WEDNESDAY, JULY2, 2003
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 15
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FEATURE
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Eric Siegfreid, Lawrence senior, is not dissuaded by the threat of a ticket. Siegfreid grew up in Lawrence shooting off fireworks with his family and doesn't recall anyone getting hurt or having problems with the police. Siegfreid doesn't understand the ban and is angered by it.
Lawrence
Lawrence prohibits the sale, use, possession and display of fireworks except by Douglas County-approved professionals through a ban passed on Oct. 23 last year. Infringements will result in tickets ranging from $100 to $200.
Ben Price, KU graduate, said his family had gathered here to set off fireworks for as long as he could remember. The 50 family members usually gather in Lawrence to
watch his uncle set off mortars, but will head to Baldwin this year because of the ban. Price expects the number of family members attending this year's celebration to be cut in half.
"It's going to be a big problem for the cops because they can't catch all the kids," Siegfreid said.
"I'm bummed out and kind of pissed," Price said. "I've never seen anything bad come out of fireworks — maybe a little litter."
Price has a long history with fireworks, including an incident where a 2-foot mortar went off inside his apartment. Price said this firework emitted a shower of blue sparks and smoke, but no damage.
"I'm bummed out and kind of pissed. I've never seen anything bad come out of fireworks, maybe a little litter."
Ben Price University of Kansas graduate
"If that doesn't start a fire, I don't know what does," Price said.
Price may have been lucky, but Dennis Barbour, Kansas City, Kan., senior, was not.
balcony two years ago.
Barbour's apartment at 501 Colorado St., caught on fire after fireworks ignited a neighbor's couch on a
He was not at the apartment when the fire began but returned to see firemen putting out the flames.
Barbour understands the ban after losing his apartment, but said the fireworks ban would have bothered him before his loss.
Zach Straus/Kansan
"If it's going to be increasingly dangerous to shoot fireworks, I think they should be kept out of the city." Barbour said. This year, Barbour does not plan to attend a fireworks display.
Jessica Turner, Omaha, Nob., junior, and Ben Potter, Mulvane junior, shop for sparklers and snakes at Lawrence "Legal" Fireworks, 27th and Iowa streets. In October 2002, the Lawrence City Commission voted to prohibit the use of non-novelty fireworks. "This is lame," Potter said.
Zech Straus/Kansar
A warning sign on the outskirts of Lawrence informs motorists of the fireworks ban. The city banned all fireworks except for novelties, which are defined by the U.S.Department of Transportation as poppers, snakes, snappers, sparklers, toy smoke devices and toy caps.
NOVELTY ITEMS LEGAL IN LAWRENCE
Party poppers: hand held explosives that pop when a string is pulled from the device.
Snappers: when dropped the paper wrapped explosive snaps or pops
Snakes: after ignited, makes a snake-like ash
Sparklers: wire or stick that produces a shower of sparks on the end when ignited
Toy Caps: plastic or paper caps in sheets, strips, rolls or individual
Toy Smoke Devices: produce smoke with a limited amount of pyrotechnic material
— information provided by www.lawrencecks.org
The city made novelties the only legal forms of fireworks for non-professionals to prevent property damage and personal injuries.
"It goes against the spirit of America. We've been blowing things up all year and now were going to stop?"
Kim Van Becelaere Pittsburg senior
Lawrence has an outlet for those patriotic souls who must watch something blow up on Independence Day. The Jaycees — members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will shoot off its annual fireworks extravaganza around 9:30 p.m. over the Kansas River.
Novelties are classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as poppers, snakes, snappers, sparklers, toy smoke devices and toy caps.
Kim Van Becelaere, Pittsburg senior, said she wouldn't go to the Jaycees show and doubted the ban would stop anyone from shooting off their own fireworks. Van Becelaere said the ban was not patriotic.
"It goes against the spirit of America," Van Becelaere said. "We've been blowing things up all year and now were going to stop?"
Amy Price, KU graduate and Lawrence resident, said she didn't like what the ban was doing to the community.
"The whole ban has got everyone fizzled out," Price said.
— Edited by Ehren Meditz