Citizens for a Safer Florida, Inc.

Citizens speak out!!!

Jun 23, 2008

Standup & B Counted says...
Jun 22, 2008 5:15:55 pm
Have you ever seen a child that has been hit by a bottle rocket or reached out for those pretty sparklers that spray all those beautiful arcs of white and wound up grabbing a rod that will give them an instant 3rd degree burn? Well I have! In my emergency nursing career, I've seen many injuries that were caused by the sheer stupidity of someone who "thought" they were providing entertainment for themselves, their children or their friends. Eyes are lost in this foolish game too. It all boils down to the fact that they are illegal to set off if you are not trained in pyrotechnics. Hopefully, it will never be your child that I am having to comfort and you I am trying to calm down. Not to mention that you will then have to get off your bucs for an emergency visit (and those are a lot more expensive than a vet), as well as the guilt you will have for exposing your child, friend or spouse to a preventable injury. For those of you that compared it to thunder... that is not done by man and cannot even be compared to fireworks that are set off by someone who does not give a hoot about their neighbors!

As far as I am concerned, as soon as the fireworks start I am going to inudate the Sheriff's Department with calls to come and stop it.



nhrabigblock502 says...
Jun 22, 2008 6:37:53 pm
1. I am a parent who?’s seven year old child was burned 20% on New Years Eve, not to mention the skin that was removed from the donor sight to repair the other wounds! I do NOT own a horse and I do not compare my animals to my children. I can honestly say at first hand that no amount of fun, can justify the pain that my child has endured nor the scars that will last for a lifetime! This was suppose to be just one night of fun and celebration, and I would give my life if I could of prevented what happened to my child. Nobody child or adult should have to be punished this way! You cannot imagine what I have seen or been through! You could break every bone in your body and it would never hurt as bad as a burn! We did not intend for this to happen, we went to a party to have a good time. We had no responsibility in purchasing the fireworks or as I refer to now as dynamite. Things can go so horribly wrong and your life can change in a blink of an eye, no matter how American you are! If you have ever known a burn victim personally, you could careless if you ever see another firework again and that does not make you less of an American!

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

Seeking Quieter Fourth

As a resident of Hillsborough County all of my life and having lived in the Brandon area since 1963, I am requesting the county commissioners take a position against the elaborate neighborhood fireworks.

What started off many years ago were firecrackers and sparklers. Now the neighborhood fireworks equal many professional displays.

I can sit on my lanai in Fish Hawk and hear explosions that sound like bombs and see starbursts that look like the Brandon Towne Center fireworks.

It is time for all of our elected officials to put aside the almighty dollar and think of the safety and tranquillity of their constituents.

Other Florida counties have taken the position of no fireworks.

I am hopeful that this matter will be addressed. If it is beyond the county commission's capabilities, maybe it is time for an elected county mayor.

JEAN L. VAZQUEZ

Lithia

Commissioners, Listen

I hope my county commissioners got some sleep Friday night, as I didn't.

Calls to the police were answered by weary voices that had too many calls to respond to already. I suggested that they swing by our commissioners' homes and wake them up to see firsthand what 91 percent of the voters were mad about.

My dogs were scared and my birds were in a tizzy - between 2 and 3 a.m. I thought I was living in Beirut. Saturday I was tired and my dogs finally slept. My birds were so upset they threw out the eggs from their nests and one broke his neck in the panic.

Shame on all the commissioners for bowing down to the fireworks lobby and trying to pass the buck on responsibility. Voters will hold them responsible next election, so they don't need to depend on another massive voter turnout of 15 percent to keep those jobs.

CRAIG R. McNEES

Tampa

Better Ways To Celebrate

Regarding "An American Tradition" (Letters, June 30):

While zealous and well-spoken in defense of her position, it is my opinion that the letter writer misses the mark badly in her suppositions.

She states, "Fireworks are an American tradition, an event of celebration, a way for patriotic Americans to say we love America, we love the freedom living in America allows and part of that freedom is the right to use fireworks in our celebrations." Does this imply that those who choose not to use fireworks are somehow not patriotic? For my part, I have chosen to say I love America by having served in the Armed Forces. Additionally, I am unable to find the "right" to use fireworks in either the Constitution of the United States or that of the state of Florida. In fact, Florida State Statute 791 would seem to criminalize such behavior.

On a more personal level, I also have memories of trying to calm panicked pets as fireworks were illegally used with impunity by neighbors who obtained fireworks through the simple fraud of signing a form stating they were for agricultural purposes.

DAVID COSTELLO

Dade City

7/15/08
Still Hearing The Noise

After a search, I can find no place to determine how many arrests were made or citations issued for fireworks-related incidents. When I called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office I was told that it is impossible to find that information. If it is illegal to use fireworks for recreational purposes, and it is the case that thousands - maybe tens of thousands - of people do so, you would think that there would be numerous arrests.

In my neighborhood the fireworks began on June 27 and have not finished yet. Some people even set off loud boomers well into the early morning hours. Why is it that those yahoos have immunity and the rest of us citizens have no recourse, since the Sheriff's Office refuses to uphold the law?

It is time for our county commissioners and the state Legislature to pass laws and ordinances to outlaw the sale as well as the use of fireworks by private citizens.

JOHN STEFFERUD

Brandon