Fireworks Stupidity

At the point, we live just across the bridgeand river from places where fireworks are totally forbidden. Sparkler and fountain things are OK here, but nothing that leaves the ground. At least to use. What you can buy is entirely something else.

It feels really creepy to have five fireworks stands within a quarter mile of your house. Particularly because there is always some moron like this around, and the cops don't ever seem to show up in time to stop them. This time, someone died.

GLOUCESTER -- A Gloucester County grand jury on Tuesday indicted a 51-year-old New Kent County man on three charges in the death of his 15-year-old stepson following a fireworks accident on July Fourth.

Named in the indictment is Ryland Fleet. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect and using illegal fireworks without a permit. The two felonies carry a maximum total prison term of 20 years. The misdemeanor fireworks charge is punishable by up to a year in jail.

...

Hicks said Fleet was launching tennis-ball size mortar rounds from a homemade PVC tube. The mortar rounds were intended to shoot out over the river and explode in midair, he said.

One of the rounds, however, struck Seomin in the head, fracturing his skull, Hicks said. He said he's still awaiting results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Maybe this county will take the hint now, and outlaw the sale of fireworks for real.