Firecrackers

It is always interesting to see how people with good intentions but poor insight or lack of judgment can take a minor problem and turn it into a major problem with their well-intentioned “solution.” A case in point currently in the news is the problem of gunfire on the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and some other national and ethnic holidays.

Years ago on these holidays, citizens who were so inclined used firecrackers as part of their celebration. The “problem” was that a few minor injuries occurred when firecrackers were held too long, exploded prematurely, blew a can into the air which then struck someone, or even caused shrapnel wounds. On rare occasions, more serious injuries occurred, but deaths were extremely rare.

Today we have thousands of dollars worth of damage, severe injuries, and even deaths from guns being fired into the air on holidays. The “solution” being considered now is to prohibit the sale of ammunition for a period of time before problem holidays. The resulting “solution” will be pathetically ineffective.

How about this for a real solution? Allow the sale of small-to-medium-sized firecrackers.

SINCLAIR BUCKSTAFF

Northridge