Good afternoon everyone,
Fireworks, legal and illegal, have always a part of July 4th in Delaware.
This year is no exception, even though it appears that all but one public display has been canceled over concerns about crowds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some remained defiant for a time, with beach nightclub owner and banker Alex Pires saying the governor finally quashed plans for a display in Dewey Beach. Town officials were not happy with his plans either.
Fat Daddy’s appears to be moving ahead with an event in Georgetown, thanks to a large open field that allows onlookers to see the display from their vehicles.
The big difference this year is that private fireworks sales have been (pardon the expression) skyrocketing this year. Things that go boom and pop are commonplace after 10 p.m., not good news for insomniacs or dog owners.
The reasons have spawned an entire conspiracy industry that includes crazy rumors that include the government handing out devices to spur civil unrest. Real-life is strange enough given examples like the individual in Philadelphia accused of using explosives to tap into automatic teller machines.
It did not help that Delaware legislators quietly passed a bill a couple of years ago that legalized sparklers and related devices that do not make their way into the air or make a loud pop.
Up until that time, the state had banned all fireworks, thanks in part to the lobbying power of volunteer fire companies that have to put out blazes when devices make theirs to roofs, dry grass, etc. This time of year, we also see an uptick in burns and other injuries that send people to emergency rooms and can lead to the loss of fingers and worse.
The legal devices simply added to the booms from fireworks obtained in nearby states under a patchwork of baffling laws and ordinances.
In the end, the most likely reason for the explosion in fireworks sales is the sheer boredom arising from the lockdown period, especially among pyrotechnic junkies of all ages.
Rolling Stone talked to a fireworks seller. who confirmed that expensive devices often intended for commercial uses are flying off the shelves.
In other words prepare for a noisy, 4th, 5th and even 6th. Enjoy this special holiday and remember it isn’t the first time we have gone through a raucous, noisy and troubled period. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
