. Those who have asthma and other illnesses suffer so much. Especially, the senior citizens who have nobody to take care of them. Children who have asthma like my grandson need to be near their machines.

It's pretty to see the fireworks in the sky. The noise and opala on the streets are terrible. Homemade bombs scare the heck out of me. And the thought of someone getting hurt from it is even worse.

It's a time for change. Burning Kala is not wise at all. Times are hard.

Leave it to the Professionals who can afford to give us a show!

Auntie Lynn

btw: There will be a Fireworks Show at Aloha Tower tonight. And your's truly is working Security. Come see me in my uniform. I look SHARP. Behave. ha ha ha

[leashlaws]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

Ban. But everyone runs afoul of the law for many things anyway. I am always annoyed at the lack of clean up, all that paper and crap everywhere, lazy idiots.

[Nords]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

I think that those of us who grew up outside the state can't believe the danger & pollution that goes on in the name of "culture".

I think that those of us who grew up here are too close to the problem ("tradition", "family") to recognize the inconsistency.

Interesting that support of fireworks generally goes along age & gender lines (younger males) and that few, if any, community leaders or public figures (politicians or celebrities) are in favor of them.

Looks like this problem goes in the same category as marijuana, cockfighting, and shoplifting. Oh, but wait, those don't wake me up in the middle of the night, scare the crap out of me, or make it hard for me to breathe...

[helen]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

For me it's a matter of the amount of fireworks one pops. I don't have a problem if someone pops 10 to 20 of them in a safe manner. Popping a strip of 2,000 of them at time kind of loses it's appeal.

And no aerials unless it's done in a professional show.

[Mike_Lowery]

Re: Ban New Years fireworks?

I'm fine with fireworks and even aerials. The homemade sparkler bombs are what I don't like.