A Cautionary Tale
From the "Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should" dept.
Boy howdy, I get it. Things that go BOOM can be thrilling objects of amazement and awe.
The recipe:
Take the Fourth of July, add a pinch of political sesquicentennial-ization, fold in some fireworks from the sales tents blooming like mushrooms around the city and you’ll have a perfect environment for lots of “joyful noise.”
It’s all well and good but things got out of hand in a hurry back in 2017 when the Iowa legislature relaxed the rules concerning 4th of July fireworks. The urge to blow stuff up mixed with the urge to “throw back a few” resulted in the images of which you see below.
I can’t really fault long-suppressed Iowans for taking advantage of the changes in rules but of course, some folks went stark-staring crazy, with fireworks that seem to have been leftovers from an assault on Fallujah.
Witness what happened when loosened fireworks restrictions ignited a thrill-seeking frenzy which, in one case, resulted in near-tragedy.
(I knew we were in for a long evening when one neighbors’ “high-altitude rocket” didn’t quite make it into the stratosphere:……..)
….the next morning told the tale…..
Some might want to rethink their boozin’ an blastin’ strategy for the Fourth. The question: Is $50 worth of fun worth the $thousands in damage that might result?
Not trying to be a killjoy here, but for the sake of community, I don’t recommend consuming a fifth before seeking to light up the night on the 4th.
…..They moved away shortly after the incident…..
Enjoy your holiday with family and friends. Please just be sure to show a little empathy for the kids, the veterans and the pets.
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A couple of years ago, I watched a “so-called professional“ put on a show and watched as debris rained down on rooftops of homes all around us. I was just waiting for something bad to happen.