Vancouver WA PD, I am ashamed of you.

J

jonathon

New member
Well, I was reading yesterdays paper and right on the front page was the headline "Vancouver Fireworks Patrol - On the Front Lines of a 'War Zone'"

And the article goes on to say they had a special unit of officers(all with a fireman) that patrolled the streets after the festivities, sifting through remains of fireworks to find "illegal" fireworks. They issued citations to those who were found to have the remains of said fireworks. They also went after people who were lighting off "illegal" fireworks.

The kicker? Firecrackers and bottle rockets!

What a wonderful usage of tax payer dollars. I mean, sifting through garbage to find evidence of "illegal" fireworks is so much more productive that going after drunk drivers :eek: :rolleyes:

I'll scan in the pic when my scanner decides to work... its really quite pathetic.
 
Nothing is more annoying than a bunch of punks torching off fireworks at 3 am..

They had special patrols here in Anchorage too and the noise was quite lessened

WildatimeandaplaceforeverythingAlaska.
 
Theres a difference between picking through garbage to find evidence(and wasting time), and responding to complaints :rolleyes:

Their entire purpose for patroling on the 4th was to catch people using fireworks that were deamed illegal(not because of saftey, but rather we need to protect the stupid people from themselves after all!) in this state, not to protect anyone.

What happened to personal responsibility?

Oh, I forgot, the government is responsible for other peoples actions!
 
Au contrair, personal responsibility ends when it infringes on the public space, to wit: flyin sparks, rockets landing on roofs, explosions at all hours...

And investigating afterwards? Sometimes you need to run after the horse and catch it if you cant lock the barn

WildclichesAlaska
 
They need to go after people doing that. There are several house fires caused by idiots shooting these things off in neighborhoods and such. I wish they would do that here and put a stop to it.
 
I agree with jonathon 100%. There is absolutely nothing that makes bottle rockets and firecrackers more dangerous or annoying than most other devices. Either let all or ban all. I can easily go and pick up devices much louder and annoying--all completely "legal". As for the "bunch of punks" comment... I resent that. Few things make a quality cigar more enjoyable than the leisurely use of fire works. I like to sit back and set off some large repeater and such right from the side of my chair.


Whatever happened to the days when a kid could go pick up a couple strings of firecrackers at the hardware store for a few dollars? Ohh yeah... "safety" happened. If you are the type that approves of the banning of any or all fireworks, do not get mad when I ignore your ranting on the destruction of "freedom". Fireworks are very safe, unless utilized in an irresponsible behavior. We don't ban guns just because criminals use them in armed robberies do we? Cars aren't banned because kids peel out in front of our houses at night do we? We don't ban baseball bats because our mailboxes are bashed in do we? Or perhaps we should? I mean, wood bats are obviously much better for mailbox bashing, and no one really needs a wood bat anymore anyhow. The issue of fireworks is truly one that the "sheeple" cry: "it's for the children".
 
There is absolutely nothing that makes bottle rockets and firecrackers more dangerous or annoying than most other devices
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Except for the fact that they, at any time, are the equivalent of tossing a molotov cocktail or grenade at someones house or property

I like to sit back and set off some large repeater and such right from the side of my chair.
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If ya did that near my home, Id have the cops on you faster than you could puff that cigar

Fireworks are very safe, unless utilized in an irresponsible behavior.
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Yeah thats why the Gruccis blew theselves up...irresponsibility :barf:

The issue of fireworks is truly one that the "sheeple" cry: "it's for the children".
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If it goes boom, it can hurt you. You want to blow yourself up, feel free...do it in a vacant marsh somewhere (so ya wont burn down a forest)...and if it goes boom, it can also hurt me...so illegal they should be. If your kids chose to blow themselves up, Darwin. Just stay away from me.

WilditslikefiringoffagunAlaska
 
Its another case of the city not getting the point.

Yes many of the fireworks are dangerous, personaly I dont think the "illegal" fireworks are any more dangerous then the legal fireworks. When I last bought fireworks in Vancouver WA you could still purchase the mortor type that fired up in the air and other items the sent stuff up high - realy no different then a bottle rocket.

The biggest complaints though were people using them till 2 or 3am and for weeks surounding the 4th. The local police and sherrifs dept simply would not respond to the complaints (understaffed if I remember correctly). The citizens got angry so they (the city police and fire department) formed these "patrols" and spent last year on the fourth warning people about "illegal" fireworks...

Now if they would focus on the complaints - that would have fixed the issue. Instead they go a different route... Keep in mind there is a law about the time of day they are allowed and after the 5th they are illegal period...
 
jonathon,
You've only been here a short time.
This is your first Fourth.
Two "topics" that draw the "wrath of the membership":
- Fireworks.
- Smoking.

Nothing is more annoying than a bunch of punks torching off fireworks at 3 am..
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hehe,,
WildeverypartyhasapooperthatswhyweinvitedyouAlaska,
Fireworks are best after dark...
When does it get dark up there this time of year?

I love fireworks, but treat idiots every year who are too stupid to exercise sound judgement.
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LOL!
"watch this" - said the 53 year old fat guy as he lit the morter shell and it stuck in the top of the tube. Instead of shooting up into the air, it just went "Bloop" and shot up far enough to land in the middle of his shoulder blades (the fat guy had the sense to take a nosedive to the ground when he saw the shell stuck @ the top of the tube),,,,where it went off in a spectacular fashion...




-ruined one of my favorite shirts too with a big ole burn mark....
,,been 4 days now and the burn is healing well..
 
Wraith,

There is absolutely nothing that makes bottle rockets and firecrackers more dangerous or annoying than most other devices.
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Let's take a firecracker (black cat, whatever) that comes on a string and compare it to an M80, which is another type of firecracker. One is CLEARLY more dangerous. Now, lets compare the M80 to a mortar. Again, on is CLEARLY more dangerous.

I think that rat poison is completely harmless if used as directed also, however, I won't be giving it to my future kids to play with because of it's inherant danger.

As far as the police. They are well within their capacity to look for reminants of LAWS BEING BROKEN. That's what they do. Now, as far as could they be doing something more worthwhile. Perhaps. But you could be at a soup kitchen right now as opposed to sitting at your computer.

The lack of supervision and the danger to person and property that comes along with kids using illegal fireworks warrants this type of action as a deterrant for future years so that in future years the police and fire departments can respond to car accidents, robberys, and other serious issues as opposed to noise complains and roof fires.

What appears to be a mis-allocation of police resources this year may result in a better allocation for many future years. Big picture stuff.
 
What happened to personal responsibility?
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Let's see, two years ago I watched as some punks across the street launched rockets at my truck, which ended up underneath the gas tank when they exploded. Last year I wasn't here. This year I founded the charred remains of fireworks on my dead and dried out back lawn. So how does my right to protect my property get trumped by their right to be idiots?
Au contrair, personal responsibility ends when it infringes on the public space, to wit: flyin sparks, rockets landing on roofs, explosions at all hours...
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Bingo.
 
Hal,
I smoke but I don't light off fireworks.

Does one cancel out the other or should I expect a smiggen of wrath? :rolleyes:
 
I am also new to this forum....well I have been lurking for awhile but have only recently started posting replies. Perhaps those of you who don't live in the state of WA (excepting you Jammer) are not aware of the legal vs. illegal fireworks. M-80s are illegal. Roman candles, sparklers, jumping jacks and mortars are LEGAL. Don't know if the above complainers have seen the results of a mortar.....massively more powerful than either a bottle rocket or a fire cracker (both illegal). It doesn't really get dark here in WA until about 2230 and private fire work displays generally end about an hour and a half after that (at least out here in Allyn where I'm from). I can't understand how this normally freedom loving group who argues about the right of Wal Mart to inspect purchases and various other topics which seem insignificant to me is so willing to sit back and give up more rights through regulation.

BTW don't really care for fireworks anymore....just bought em for the kids so they could have fun like I used to, before my countrymen became a bunch of sissies. I imagine that they (my kids) will not have that luxury when looking down at their children. That saddens me.

Shawn
 
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Down hwere on the Fourth the grass was very very very dry.........

sparkler = grass fire

so no fireworks here please.
 
You know, back when I was a kid, I bought illegal fireworks too. Heck, every kid did. But back then, we didn't throw them at people and cars, and destroy other people's property. Today? Different times, different story. Last year, we had a punk (yeah, punk!) that threw an M-200 into a crowd who was up until then enjoying the municipal fireworks show. Three people hospitalized. It took us 2 months, but this punk is now serving time. Black Cat = firecracker. M-200 = 1/4 stick of dynamite. But lets look at the "rubbish patrol" for a second. What gets tossed away? The ones that didn't go off. Maybe a lot of those had a tiny bit of fuse left, but not enough to let you get far enough away. Kids find those. Outcome: predictable. We generally ignore people who are responsibly setting them off on the fourth. Illegal? Yes, but if I had 500 people on the streets instead of around 50, it still wouldn't be enough to deal with all of it. Besides, it's the 4th. Tradition. So, unless someone's being an idiot, we ignore 'em. Now July 5th? Time to put 'em away till next year, folks. Won't listen? Citation or arrest. If you're one of those idiots, we're not worried about protecting you from yourself; we're worried about the other folks that you endanger. Sadly, it's another case of a few ruining things for a lot.
 
I can't believe you people.......

Pro gunners against fireworks.....And yes a time and place "It's called INDEPENDANCE DAY"....Maybe we should call it "DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT DAY".....Guns are far more dangerous than fireworks, but most people don't want them banned. Get earplugs if its too loud. Do you anti's really justify to yourselves that they should be illegal?

Regulations.......I can go with that, only on certain days or certain places.....Kinda like Chigago or New York on guns, right?


Oh yeah, Not even close to a molotov or grenade........
 
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