This Fourth of July was especially unbearable for many of us. With the scorching temperatures, it was impossible to close my windows against the sound and sulphur cloud from private fireworks in my area. The main barrage began on the Fourth at 9 p.m. and did not stop until 1:30 a.m.
Our communities have radically changed over the years. Fewer people live in single-family dwellings. We don’t gather at the family farm or expansive back yard. The destructive power of fireworks readily available for purchase cause ground and structures to tremble, assault our hearing and mental health and can, and have, sparked fires. We must take into consideration the rights and needs of our neighbors. We now have multiple generations of wounded warriors suffering from PTSD and the explosions I heard sounded like gun fire. And our pets, livestock and wildlife suffer as well. Fires are expensive and we all foot the bill for that senseless destruction. And the debris left in the wake of these private free-for-alls is uncalled for. Please consider the pros and cons and if you support a ban on private fireworks contact the governor’s office.
Barbara Cosgrove
Everett
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