Susan @PAlady there was a time when 'lesser' fireworks were allowed in the State of Michigan. Of course, you had the diehards who would cross the border to Ohio, buy the more powerful fireworks and then bring 'em over the border.
The former governor decided in 2012 to open up the fireworks law here in Michigan. There were 20 days scattered throughout the year when people could shoot off the fireworks. I can't remember the holidays now other than it was day before, day of and day after.
Residents have been riled up for a long time and were threatening to petition people to get a vote on the ballot for fireworks. At the end of 2018, right before the governor left (term limits) a new law was passed.
Here's the new schedule:
However, the bill states that local governments cannot regulate consumer fireworks on the following dates:
- Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1
- The Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
- June 29 to July 4 until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
- July 5, if that date is a Friday or Saturday, until 11:45 p.m.
- The Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
It's not that residents don't appreciate the need to celebrate. Statistically there have been more injuries and fires since the law was passed in 2012.
I don't know all of the details yet, there is much investigation to go. In my county there was a standoff between police and a resident who, on July 4th, shot at and injured two people who live either across the street from him or down the street from him because of the noise from the fireworks.
The two people he shot will live, one was a child who got shot in the leg.
He barricaded himself in this house. Law enforcement tried to smoke him out, tear gas him out, flood him out and drove a tank into the front of the house he lived in. They sent in robots - he shot 'em.
He shot his girlfriend and himself this morning. Clearly some mental illness here.
We have got to be able to find a happy medium with these fireworks. I don't know if the guy couldn't take the incessant noise since June 29th or what. Tragic all the way around.
My birds were fine. I am lucky they are confident in my ability to protect them. Even though the windows were closed and they could still hear the loud pops and screaming rockets, they were like - no biggie, mama won't let anything get us.
I feel bad for the wildlife outside. It's been rough for 6 days, sigh. I can only imagine what the pigeons in the coop a few houses down went through with all that noise. It's legal here to keep pigeons and the new neighbor takes great care of his pigeons. Sometimes, when he lets them out to fly and exercise and they fly over here to visit, I can tell tell they are immaculately clean and healthy looking.
There are many elements: wind, fire, water
But none quite like the element of surprise
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