Fireworks

Now that New York State has allowed the use of mild sparklers, not even cool firecrackers, the fun police have decided to ban the sale of these items in Oneida County. I understand that the police and fire departments have an idea of how bad things can be when used improperly, but their interest is in making their job easier by reducing incidents.

The problem with police and fire officials is that they are authoritarians at heart. They'd be happy banning grills, fire pits and gas stoves. They'd like you to get an inspection sticker for your furnace every year as well as your car. The county already puts speed limits as low as possible, often at odds with state grands to expand roadways just so that speed limits can be raised.

It also makes a mockery of the legal authority. In a half hour drive, I can be in one of three other counties, and one of them sells sparklers. People in my family used to drive out of state for the little firecrackers you light on the ground. Those are the ones where stupid mannequins get arms blown off for holding them. My family retained their appendages. In fact, the only person I know with a missing finger got that way from getting drunk. Should we ban alcohol some more?