Fireworks should be outlawed | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 3:21 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010

To the editor:

Hooray for the story in Saturday’s Record about fireworks and the problems they cause. Unfortunately, many of the people who bring fireworks to the island will never read it.

It was good to hear that our highway patrol will be checking cars prior to ferry boarding, but since we have service clubs selling fireworks it will only slow things down. I hope the day will come that selling fireworks is discontinued.

We too have animals that are terrified when the noise starts. Our tiniest dog hides under furniture, shakes and cries all night until the noise stops. Our only solution is to medicate and hold her, often until 1 a.m.

We have contemplated camping over the Fourth, someplace where fireworks are not allowed. Why should we have to leave home on a holiday to survive? Something is wrong with this picture.

Our friends on the beaches complain about the messes they must clean up after the tide brings back whatever was shot into the water. People rent shoreline homes, bring a gang of people and create chaos for four days and nights. Even people who own weekend homes participate in this activity. One person has the nerve to go from neighbor to neighbor every year asking for donations to buy fireworks for a gigantic display.

Can’t someone just say no? We have a good, safe celebration on the South End and we do not need to bring it to our homes.

Fireworks were being set off on Saturday; this is not celebrating, it’s adults acting like 12-year-old kids, playing with fire, yelling “Look at me, look at me!” Let’s ask that fireworks be put on a ballot and outlawed on the island, for the sake of our peace, quiet, fire safety and the health of our animals. Please.

Donna Lee Vonfalkenberg-Ridley

Clinton