Of all the national holidays, the one marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence and remembering the struggle of early Americans to establish the freedoms now enjoyed is the most important.

For a country born of war, the “right to bear arms” was a foundational right. However, every year on the Fourth of July, that right seems to be translated into a right to light fuses in suburban neighborhoods, with the distinction obscured by the smoke from fireworks.

Many remember days when the Fourth of July was cause to launch a bottle rocket, light a string of firecrackers or perhaps something with a little more pop. These days are not those days.

There are plenty of mostly minor injuries every year from legally purchased and used fireworks despite caution exercised by users. Illegal fireworks, with their much greater potential for harm, call for vigilance from public safety officials.

Each July 4th holiday period, people using illegal fireworks suffer maiming, sometimes deadly, injuries. Each year, homes are damaged, sometimes destroyed, from the use of illegal fireworks.

Every year, police respond to calls from those concerned about illegal fireworks use. And every year, fire and aid personnel respond to calls of tragic fires and accidents that often involve the loss of body parts, sight or hearing.

Fireworks are a part of tradition but traditions change. If you choose to use legal fireworks, be careful. Better yet, attend one of the many community-sponsored shows and leave the rockets and bombs to the experts.