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Light the Fire rally inspires faith in area youth

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Friends remember homeless man found slain behind Edwardsville Kmart

<p>For those of you tempted to ignite aerial fireworks as part of your Independence Day celebration, we offer four good reasons to reconsider.</p><p>1. It&#8217;s illegal. Pennsylvania law forbids anyone without a display permit issued by a municipality from launching fireworks. Translation: no bottle rockets, Roman candles, fire crackers, silver salutes, mortars and other powder-filled products that go <em>ka-pow!</em></p><p>You can, of course, purchase legal options for your backyard festivities. They include, according to the <a href="http://www.psp.pa.gov/public-safety/Pages/fireworks-safety.aspx" target="_blank">state police&#8217;s Web page regarding fireworks</a>, &#8220;ground and hand-held sparkling devices,&#8221; &#8220;toy caps&#8221; and &#8220;novelties,&#8221; as defined by the American Pyrotechnics Association.</p><p>Even so, many child-safety advocates and others suggest that you skip the self-lit sparkler exhibitions entirely and instead attend a sanctioned community fireworks display. You can get your <em>ooh</em>- and <em>ahh</em>-filled moments at public shows such as Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s annual extravaganza in Kirby Park. The city&#8217;s event is set for Monday evening.</p><p>2. You might lose a finger. Or an eye. Or your hearing. As evidence, we could direct you to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission&#8217;s <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/" target="_blank">fireworks-related chart</a> depicting the &#8220;most injured body parts.&#8221; Hands and fingers account for 36 percent of injuries, primarily burns, according to the commission, which created the hashtag &#8220;FireworksHurt.&#8221;</p><p>Or we simply could remind you of the mishaps incurred last July 4 by two players in the National Football League. In separate incidents involving fireworks, the pair lost a total of three fingers.</p><p>Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul returned to the game despite his severely maimed right hand; the other player retired.</p><p>3. Your fireworks&#8217; blasts potentially pose a nuisance &#8211; or worse &#8211; for people in the neighborhood, including combat veterans.</p><p>Individuals coping with post-traumatic stress disorder might find your Fourth of July tradition unnerving. That&#8217;s especially true if the pops, whistles and bangs occur unexpectedly in the days, or weeks, surrounding the actual holiday. Phantom Fireworks, based in Youngstown, Ohio, sent a letter to customers and others, asking them to be sensitive to the situation. The company &#8220;suggests that those who intend to shoot consumer fireworks in a neighborhood should contact their neighbors to let them know what they plan to do,&#8221; according to the letter.</p><p>A nonprofit in Evansville, Indiana, started an &#8220;Explosion of Kindness&#8221; campaign to alert more people to the effects of fireworks on certain veterans. The group provides vets with yard signs that read: &#8220;Combat veteran lives here. Please be courteous with fireworks.&#8221; For information, visit <a href="http://www.militarywithptsd.org/" target="_blank">militarywithptsd.org</a>.</p><p>4. It bears repeating: It&#8217;s illegal.</p><p>Violators of the state&#8217;s fireworks law risk having their merchandise confiscated and getting hit with a fine. Why spoil an otherwise spectacular holiday? Leave the pyrotechnics to the pros.</p><style>
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Our Opinion: Fireworks shows belong in hands of the pros