Those of us who are told not to make a stink about it because, "It's only one day," (as if complaining is unpatriotic or unneighborly) know only too well that the violent noise waking us up in the middle of the night lasts, not just one day but at least 10 days, and often, through out the summer.
If loud fireworks are illegal in Michigan, why don't more people just call the police? Because nothing happens and every year the fireworks displays get louder and longer. Why does nothing happen? According to the Leelanau County Sheriff, the person lighting the fireworks fuse must be caught in the act. This make the law hard if not impossible to enforce.
What can we do?
1. Call the police every time loud and or colorful fireworks are set off. This will help set a public record that there is a problem.
2. Call your state representative and ask them to help change the fireworks law. The person responsible for paying the fines for lack of permits to display, transport and store fireworks should be the home owner, landowner, taxpayer.
3. Make this a public issue. Write into newspapers, letters to the editor, call into radio shows and let your voice and story be heard. People are way to silent on this topic. Just complaining to the check out lady at the local food mart will not effect the change we need.
Share the info in this blog (see previous blogs as well) with friends, neighbors, people in the media, your state rep. and sheriff. Most people do not know of the domestic pet, wild life and environmental damage caused by fireworks.
4. Don't visit your neighbors in the middle of the night. I've done that and it only gets me more angry as I head over to their property. Approaching neighbors who are shooting off fireworks, (partying and probably drunk,) puts you in danger as they tend to respond with greater anger.
Yet, they do need to know that their actions affect others. Just 3 days ago I yelled very loudly over the fence, "Those fireworks are illegal, stop shooting them. It's after 11pm!" The noise curfew is 11pm. They responded back, "F.... you!" I did not, I'm sad to say bless them but responded in kind. They were silent for a few minutes then quickly shot off what I assume was the remaining lot. I have not heard them again from that property.
Remember, it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. We have been cursing the darkness way too long. But we are not powerless.
Not long ago, it was the smoker who had the right to determine the air you breathed. Now those of us wanting the natural, healthy state of clean air have the power.
The same will be true about fireworks. Soon, the beautiful, quiet, healthy state of nature will win hearts and minds and be the law. When that happens a few years down the road, we will wonder, "What were we even thinking shooting off fireworks?"
