That right is only reserved for free citizens who live in other free states.
Posted on 07/04/2008 2:56:57 PM PDT by Eric Blair 2084
Lis and Robert Billingsley — retirees, volunteers and proud American Legion members — said they had exactly one word to describe sales this holiday period at the fireworks stand they run here for the Legion.
“Lousy,” said Ms. Billingsley, speaking almost in unison with her husband. “Thanks to the TV and the fires they are putting on the TV, it’s the worst year ever.”
Hundreds of blazes have ravaged sections of parched California over the last two weeks, burning more than 500,000 acres, destroying homes and other property, and costing the already budget-challenged state more than $50 million in firefighting expenses.
Fearing that more fires might be sparked by errant pyrotechnics, a number of towns and cities have imposed a temporary ban on the use and sale of fireworks, even of ordinarily legal so-called “safe and sane” fireworks, roughly defined as those that do not fly, move or explode. (Except for use by licensed technicians, bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, M-80s and the like are already illegal under state law.)
Those bans have meant headaches for people like the Billingsleys, who are out of harm’s way but who depend on fireworks and people’s enthusiasm about them to raise money.
Official Fourth of July fireworks displays have also been shelved in several cities, including Folsom in the Central Valley, where more wildfires erupted this week.
Police forces, including the one in this beachfront community about 100 miles south of San Francisco, have declared “zero tolerance” policies toward amateur pyrotechnicians. Those caught with illegal fireworks are subject to arrest and hefty fines.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
That right is only reserved for free citizens who live in other free states.
What are you talking about. It’s totally legal to light them off in California. I’ll be setting off several hundred dollars worth in a few hours.
sometime I wonder what else is left to be burned after all these years, but then it’s one huge country.
I may be going off on a real shaky limb here but could it be the fires in Ca. possibly a bit of divine wrath due to the Ca. Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage? Just a thought thats been impressing my mind lately and I;ll leave it at that to share!
Typical ignorant NYT reporter. Folsom is in Sacramento County, which is in NORTHERN California.
Depends on the county.
Santa Cruz and Riverside - no way.
Well, fire season in California is the forth season.
Winter spring fire and fall.
The voters of California voted to approve a ban on gay marriage by 62%. Not sure why the Lord would bring down wrath on 37 million people because of the actions of 4 judges.
That’s fine, but the state hasn’t outlawed them as the preview poster suggested.
previous
You are correct.
So far in Riverside County (middle of no where) the only people group who can have fireworks are the Indians and they are shooting them off on the 5th.
Go figure.
There are all kinds of “safe and sane” fireworks for sale in Southern LA County....away from the hills. City of LA bans them....people in the Northern County go to Ventura County (Moorpark) to buy them.
On a side note, I havent heard ANY illegal stuff so far this year. Usually you will hear firecrackers, skyrockets, M80s in the days leading up to the 4th....but I havent heard anything in Burbank (where it is illegal also)
Perhaps I’m totally wrong about it...with the freakish out-of-season storms that brought lots of lightning and no rain
just adds to the possibility in my mind. In any event prayers for those fighting it and may it end quickly!
Thank you!
Happy 4th!
(be careful with those fireworks...wouldn't want you to be another statistic.)
I thought it was riots, fires, earthquakes, mudslides.
Not in all of CA.
I also believe the penalty for arson should be death.
You’re a true American Patriot!
Defying the repressive authority is what this country was founded on.
there are 5 new fires in So Cal in the past couple hours.
Malibu
Beverly Hills
Santa Clarita
Cajon Pass
San Timeteo Cyn (I10/Redlands)
It seems that the whole state should be burned up by now. Half a million acres is a lot of land, right?
Turns out it’s a circle about 31 miles in diameter, about 0.5% of the state’s total area. Nothing to sneeze at, that’s for sure, especially if your house or business burned. But really not that big.
The big problem is the sheer number of fires that are burning.
I've spent the last few months ripping out all the damn commie energy devices from my new house that code requires in new home construction. They now have curly light bulbs that don't unscrew so you have to replace the entire recessed light fixture to get back to normal bulbs. I'm about 10 down with another 10 or 15 to go. They also have these automatic wall switches in each bathroom that are supposed to turn on and off the lights by themselves but never work right. I had five of those to rip out and replace. I feel like taking all this enviro junk and throwing it in Al Gore's front yard. And don't even get me started on the low flush toilets. I'm on a well with a septic tank. Who cares how much water my toilets flush?
Dude, you’re my new idol.
All I’ve done is throw hundreds of beer cans in the garbage instead of recycling and drive around in an SUV.
I’m happy to report that I just walked back home from the next door neighbor’s BBQ and there are at least 34 houses within visual range who are launching fireworks from their backyards.
There’s illegal fireworks going off all over the place around here in Woodland Hills. It sounds like Saturday night in Fallujah outside my window as I write this.
When I was a kid, and you could legally buy “safe and sane” fireworks, you rarely saw illegal fireworks. Now, with everything outlawed, there’s “unsafe and insane” everywhere. Now there’s a great bit of public policy, eh?
I did hear some as darkness fell....there have been a number of brush fires started tonight...the worse in Irwindale which claimed at least one house
I like to throw diapers into the recycling can. "You guys want to pick through my garbage? Go right ahead!" I drive a 2007 4-door F250 with a 6.8 liter V-10 that gets 14 mpg and my wife drives a 2005 Excursion with the same 6.8L but it only gets 12mpg since she drives it around town. I like to keep my thermostat at 70 on really hot summer days.
It depends on the city.
We need 100 million more citizens like you in America, and we can guarantee freedom.
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