Fireworks are important part of community

Costa Mesa Councilman Mike Scheafer has a nice thought in mind when

he suggests that the city phase out personal Fourth of July fireworks

use. After all, it was his neighbor who suffered severe burns from

the explosives.

However, as nice as it is, it’s not appropriate. The old adage,

“One person just has to ruin it for everyone else,” comes to mind. As

mean as that sounds, it’s the truth.

When used as intended, safe-and-sane fireworks will perform their

tricks without hurting anyone.

So the city should continue allowing the sales and use of these

legal fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Scheafer, who as a member of the Lions Club also sells fireworks,

knows how important it is for community groups to raise money through

fireworks sales.

As well intentioned as the councilman is in urging a phasing out,

there are many others in Costa Mesa who will be hurt if fireworks are

permanently extinguished.

Community groups raise much more money selling the fireworks than

they do with most other fund-raisers. These sales are vital to many

groups’ survival.

For them to find other fund-raisers can be difficult. There were

two years in which they missed the Fish Fry. That’s not to blast the

Lions Club and those who worked hard to bring the annual tradition

back to the city, but had they had to depend on the Fish Fry for

funds, they would have been out of luck. The Lions Club, too, must

understand this.

For many, families and neighbors gather to celebrate the holiday

with block parties and await nightfall for the finale -- the

fireworks. They prepare buckets of water, they set the fireworks off

safely, they teach their children the responsibilities of matches and

fire and they laugh and enjoy themselves.

As sad that it is that someone was hurt using fireworks, it seems

that accident could have been avoided. Because of that, there’s no

reason at this point to post the “No Fireworks” signs.