Earlier this year, when the Lakeport City Council was getting ready to vote on whether or not to ban the sale and use in Lakeport city limits of what are classified as safe and sane fireworks, the Record-Bee published an editorial in which we took the position that the city council should vote to ban the fireworks in town. That editorial came after much consideration, because the ban, in effect, places a financial hardship on some very important youth organizations that have relied on revenues from the sale of fireworks to fund their activities.
Well, the Lakeport City Council did vote to ban the sale of the fireworks, as we had requested. Now, Measure C would overturn that ban and once again allow safe and sane fireworks to be sold by no more than four non-profit organizations. While we certainly agree with the system that allows matters of this nature to be taken to the residents for a vote, our position remains the same. We still believe that the best thing for Lakeport is to leave fireworks to the professionals who put on the public fireworks displays and we hope that voters will agree. We know the fire chief believes fireworks should be banned and we know that very few cities in the United States allow fireworks inside their city limits these days. It isn”t to punish anyone. It is to prevent fires in town and injuries to children.
Actually, we find it somewhat ironic that the adult leaders of youth organizations are lobbying hard for the sale of fireworks, a product that the National Fire Data Center has stated is “especially injurious to children ? even those that are considered relatively safe like sparklers and firecrackers.”
We know that it will be tough for the youth organizations to come up with fundraising projects in which they can make up the revenues lost from the sale of fireworks. The community needs to help them come up with alternative ways to help them earn the money they need. The Record-Bee will certainly provide some free space for the publicity of whatever these organizations decide to do for fundraising.
