An article in last week's Journal & Topics was brought to our attention by a PRU reader -- Firework Crackdown Includes Common Items.
In the article, Park Ridge Fire Department Lt. Jeff Sorensen is quoted as saying, "My whole thing is just life safety." We appreciate your thing, sir, but sparklers and snakes?
The piece offers the following: "The ordinance bans anything that produces "a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion or deflagration or detonation." That includes items like sparklers or snakes that are legal under state law."
The article goes on to explain, "There have also been reports of injuries from fireworks, including the sparklers that parents often give to their children.
He said a parent once told him her 2-year-old was too smart to be burned from the 1800-degree rod in his hand."
Our PRU reader submitted the following remarks on the topic:Open letter to Lt. Jeff Sorensen:
What is next for regulation in this town? My stove? In your explanation regarding the new ordinance, you are quoted as saying "anything that could hurt people or start fires." I am left thinking that since it has a flame, and you have jumped to conclusions that we are incapable of parenting our children, that perhaps that is next.
Or maybe it will be the hot water heater. Again, since the assumption is that we cannot control our children, then we can't be trusted to monitor the gauge so as to keep them from being hurt. Snakes and Sparklers are no longer available for purchase or to be used in Park Ridge? Good grief!
This used to be a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Now it is a constant wonder of big brother and lousy government. Give us a little credit. Any parent that would hand a sparkler to a two-year old and say they are too smart to get burned will need a lot more coaching than your just banning sparklers.
Crack down on the criminals who are transporting illegal fireworks over the state lines; who keep us up at night with their illegal activity; who raise the potential of burning branches or property damage and who risk personal injury. Leave us alone with our simple display of independence and let us have our sparklers and snakes back. I will read with great interest the time a tree is burned down by a snake!It seems to the reader, and to the PRU Crew too, that the new ordinance and Lt. Sorensen may be a bit over-zealous in attempts to keep the children of Park Ridge out of harms way.
We get the feeling that the next child-protective ordinance the City will pass is that all children under the age of eighteen will be required to wear bubble wrap!
And the whole sparklers and snakes ban reminded the PRU Crew of another item we recently read in the local press -- Decorative blue stones have downsides for library leaders.
In that article readers learn that Library Director, Ms. Janet "Van De Carr said members of the board are unhappy with the look of the bluestone and the fact that it is often kicked outside the area and tracked into the library. The board has also expressed concern about small children putting the stones in their mouths and about larger rocks around the tree being thrown." (emphasis added)
The PRU Crew knew about kids eating bugs and boogers, but we have to admit we had no idea about them eating rocks. Throwing rocks, yes. Eating rocks, no. We learn something new every day. Whether we like it or not.
Still, we can't help but feel that either somebody got children and chickens confused, or some parents may need to consult a nutrition expert about what may be missing from their kid's diet. Barring that, we'd like to suggest an old standby...
A little strip over the little kid pie hole and you're good to go for a trip to the Library!
Silence is golden! Duct tape is silver!
And while we're on the subject, we'd also like to suggest...
...for dumbass parents who would give anything combustible to a two year old!
June 18, 2008
I Don't Like Sparklers and Snakes!
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18 comments:
Folks:
I completely agree with the writers perspective. This seems to cross the line of common sense. Does this mean I cannot use my charcol grill anymore?
Having said that, I do feel compelled to comment on the number of people who may not deserve the "credit" he refers to in his letter. At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy duddy, doesn't it seem like more and more people are taking less and less responsibility for there kids? Is it just me creeping into middle age? As a regular visitor to the parks, pools, library etc., I am amazed by what I see - things that my parents would NEVER have allowed and that I will not tolerate from my child. Let's just say that I can testify as a witness that kids of all ages can throw those blue stones a long way.
I guess you cannot legislate away stupidity.
Thanks PRU! Points well made, and humor...well, I need to go wipe the coffee off my keyboard from LOL and out my mouth. ;-)
(I need to remember not to drink coffee and read the PRU at the same time!)
Very good! Love silence is golden. Duct tape is silver. I am amazed at the way parents tolerate bad behaviour from junior. If they break it, buy a new one. If they take it, they can keep it. The "not my kid" mentality in this town is incredible. Take reponsibility for your kid. Be their parent, not their friend.
PRU, I'm laughing so hard! Good blog today!
I also agree that the ordinance banning sparklers and snakes is going beyond common sense, but like the first comment said you can't legislate away stupidity. I guess that means you have to legislate to the lowest common denominator.
I hope everyone has a safe and great Fourth of July.
The moment the term "It's for the kids" entered the lexicon and became the unthinking, indiscriminate knee-jerk justification of choice for just about anything somebody wanted that had any connection whatsoever with kids, we were thrown into a "school's out" (pun intended) situation.
We should adopt a law which requires automatic rejection of anything that is explained, described or justified by "It's for the kids." And just for good measure, the law should mandate that the offending user of that term gets an increasing number of dope slaps for every violation. Oh yeah, and the third violation makes you a "three-time loser" so that your 3 dope slaps are administered by Mike Tyson - it's time he resumed a productive life.
Contrary to popular belief in some circles, the known universe does not revolve around Junior or Juniorette, no matter how adorable, bright, entertaining or just plain wonderful they might be. And for all you parents who think your kids are all that AND a bag of chips, guess again.
In terms of the universe revolving around my kids, it was not by choice. It just kind of well.....happened. I was powerless to stop it!
By the way, no offense but I am picturing you as that Nebbercracker guy from the movie Monster House.
"Get off My Lawn"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The library board is also going to do more work on the building, including replaceing the doors facing the 6 corner intersection.
Why must they replace the doors?
I can't understand why they did that on the main enterence.
They will pass an ordinance banning sparklers and snakes, even under parent supervision, saying it is to keep our children safe. But they aren't sure about a special use permit for regulating a homeless shelter that brings in to our town the dregs of society that could also pose dangers to our children? These people in our government are nuts!
Today in Hoffman Estates a teenager, not a two year old, was using sparklers in his backyard. After throwing the hot remains of a sparkler in the garbage next to the house, he went inside. Minutes later the rear of the house was in flames, causing 10's of thousands, maybe over a $100,000 in damage. He bought the sparklers at a local convienent store (where they too are illegal in Hoffman). Police removed the remaining inventory and cited the store owner. This is a perfect reason why they should not be sold.
From your retelling, it also sounds like a perfect example of an unsupervised kid.
Sparklers don't start fires. Morons with sparklers start fires.
anon 11:23 PM:
That is a terrible story and I cannot imagine what that family must be going through. But........there has to be some balance of risk and responsibility. This is an individual choice at times. What you consider too much risk might be very different then me. The idea is that all these ideas bubble up and the majorty opinion is reflected in laws and legislation. That does not mean everyone is happy.
With all do respect, your same argument could be used to completely remove the 2nd amendment. Even more contraversial, one could use the argument to say that cars should be outlawed.
Unfortunately, we cannot remove all risk from life. Especially if we choose to neglect our responsibilities as parents.
Take a deep breath...
don't let it get to you.
Its people first....property
second.
Keep it all in that order and
you won't have the Atty's crawling up your back.
Thank you.
anon 3:04:
I admitt I am a bit slow but what on earth does your post mean??!?!?!?!
Interesting...if you read state law in Illinois, they do a much better job of defining fireworks and what is prohibited. They also specifically permit the use of sparklers. They go as far say as saying local ordinances can ban sparklers on public property...I don't understand how Park Ridge goes to this extreme in their ordinance, somehow butchered up the state's language, passed such an abridged definition and decided to extend this to private properties.
If you read it literally, then I guess a cigarette lighter is illegal, along with my hot water heater, kitchen stove, oven, lawn mower, car...etc.
Come on Park Ridge, do your homework before you pass such poorly worded motions. This fire ordinance is worse than the cryptic, poorly thought out zoning language that's been costing us tons of council resources and tax dollars. Shoot me if I hear the word "overlay" one more time at 505 Butler.
Shouldn't the city attorney be on the hook ensure things are clearly worded for all passed motions/ordinances?
More to the point, this never should have been passed as ordinance in the first place.
I'm all for keeping kids safe. I'm all for proper supervision. I even think it's OK for the city to sometimes control what happens on public property. But basically banning any type of combustible anywhere is a ridiculous step.
I guess that model rocket the Boy Scouts are working on needs to be confiscated.
...and what does the city's finest do with all the fireworks they confiscate and "destroy"? I'd rather give them to the fire department. At least the fire department appears to have a cleaner record these days.
Howard - Get rid of this ordinace and focus your time on real problems like this crazy desire to attract the homeless to Park Ridge and doing something about all the vacant retail space we have.
Maybe if you had a client who sold fireworks, we wouldn't have to worry about this ordinance.
One of my frustrations is when a city/state decides to put in place new rules when the existing ones are not being enforced.
Just to clarify, I like fireworks - even fireworks that are beyond sparklers, although my dog might disagree. I in no way want this to be read as a complaint because I have fired off a few in my day. But how can you resonably expect people to take the law seriously when for the entire month surrounding the July 4th holiday there are nights that it sounds like a war zone outside. There are fireworks being set off all over PR that are well beyond sparklers - try M80's.
I do not expect, nor could I reasonably expect, the police to be catching and arresting some guy in his back yard at 11 PM let alone 100 of them. So now we can all break the law by lighting sparklers.
Once again we sat through the annual and illegal fire works all around us here in the 6th ward.
When will these folks be arrested?
unsupervised kids or "part time parents". It is a shame but there is no law against it
Arrest for fireworks, people it is a ticket and a slap on the hand in Crook County so don't look to the local PD because their actions end up in the 7 ring cirucs of the "Cook COunty Court".
Don't relect the judges
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