I vote to ban all fireworks.

The pop-pop-crack has started. This is the worst day of the year at the Haneberg household. Our 4 dogs and cat are all afraid of fireworks.

And they are not alone. The toll that fireworks take on animals is immense. Pets panic and run away. Many never get back to their families. The local wildlife is stressed out too. This is young chick season for many bird species and I imagine this is tougher on their tender ears.

There are many ways to celebrate. Let's stick with the fun food, music, and such. Ban the fireworks.

And let's be honest. The people who buy lots of fireworks are not rejoicing about America's independence as they set off hundreds of dollars worth of explosives. They just want the thrill of blowing things up.

Houses burn down, people lose limbs and lives. Why do we continue with this stupid practice?

Gotta keep this short and check on my dogs. When the bangs get close, they physically start to shake. It is very sad.

Comments

[Mike Sansone]

I'm with you on this one. Drives our little Lucy (a terrier mix) nuts and it twakes two or three thunderstorms to calm her down from those.

[Joey]

I agree also. Not only for the sake of the pets. I think that a lot of war veterans out there could do without the restimulation.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Joey - Wow that had not occurred to me, but I can imagine that reliving bangs and booms could be tough. That's for adding that perspective.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Fireworks in highly busy residential areas are hazardous to everyone's health. I live in downtown Milwaukee, with brand new condos and old buildings all WAY too close together. I woke up yesterday morning with a Roman candle the width of my muffler less than 50 feet from my car. How nice is THAT!?! Not only that, but my apartment is less than 30 feet from the same candle. Thank heavens I'll be moving soon.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yep! That's a problem, too. We had a few things going off across the street and I worried about sparks being blown.

[Scott Ahlsmith, CTC]

My dogs love the Disney movie "Eight Below." We watched it three nights (July 2, 3, & 4) in a row to cover-up the pop-pop-crack. I suspect the dogs were hoping for a different ending from each screening and for Old Jack to survive at least once, but the diversion lasted long enough to make the fireworks a non-event.

People buy and ignite fireworks for the same reason that people add glass-pack mufflers and enormous sub-woofers to their cars. They fear no one will notice them.

My rant is with our municipal government that insists on spending my taxes on such nonesense.

Our tap water contains radium and our schools need repair, but our Fourth of July Celebration is consistently voted "Best in the County." Someone needs to lose their bid for re-election.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Wow - yes, Scott, that's another thing, the cost! What good could come from the money if spent otherwise (or used to pay down our debt)?

[April]

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more on this one. I LOVE fireworks. I have many good memories of summer nights, blankets on grass, snacks, patriotic music on the radio, and best of all, fireworks showering down over us as we "oohhh" and "ahhh" with the crowd. Ahhh...

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yea, I have some good memories too. The first time you own a dog that shakes from fear or meet a child who has blown off his hand, you might change your mind. I don't say that to be shocking or extreme. I understand that I am in the minority and that most people associate fireworks with good memories.

I would just like us to consider other, less destructive ways, to celebrate.

Outlawing individual foreworks would solve over half the problem. In my neighborhood, we have jerks who start several days before the 4th and don't stop until a few days after the 4th. And because there is so much going on, it is tough for police to enforce. If we had a no tolerance policy it might help.

[Tim]

regrettably, this matter is not up for a vote. suggest writing your congressman instead...

your willingness to vote shows an unfortunate lack of understanding of the american government. indeed, people cannot simply whimsically cast votes about for whatever purpose they want to, but must wait until matters are properly put on ballots in their respective voting districts.

until such time as this happens, your vote will regrettably not be counted.

regards,
tim

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yea, Tim, you took my words a bit too literally. Although I am sure that my knowledge of the American government is less than it should be, my comment here had nothing to do with the voting system.

Thanks for weighing in.