On July 4th some of us from Long Trail Court went into Edmond to watch the fireworks. Despite our attempts, we didn't find a very good view and didn't want to go much closer to the action for fear it would take forever to get out following the show. When we returned home, we lit some fireworks for the kids and went inside the house by 11 PM.
On July 5th, we decided we would shoot off the rest of the fireworks for our kids which consisted of: 11 remaining small mortars, four or five round smoke bombs, and some sparklers. This began at 9 PM.
Why am I bringing this up? At approximately 9:30 PM my wife and friends said that a lady with a camera was driving around the neighborhood yelling at anyone shooting off fireworks. Despite numerous other households firing off fireworks at this time, the lady seemed to focus in on our cultisac. After telling my wife that it was illegal to shoot fireworks on July 5th, the lady then began name dropping deputy sheriff names, and threatening to call them. Now I wouldn't normally have a problem with this (well not too much of a problem anyway) except that before my wife and our neighbors were even involved, the lady had driven up to my ten year old boy and his 9 year old friend and lectured them on why they should not be lighting fireworks. Let me point out that my boy and his friend had permission from both parents to light the SMOKE BOMBS, and it is no ones business to tell my child what they should be doing- much less approaching them in a car in the middle of the night. The other issue I have is that when my wife explained to this lady that it was not illegal to light the fireworks (due to the fact that we are not in Edmond's city limits, or OKC city limits) she continued to argue that it was. When my wife explained to the lady that they were going to finish the fireworks up in just a few minutes and go in, the lady continued to film her and make threats of going to the OKSO, home owners association etc..... When my wife told her she could do whatever she felt necessary, the lady then hollered in front of the kids that she was setting a poor example by smoking and holding our two year old. Well, I have news for her...my wife does not smoke. My wife was holding a "PUNK" to light the fireworks. There was more to this story and I don't want to bore you all with the rest of it. Needless to say the evening was wrecked, our kids were freaked out by the lady and felt like they had done something wrong.
Now I realize that everyone does not like the fourth of July and the fireworks that go along with them. I realize that some people sleep early. I was infact asleep with this incident began because I had to be up by 5:15AM to go to work. Might I also point our that I was next door to where the fireworks were being lit, and I heard more fireworks coming from the north than I did right beside my house. Might I also point out that none of the fireworks were so loud that I couldn't get to the sleep, and even if it did bother me I would be respectful enough to those celebrating at 9:30 PM to put some cotton in my ears.
Let me just say that my wife is in the military and numerous friends of mine are currently in the war defending our freedoms. The fourth of July is to remember and honor our countries independance! I, and others, have the right to celebrate it! It amazes me how sometimes people complain about the most rediculous things. I also question some peoples logic. When the whole neighbor hood is firing off fireworks, what would compel a person to single out two small children? Is it the fact that they are less likely speak up for their rights and defend themselves? Our to point out how rediculous her complaints were in the first place? If someone's intention is to be neighborly and nice when making a request of your neigbors, you don't bring a camera and start filming people while accusing them of being bad parents for letting their children light off smoke bombs. What has this county become?
