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Opinion

Speak Up: Fireworks set off reader conversations

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Every year, conversations about fireworks light up social media platforms like the real thing lights up Arizona’s night skies. Readers across the Valley came out in force to comment on two op-eds in the Independent: Booms, whimpers and wags: Fireworks aren’t a celebration for pets and What Arizonans can do when fireworks cause more fear than fun. Here’s a selection of comments we received on social media:

From NextDoor

  • “Outlaw fireworks.” — Louise Lonsdale
  • “They are a fire hazard! And many cities are turning to drone light shows for the 4th of July and other Holidays. They are pretty amazing without it being a fire hazard and body injuries.” — Theresa Breithaupt
  • “I would suggest getting a loud fan or turn on music really loud.” — Cindy S.
  • “Local law enforcement needs to do their job and not ignore. No aerial fireworks and strict adherence to curfews. 1, 2, 3 a.m. is infantile.” — Murphy M.
  • “Try watching action movies every day with the sound turned up loud over your stereo speakers or home theater system and your dog in the room with you while giving him treats periodically … and they will adjust to loud sounds. My dogs are fine they don’t even twitch at the sound or sight of fireworks ... I’ve done this with rescue dogs, adult dogs and puppies. None of them react to the July 4 fireworks. Let me know in a year if your dog still runs or is afraid!” — Wayne Tom
  • “Every time fireworks celebrations come up all you see is people whining about the pets. Take your pets out of town, drug them up or hold them and reassure them. They are animals and they will be fine.” — Joshua W.
  • “Gabapentin, Xanax, trazadone, vest, TV loud ... nothing helped” — Gina B.
  • “Love the exploding stuff.” — David Gibson
  • “I'm going up north where they have fire restrictions.” — Jerry Lemmens
  • “It isn’t just the noise, it is the fact that people set off illegal fireworks that go up over the roofs and spray down on the house, the yard, and the kids.” — Robyn C.
  • “Law enforcement seems to do absolutely nothing to find those shooting off those illegal fireworks.” — Douglas Ault
  • “Legalized fireworks in a parched dry Arizona is a law that should have never have been executively ordered, but should be voter repealed.” — Everett Allen
  • “In other words; it won’t be pretty but expect multiple explosions until the late night! Daily explosions.” — Victoria Coursey
  • “Hope more people consider going to the Fabulous Phoenix 4th Firework display instead of lighting off their own. It’s free admission, people!” — Tim G.
  • “Take their little dogs to a hotel room and enjoy an AARP or AAA discount!” — Anastasia Grace
  • “Yeah great! The air’s not bad enough, oh wait let’s light fireworks.” — John Graves
  • “My neighborhood is filled with smoke after an evening of fireworks. Just wait until someone’s fireworks start brush fires.” — Steve Pellin

From NewsBreak

  •  “I am afraid my house is going to catch on fire. Some of these fireworks are professional grade that are being lit in neighborhoods.” — I.O.
  • “I wish Arizona banned them again, too many adolescent idiots using them dangerously.” — Nutty Professor
  • “I simply let people celebrate how they want for one evening. Not everything is about me. How you celebrate isn’t about me.” — Andrea Patterson
  • “How about only having professional fireworks that make loud noises. Our children and veterans and can’t forget our animals of every type are getting frightened by the neighborhood loud bangs and flashes. How about stop selling the fireworks publicly that cause just bangs and flashes. Growing up we only had sparklers; we did just fine. We should leave the noisy ones for professional displays. We hear them go off for hours and hours in neighborhoods into all hours of the night. Even a thunderstorm doesn’t last that long. Think about our veterans and yes we have a lot of them that still live with the trauma of war and serving to keep us safe. Stop the insanity of having to have such noise.” — justthinking
  • “I hand it to Deer Valley ... they are having drone fireworks. Less invasive for children, pets, PTSD individuals, pollution, etc. All fireworks should be eliminated ... there are still idiots that set off illegal fireworks and are never held accountable for breaking the law.” — Nascar77

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