it would not be so late if we didn't have daylight savings time! But for years people having been doing this anyway so why not make it legal and Mi. will get sales tax off it. My only concern is the dryness this summer, sure hope everyone takes cautions to that

Lake Orion Police say don't contact the police, contact your legislators....that is what we need to do, but do it locally. Rochester Hills passed a law allowing fireworks the day before a holiday, the day of a holiday, and the day after a holiday...that's it! Orion, Oxford, Addison, Oakland, etc. needs to enact something similar immediately. Not only are small children and pets traumatized every night for the last several weeks, we are using our law enforcement resources investigating fireworks complaints rather than stopping and fighting crime. The weeks post-high school graduation are some of the highest for drinking and driving offenses, yet our police officers are called to stop the booming of pyrotechnics, rather than patrolling our streets and watching out as people leave open houses and parties. A definitive law would change the demand on our resources, while it limits the disturbances to pets, children, and others. (By the way, the elderly are adversely affected as well. The agitation rate and nervous, upset behavior after the booms has increased dramatically in area nursing and private care homes.) Furthermore, from what I've witnessed, a majority of the fireworks set off over the last several weeks, have been from the parking lots adjacent to the tents selling the fireworks; so it's advertisement, not people celebrating a holiday- (which isn't here for 2 weeks yet.)

I don't have a problem with it but then again I love fireworks. I do think that people shooting them should do so in a safe and respectful manner. They should stop shooting after 11 PM on weekdays and 12 PM on weekends. They also need to refrain from shooting them off in neighborhoods where the fireworks are exploding over somebody else's house. By all means they should also clean up their mess when finished. If they abuse their new found freedom it will only be a matter of time before it gets taken away again.

As the article states, there will be an adjustment period. Given that this is the first 4th that all consumer (not "commercial" as the article calls them) are legal, folks might go a little overboard because of the novelty. But that will wane with time.

Most people who "hate" something they are not familiar with are really in fear of that thing out of lack understanding. Same goes for fireworks. Instead of putting effort into banning fireworks usage on days other than those protected by the new law, how about putting effort into educating the population about what consumer fireworks really are and their safe and considerate use? Yeah, it's a crazy idea, educating people, but it's radical enough that it just might work.

I agree with Wendy. I live on the lake and the neighbors' homes are approximately 10 feet apart. I just spent $70 on Xanex at Donaldson Animal hospital for my 2 dogs. I pick up fire cracker debri off my lawn every morning. People are shooting off fireworks all day. I can't even take my dogs for a walk! I feel as if I am living in a war zone and must hide in my house to escape the noise and schrapnal. I also don't think Orion Township needs 4-5 firecracker sales tents on Lapeer Road. The law needs to be changed - people should be at least 100 feet away from neighbors/other homes, no minors shooting fireworks, etc. I believe that Royal Oak also has an ordinance that only allows firecrackers the day before, day of a holiday, and day after. This is what the Village of Lake Orion and the Twp. need. I don't understand what the thrill is to hear a big bang. Those residents who enjoy this should sign up for the military and go to Afghanistan!

I enjoy the annual fireworks - no wonder donations are down this year. Idiiots, I mean people, are foolishly spending money on their own noise makers. I am definitely contacting the politicians, including the Governor. I'm sure they will feel guilty once people start blowing their hands off! Ask me how I really feel!!!

Robin... more people overdose and die from xanax every year than are ever hurt by fireworks. More people are killed by dog attacks every year than are ever hurt by fireworks. Perhaps those things should be banned also. After all, I am extremely afraid of dogs and seeing your 'precious little ones' coming down the street at me causes far more panic than any aerial salute ever could. I don't understand the need to keep dogs... I think even the safest dog is capable of hurting someone, particularly if the people around the dogs do not have the proper education or understand how to treat them. I realize that its your right... its legal to take xanax and keep dogs in the United States... who am I to keep you from doing something perfectly legal just because I don't approve or understand it?

Robin, i am sure you would feel more than guilty if one of your dogs bit someone, just like a fireworks salesman would feel guilty i someone was hurt by one of their items. Accidents, in all shapes and forms happen everyday. more kids are injured or killed in highschool sporting events, are you going to write a letter asking for those to be banned as well? Perhaps while you are writing that letter you will be so kind as to ask your municipality to forfeit the addl tax funding these sales are generating for the econemy, or the added 6% safety fee that goes directly to fire, EMS, or training and education for the authorities. Educate yourself about the items in which you are discussing.

I get it that kids and teens love to shoot fireworks. When I was fourteen, I would have been thrilled if they had legalized fireworks. But that was forty years ago. I outgrew my interest, as I out grew loud music, getting stumbling drunk, and so on. These are adolescent things done by adolescents. That being said, anyone beyond the age of 25 that shoots off fireworks has a regressive adolescent mind set and needs to grow up.

This does not include trained pyrotechnicians that do this for a living.

How about pyro hobby groups or clubs? Would that qualify? Has it ever occurred to you that people are just into pyro? Would you tell amateur race car drivers to grow up and stop driving fast because its for teens? How about someone lets say a comic book collector who is 50-60yrs old? Should he just grow up? They are for adolescents after all!

@Wendy, Regarding your comment "Furthermore, from what I've witnessed, a majority of the fireworks set off over the last several weeks, have been from the parking lots adjacent to the tents selling the fireworks; so it's advertisement, not people celebrating a holiday"

> I am helping my son out at one of the fireworks sales tents in Lake Orion. There has been not a single shot or display lit at this site, nor at the tent that is right across M-24 from us. Many, if not most or all, of the folks operating these tents are experienced with pyrotechnics as well as very sane and sober about their use. How would it be in our best interest to flout the legal rule for the operation of these sales tents. If in fact you are aware of a sales location where fireworks are regularly being used within 300 ft. of the tent location, I'd suggest that you contact the State Fire Marshall's office to report the violation. You will not only be doing the right thing in terms of public safety, you will also be doing a service for all of the legitimate sales operations which are careful to follow the rules.

Please remember when commenting on the article that everyone is welcome to their own opinion and has a right to express their opinion without being ridiculed. Thank you!

Hi, Robin - Here are a couple of sentiments expressed way more elegantly by these guys than what I would come up with:

"The Second [Fourth] Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America - I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever" - John Adams

And, as to protecting us pyro fans from ourselves and protecting the recent of decent moral & mature society from us - "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - CS Lewis

Steve~~

Great! Make things legal that are dangerous in the name of FREEDOM!!! Wonderful!! How about Pornography? Should we take the restrictions off that? Or how about seatbelts?? Who are they to tell me to buckle up? And why can't I have a beer while I am driving? It takes more than one to get me impared! And why Can't I smoke anywhere now, even at OUTDOOR venues? What, like the wind won't carry it away! And what about this K2 stuff they ruled illegal cause some parents wouldn't watch their kids. Why should that hamper my right to buy it?! Not to mention seatbelts, and texting while driving,... Why do you think all those guys died the the wars? Why, it was to protect the right of 35 year old adolescents to act like bullys and blow off fireworks on neighborhood streets..
Pyro fans?? Clubs?? Jesus, man, you need a woman really bad....

Got a woman, deffinately dont need "jesus" and i think you are xonpletely missing the point here. They are still regulated. 18yrs and older, just like your cigarettes that kill over 2,000,000 a year wirldwide.... And my proffession is "dangerous" wow! You need to open your eyes to the real picture here buddy. We LOVE fireworks. Period! You like dungeons and dragons and comics, thats great, have fun with it, its your hobby, this is ours! People who shoot pyro should not feel riduculed simply because a few scared and uneducated individuals feel they need to infringe on anothers rights simply so that they are comfortable. Dont like fireworks? Head to California.... Land of fruit and nuts, you'll fit right in. If Robin feels that all who enjoy booms should be sent to war, i guess sending someone to california because they dont like fireworks would be equal in my eyes.

Listening to fireworks every night is LOUD & OBNOXIOUS......there should be restrictions to these things. We do not need to listen to them in JUNE, what does JUNE have to do with Independence Day?.......reading all the obnoxious comments above makes me realize why there are so many bullies in our children's school......look at how the parents are behaving (above) ..... shame on all of you!

yeah what a bunch of whiners! Geez it surely isn't like its the first state to pass the consumer fireworks law? Many other states have done so years ago without changing it back. do you not realize this ppl? Were not the only state to do this?? However common sense needs to be used yes, but it surely isnt the fault of fireworks. Me being a firefighter I think it is great that some of the tax is going to the education and support for Fire/EMS funding. It'll help keep our jobs to! I swear ppl sure need to do there research in the new "fireworks safety act" BEFORE they Whine and complain. Btw Thanks Luke, the Pro shells were great! do your research ppl.

Call me crazy, but I feel my quality of life in Oakland township has been diminished by fireworks going off at all hours of the night. That was not the case in the past. I don't understand why so many of you favor such an intrusion into our lives so that a few can make a few extra bucks around the fourth of July. Michigan used to be a state that stood head and shoulders above many of our adjoining states, I think the Pure part is draining away quickly.