Why Fireworks?

[kalianna]

I understand, sister sue, and yet... couldn't a few of those extra cops that were up on the mauna patrol HPP or OLE for a few nights and bust a few people? The ones that do it, do it for hours. A few hefty fines and people might back off. It's gotten way worse over the last few years.

[Chunkster]

It's naive to think that only animals are victimized by fireworks. Every year there are injuries to humans (often children) from accidents and in some years, Honolulu emergency rooms are filled with asthma victims choking from the smoke. One police officer friend told me, "All we would really have to do is walk a bomb sniffing dog through the incoming container yards at certain seasons, and they would intercept nearly all of the illegal fireworks." He added that this would never be done because it would be offensive to the "local culture."

[sistersue]

I agree about Mauna Kea police. I think the county could manage to supply more police officers that would arrest people for exploding bombs for just a week or two out of the year! What makes me so mad is that these bullies get away it. It's like they're thumbing their noses at the laws and the police. Because our animals are suffering, we are suffering too because we don't like to see cruelty. How can these "neighborhood terrorists", as I've heard them called, stand to know that all the animals are miserable because of them? What kind of monsters like to torture animals?
There's and old movie called "Mrs. Miniver" that's about families hiding in their bomb shelters in Europe during WWII. It's the scariest movie I've ever seen because it draws you in and makes you feel that you're right there with them, and you know it really happened to countless people. The bombs are going off, the walls are shaking, the little kids are trembling and crying under the blankets and the parents are laying on top of the kids in case they get blown up. Think of how it must feel to the poor animals here when there's bombs exploding because they don't understand that they're not going to be blown up (hopefully).

I guess when someone gets seriously hurt from the explosions or someone hurts one of the perpetrators they'll try to pass new laws?

[sistersue]

This mindless form of "local culture" is just plain animal cruelty. I know for a fact that most "local people" love their animals and are very upset. This exploding bombs problem is caused by the stupid and mean people. It's all over the mainland too.

[leilanidude]

My dogs have not had a problem with fireworks or gun shots. maybe it is because they were trained by their human to not be afraid? In fact, the black lab gets all excited when she hears a gunshot - thinking she needs to go get the bird.

[Chas]

"Cultural appropriation from/of the mainland."
" It's all over the mainland too."

Having lived on the mainland most of my life, I was surprised at the amount and frequency of fireworks when I moved to Hawaii.

Granted I lived mostly in one spot on the mainland, but I remember thinking after the first year, "What's up with all the fireworks all the time here?".

I lived in PA. I never felt the need to go and buy fireworks but I'm pretty sure they restrict what you are allowed to buy.

I feel sorry for the animals...

[ironyak]

Don't worry - the Fire Department has issued a stern warning to "urge the community to be considerate of their neighbors by not using illegal fireworks or explosives." That counts as doing something, right?

https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2019/...fireworks/

[Lanipuna_Gardens]

We will always have fireworks just like we will always have illegal drugs. Why? The ports only inspect a small portion of shipping containers. Prohibition would work if we buttoned up that loophole.

[sistersue]

Someone is making a lot of money from the drugs and fireworks

[terracore]

quote:

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Originally posted by Lanipuna_Gardens

We will always have fireworks just like we will always have illegal drugs. Why? The ports only inspect a small portion of shipping containers. Prohibition would work if we buttoned up that loophole.

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Prohibition has never worked. I'd rather have a neighbor using illegal fireworks than manufacturing and selling them.