Same old problems over July 4th holiday The
recent July 4th holiday provided more proof of why fireworks should be
banned within the city limits of Shreveport. It also demonstrated that
some people cannot be trusted to obey the law when it comes to the times
that fireworks can be discharged. The law states that fireworks can be
used in Shreveport between June 25 and July 5 with a deadline of 10 p.m.
for setting them off. But at 2 a.m., one could hear fireworks still
being discharged. I had to yell at my neighbor behind me who was still
popping after 10:30 p.m.
It is dangerous when they are being
discharged in residential neighborhoods and are a fire hazard. While the
law says fireworks must be discharged on private property, most times
they are done so in the streets. They upset the elderly and traumatize
pets. But there is an added group which is disturbed – veterans who
suffer from PTSD. Another problem is that some revelers shoot firearms
into the air, which is unlawful.So, why hasn’t action been taken to ban
fireworks within the city limits? Well, city officials will tell you
that there is the issue of persons who make a living by selling
fireworks, and there is the tax money the city gets from those sales.
However, that has not stopped other municipalities and parishes from
banning fireworks.
In fact, eight states ban fireworks altogether –
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and
Vermont. Eighteen states allow residents to purchase and use non-aerial
and non-explosive fireworks. In the other 24 states, including
Louisiana, the laws vary widely. These states permit the sale of all or
most types of consumer fireworks to residents and allow local
governmental entities to set their own restrictions.
Closer to
home, fireworks are banned in the parishes of East Ba-ton Rouge, which
includes the city of Baton Rouge, and Terrebonne Parish, which includes
the city of Houma.
In Ouachita Parish, fireworks are not allowed to
be discharged within the city limits of any of its munici-palities, such
as Monroe and West Monroe.
More municipalities are banning fireworks
within the state. Cities such as La-fayette, Lake Charles, Rus-ton,
Opelousas, Thibodaux,Denham Springs, Gonzales, Donald-sonville, St.
Francisville, Port Allen, Crowley and Abbeville – to name some of them –
have now banned fireworks within their city limits. Fireworks displays
are limited to city-sponsored public shows.Wouldn’t it be a good,
progressive move on the part of the city of Shreveport if the city
administration or even the city council had the courage to propose a ban
on fireworks? It would surely be a popular move with a great majority
of the population, as the number of people who are annoyed by the
discharge of fireworks far outnumber those who feel they have to have
their own fireworks display.The same holds true for Bossier City. There
were apparently problems with the discharge of fireworks after the time
deadline there as well. It’s inevitable. Where fireworks are allowed,
time lines will be ignored.
holidayLou Gehrig Burnett, an
award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years
and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also
served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor “Bo” Williams.
Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be
reached at 861-0552 or
[email protected].
