Fireworks

[Alidar Jarok]

Yesterday, I crossed state lines to Pennsylvania to buy fireworks legally because they're illegal in my state. As soon as I bought them, however, they became illegal to have in Pennsylvania. But technically, I couldn't bring them back home because they are still illegal there so I'm left in a sort of limbo because I can buy them but not have them.

But, of course, it's the fourth of July and you'd have to be a heartless commie not to let me have fireworks, so I just set them off anyway and enjoyed the pretty colors.

Anyway, I guess that brings me to my point. What traditions do you have for the Fourth of July and, if it involves launching fireworks, are they legal to have in your state?

 

[sidious618]

Around the fourth of July I visit my aunt and take her to one of the firework shows nearby. They're always quite spectacular. We went last night and they had some marvelous green ones.

 

[Mallory]

Oregon bans anything that flies, which is a bummer. Washington, just across the river, allows just about anything. Unfortunately, the Washington State Police seem to have adopted a policy that stations a trooper in the parking lot of the fireworks places with the intent of busting anyone who gets into a car with Oregon plates after shopping.

 

[Michael Chris]

The laws are pretty relaxed here, and depending on the fire danger they may be outlawed. Some are illegal, but no one cares. You just go to one of the reservations and buy some awesome stuff.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

It varies by city where I am. They're illegal in my city, but they're legal in the next city over, which is a 5 minute drive from my apartment. It's all a moot point for me this year, since I'm on call tonight, so I don't get to do anything fun.

(I'm in California, in the SF Bay Area.)

 

[Goji]

I used to live up in Seattle, and we could buy very elaborate fireworks there perfectly legally. So when we moved to California, all the "legal" fireworks here paled in comparison and there was really no point. These days we just do a barbecue and relax around the house. Sometimes people come over, sometimes they don't. I like it better when they don't.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fireworks are banned in Omaha. But I've heard talk about overturning that ban.

I don't know what to think of it, really. Part of me thinks that fireworks are just too dangerous and a pain in the ass (not to mention annoying noise pollution), and that professional fireworks displays should be more than enough. I changed my mind, actually: ALL of me thinks that.

I mean, if nothing else, pro fireworks are just nicer to look at. If you have your own fireworks, what do you get apart from maybe one or two explosions and a stupid flash? Real fireworks can last for an hour or more and are often very beautiful - and you don't have to do any work yourself. So what's the downside?

 

[Shazam!]

Only professional displays should be allowed, and even then they should set them all off at once. Fireworks are generally quite boring after a few minutes. The only way a firework display could impress me is if the organiser strapped himself to a hundred fireworks, screamed "last one to the moon is a bender" and then lit the fuses.

 

[Kitty Worrier]

Oregon bans anything that flies, which is a bummer. Washington, just across the river, allows just about anything. Unfortunately, the Washington State Police seem to have adopted a policy that stations a trooper in the parking lot of the fireworks places with the intent of busting anyone who gets into a car with Oregon plates after shopping.

That completely sucks.

I live about an hour from the WA border, and people still manage to get their hands on the illegals. I benefit from it too.

 

[Ward Fowler]

Only professional displays should be allowed, and even then they should set them all off at once. Fireworks are generally quite boring after a few minutes. The only way a firework display could impress me is if the organiser strapped himself to a hundred fireworks, screamed "last one to the moon is a bender" and then lit the fuses.

Well, if they bore YOU then obviously "non-professional" fireworks should be made illegal. I'm glad you enjoy the concept of individual freedoms on Independence Day.

 

[Shazam!]

Well, if they bore YOU then obviously "non-professional" fireworks should be made illegal. I'm glad you enjoy the concept of individual freedoms on Independence Day.

Thanks!

 

[Leroy]

I find it stupid that in some paces fireworks are illegal yet you can get your hands on an assault weapon. They always make laws banning them after some idiot blows their hands off, lighting then running away is a lost art apparently. In my area the laws I think are perfectly reasonable in that anything that launches off the ground or explodes requires a permit and stuff like fountains or sparklers are legal although they are still dangerous just practice some common sense.

 

[sidious618]

only way a firework display could impress me is if the organiser strapped himself to a hundred fireworks, screamed "last one to the moon is a bender" and then lit the fuses.

 

[Timby]

Oregon bans anything that flies, which is a bummer.

Even model rockets? Suck.

In the State of Iowa, while it's illegal to possess or launch fireworks without a permit, it's completely legal to launch any other sort of rocket-powered device, of any size -- as long as it doesn't have a guidance system (at which point it becomes a missile). Go figure.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think the only things they let people use around here are sparklers and those stupid little snake things that come out of tablets.

 

[Mr Light]

Fortunately I live two blocks away from my city park where the fireworks display and festival is held. For such a small town it's a pretty good showing it lasts a good 15 minutes with lots of explosions.

 

[Mallory]

Oregon bans anything that flies, which is a bummer.

Even model rockets? Suck.

Model rockets are OK. Things that go explode at altitude not so much.

 

[mimic]

The State College fireworks are pretty good. Forty-five minutes, choreographed to music, etc.

 

[LNJM906]

They're illegal where I'm at (Southern California, just a smidge north of San Diego), but my folks don't give two hoots. We launch 'em off anyways, always on the lookout for cops.

 

[ed629]

Getting really drunk and setting off a lot of fireworks... like 30 mortars, 300 bottle rockets, a 5 gallon bucket full of roman candles... a brick of 5,000 firecrackers and a bunch of other whizzy boomy things at the end of a 2 hour firework display