Firework ban does ‘no good whatsoever’
Jun 17, 2015, 12:16 PM | Updated: Oct 14, 2024, 9:19 am
A ban isn't going to stop people from lighting fireworks; let's focus on safety, AM 770 KTTH's David Boze says. (AP)
(AP)
Since John Adams originally wrote about the celebration of United States’ independence, it’s been recognized that people would be lighting off fireworks.
Of course, fireworks weren’t called fireworks back then, but the idea was similar.
So when commissioners in a Snohomish County fire district push for a fireworks ban, it’s pretty obvious how things are going to turn out, AM 770 KTTH’s David Boze said.
“Let’s work on reducing the risk, not pretending that people aren’t going to light off fireworks,” Boze added.
Firefighters in District 1 say their workload just about doubles around the July 4 weekend, KING 5 reports.
Commissioners have continued to ask the Snohomish County Council to pass a ban in unincorporated areas of the county. They passed a resolution on Tuesday urging for that same ban.
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A ban isn’t going to stop people from lighting fireworks, Boze countered.
“It does no good whatsoever to ban something when absolutely everyone is going to ignore that law,” he said.
First of all, leaving firework displays to professionals won’t cut it. People want to light off their own, especially those young men — and old men young at heart, Boze said.
Along with that desire to light off fireworks, it’s also nearly impossible to enforce a ban, Boze added. A ban would allow for “very subjective enforcement of the law.”
“Who are we going to fine?” Boze asked. “Virtually my entire hillside was alight last year.”
Even if fireworks are banned in unincorporated Snohomish County, Boze issued this challenge: Record sound outside your house for any two-minute period sometime between dusk and the first hour or two of dark.
“I’ll be stunned if there are a full 120 seconds without an explosion in the background,” he said.
Besides, a ban on fireworks would go against what Adams envisioned for the celebration for the nation’s freedom: “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
