Okay, so let me start this off by saying that I understand that this is going to sound like an old man shaking his fist and yelling for kids to get off his lawn.
Fireworks.
I am all for a good fireworks show, the oohs, the ahhs, the music and the crowds. The smell of BBQ, warm beer and a little BO just means summer events in the cities. I am even in favor of going across state lines with a couple of friends and sneaking back a gross of bottle rockets and firecrackers. When we did this as kids we would send off a few every couple of days leading up to the 4th. We usually picked spots around the neighborhood on Saturday afternoons with some "cover" and then would quickly relocate so as not to "get busted".
In my current neighborhood the trend seems to be to import commercial-grade explosives and light them off every night after dark for 3 weeks leading up to, and one week following, Independence Day. I don't think they are even kids at this point but more likely twenty-somethings with a dislike for crowds, a taste for excitement and a normal disregard for anyone else. My dog does not appreciate it. The baby does not appreciate. I now, do not appreciate it.
My thoughts last night were to take my police issue flashlight and "let the beatings begin". Today I heard the sad news that some adult, probably as aggravated as I am, shot a 14 year old last night presumably because he was setting off fireworks. Who know the intent but the results were a bullet thru the neck.
I will need to work on my patience and understanding and realize that these brainless youths are probably much like I was, and probably don't deserve to be shot.
Now, the kid in the neighborhood with the "Fast and the Furious" muffler is another story.
My thoughts last night were to take my police issue flashlight and "let the beatings begin". Today I heard the sad news that some adult, probably as aggravated as I am, shot a 14 year old last night presumably because he was setting off fireworks. Who know the intent but the results were a bullet thru the neck.
I will need to work on my patience and understanding and realize that these brainless youths are probably much like I was, and probably don't deserve to be shot.
Now, the kid in the neighborhood with the "Fast and the Furious" muffler is another story.
3 comments:
I don't condone shooting a kid in the neck for lighting off fireworks late at night, but having lived through 5 years of May through August fireworks (some were of course gunfire) on the northside, I can understand why someone would be motivated to do so.
Maybe the kid(s)were being assholes and refused to stop after being asked the first time. I dunno. But when we were kids, if someone would have caught us lighting fireworks, we would have stopped.
And probably got a whoopin'!
I don't condone using live ammunition against these wayward youths either. But cruisin around as an anti-fireworks vigilante with a high-powered tranquilizer rifle could be good fun ...
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