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Fireworks Ring In The New Year ... Noisily

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2008

Updated: 01/04/2008 10:55 pm

Treated To Holiday Noise

What will it take to stop amateurs from setting off fireworks for recreational purposes? Does someone have to be injured or killed?

I think I might have come close to being injured on New Year's Eve. I have four dogs and they had to go out. I usually try to take them out as early as possible - before the fireworks start. This time I was too late.

As we walked down one of the streets in my Beacon Woods East neighborhood, there was a very loud noise, and lights lit up the sky. Then the debris started falling on me and the dogs. They were terrified, and so was I. What if my hair caught on fire? What if one of the dog's coats caught on fire? Thankfully, that didn't happen, but it could have.

My dogs are extremely afraid of fireworks. This year I spent over $300 to try to tranquilize them. It worked for the few fireworks that were set off on Christmas Eve and Christmas night (why fireworks on Christmas of all days?), but not for the big show New Year's Eve.

I spoke to some of the individuals setting off the big blasts, advising them that what they were doing was illegal and dangerous. I'm sure you can guess the response.

I called the sheriff's office a number of times and they said they'd try to get a deputy to the scene. But on New Year's Eve their concern, rightly so, was on stopping impaired drivers.

The state of Florida has said the issue of fireworks will be addressed by a task force, but I've heard that the task force will include three representatives from the fireworks industry. Is that fair? There must be a lot of money tied up in fireworks. It's the only reason I can think of for all the inaction.

I only hope something is done before there's a serious injury or death.

CARYL MELANCON

Hudson

Hopes Sanity Prevails

We have been forced to endure another three or four weeks of illegal fireworks. I have been hearing fireworks going off in my neighborhood since Christmas Eve and expect to hear them for another week or two.

I am held prisoner in my home for that time period in order to safeguard my dogs from cardiac arrest. I have to turn on the air conditioning even in the coldest of weather in order to reduce the noise. It is sickening that just a few should benefit at the expense of many.

Fireworks are illegal to set off and are being sold in Hillsborough County using an illegal process. Some of the sellers are not even requiring the signing of the mandatory affidavit, and why should they, since there is no process to check them?

I have reviewed the drafts that the task force has drawn up, and I believe this is a good start.

I hope you ensure these drafts are signed into law even though the activities in question are already against the law. I would like to have the same opportunity to enjoy the holidays just as everyone else. There are many professional displays available during these holiday periods which can be viewed by all.

As I read recently, there have been many accidents due to consumer fireworks activities. These would also be eliminated. I appreciate your effort in this matter, and I hope that sanity prevails.

JACK HOLDING

Dover

Amazed At Powerful Blasts
As I sat outside on New Year's Eve and listened to the explosions every 20 minutes or so that are way too large and powerful to be bought in my town of Temple Terrace or anywhere else in Florida without a license, I began to wonder: It wasn't time for the fireworks shows, yet I heard them going off every 10 to 20 minutes.

These are large and powerful bombs, many made by junior and high school students, even though they are used as fireworks. Most every high school boy in the '70s learned how to make them and obviously still do.

What amazes me is that as I hear all these bombs going off, two University of South Florida students sit in jail for what is described for the papers by police as materials that never could have exploded.

So why are they still in jail while bombs explode all around me?

GARETH FALES

Temple Terrace

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