Scott’s Scoop AKA Scott’s Scorn – Column by Scott Dinger
I am going to be a bellwether in this opinion piece. Take it in its entirety. Do your own research on the facts presented (links below) and consider a little introspection on the subject. Feel free to contact me with any position you have in alignment or contrary to me. So now, I’ll light the fuse as it were, come what may, after all, my argument is only valid if it is contradictory to the conclusion to be false if all the premises are true.
Fireworks are an interesting element of our society. A love/hate, polarizing subject. Currently, I am on the hate side of it. With few exceptions, fireworks are illegal. Kootenai County and all its incorporated cities within have laws that prohibit fireworks. The laws, if you take the time to carefully read them, are fraught with nuances of contradiction.
All of the local laws seem to prohibit their use by the citizen, but enable the business entities (capitalist ventures) to obtain what amounts to payola and be granted a “use permit.” The permit allows said capitalist to buy and use the same items forbidden to the rest of the citizenry. In other words, the peasants have to go to certain areas and humble themselves prostrate to observe the big, illegal, unsafe “displays.”
These vague or grey area laws are the most frustrating rules for the lawman. After all he (or she) is the one that is tasked with enforcement of any and all laws. My old patrol sergeant used to fondly quip, “if a law is on the books, its worth enforcement.” Currently, our local law enforcement does very little to enforce any of the fireworks laws. Why? If fireworks are illegal, why not enforce the laws? Why are illegal fireworks allowed to be sold within the boundaries of the county? Read the laws. Buy, sell, possess, transport, and use are all words written within the laws. Capitalism! Because payola!
The current nationwide stats show that fireworks generate over $2.3 billion, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association (whoever they are). I suggest that billions more are spent unnecessarily on the after effects of illegal fireworks use. Emergency services are things that we all share the burden of paying. How much money was spent just in fuel alone for emergency responses to injuries and fires as a result from illegal fireworks? The current data compiled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission states that there were 9,700 fireworks related injuries and eight deaths nationally. Factor in 911 operator time, police, firefighter, and E.R. staff needs, some of which are tax subsidized, and the costs to all of us are immeasurable.
What about the effects of illegal fireworks use on people with PTSD? It is a real thing. At what cost? What about the effects of illegal fireworks on animals – pets, livestock, and wild animals in proximity? At what cost? These are all valid aspects that contradict the fireworks use argument. I am old and do not hear as well as I once did. Nor do I suffer from stress disorders. I know those who do, and as a student of all of creation, I have seen how other sentient beings are negatively effected. Have you?
Lets add a little alcohol and fervent patriotism, shall we? Fireworks originate in China, not America. The fire-crackers were thought to disperse evil spirits. Sparks, explosions, loud booms, and smoke are all aspects to ancient Chinese culture related to omens. How did these origins muddle with our own beginnings? The rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air? Fun fact: 460 tons of fireworks were set off this year.
Do the laws need a re-write? Should enforcement occur without exception? Think about how the judicial system is compromised. Cop shows up because Scott was overcome with the rebellious pride of his founding fathers. As such, he felt it necessary to celebrate his patriotism and is subsequently arrested or issued a summons for the crime he committed (based on the written law). Now standing before the judge, who either attended the big corporate fireworks show or had a personal front yard celebration, is by premise alone hypocritical in meting out punishment.
Did you see those warning signs posted advising all peasants that fireworks are illegal and “strictly enforced.” Calls into the local law enforcement agencies were not returned. I also tried to get local stats from area hospitals and fire services about fireworks related injuries and any fires caused by fireworks. None of the entities returned calls at the time of this writing. Because of the lack of responses from these entities. I am officially coining the phrase “firework enforcement fatigue” as a real thing. Having been in law enforcement, a lack of enforcement on any issue is a sign of fatigue on the very foundation our society relies on. Look at the lawlessness in our country, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Founding father George Washington said, “My first wish is to see this plague to Mankind, war, banished from the Earth; & the Sons and daughters of this World employed in more pleasing & innocent amusements than in preparing implements, & exercising them for the destruction of the human race.” He was not promoting fireworks. It is an interesting subject to ponder how our American culture clings to the use of fireworks, which are from a completely different culture altogether and not tied to our patriot heritage – do you agree or disagree? Yes, our culture was founded upon a disobedience to excess governance. Does freedom and liberty need to make my ears ring? We already had a revolution. I suggest its time for a revival of our principles and either enforce the laws as written without exception or repeal them.
Rights, responsibility, entitlement, governance? Fireworks in our culture is a fascinating subject that is confounding to the logical person. My open ended questions are: What tragedy awaits our Kootenai community before the laws are enforced as written without exception? What would we be as a community if the laws were repealed?
For your continuing thought process:
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks
- https://www.cdaid.org/files/Police/fireworks_brochure.pdf
- https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coeurdaleneid/latest/coeurdalene_id/0-0-0-3668
- https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/kootenaicountyid/latest/kootenaicounty_id/0-0-0-1833
