Don't pass law

Dear McCook City Council and citizens of McCook:

I have been proud to live in a rural area of Nebraska where we can experience freedom that citizens of other communities do not have. This, however, may change.

An ordinance has been passed on first reading to limit the use of fireworks to a 17 day period of the year. I am in a unique position to vouch for how wrong this is. Almost two years ago, I was in another small town in Nebraska on New Year's eve and was proudly showing my grandchildren how I have celebrated the New Year for much of the past 45 years with impromptu fireworks.

Shortly after I had sent up the fourth artillery shell, two police officers "surrounded me" with their two squad cars and explained to me that this was illegal. While I did not receive a citation, this experience left me with a definite sense of disgust for the town this occurred in. It made me wish I was back in McCook as fireworks are commonplace on New Year's Eve.

Fireworks were a joy as I and my friends grew up in McCook and were not limited to just celebrating the 4th of July. While their use was sporadic, we considered them a part of our normal lives. They are, in a sense, Americana.

In addition to celebrating July 4th, I have known fireworks to be used in conjunction with weddings and birthdays on occasion among other events, and yes, Bison football games.

The proposal to have to obtain a permit will only be useful if plans to use fireworks are known well ahead and will only apply to law- abiding citizens. Those who don't have a permit will shoot them and run which is a lesson that I do not want our young citizens to learn.

It would appear that McCook wants to continue on the road to becoming a retirement community by removing freedoms that youth here have enjoyed during its 125 year history.

It is time for parents and neighbors to work together to solve the noise issues, not "call the cops" on each other. Parents should teach their children fireworks "etiquette" from little on up.

The fire department should present safety programs to children to include precautions as to how, when and where to use fireworks.

Instead of passing a new law, the mayor and a citizen group should create and publicize recommended guidelines for use of fireworks to at least try something other than legislating behavior.

Recognize also that the fire department inspection of fireworks stands is for the protection of the public and should be paid for by the public. This $75 cost should not be born by vendors as a fee is, in essence, unfair to them. McCook should be thrilled to have these vendors sell tens of thousands of dollars of fireworks as the sales tax on the fireworks amounts to considerably more than the cost of the inspection.

Please don't conclude the celebration of McCook's 125th anniversary by asking your city council to pass a law that will create neighborhood disharmony and end a long standing freedom. I ask that members of McCook's City Council look for other ways to solve issues in this town by means other than passing a law.

Respectfully,

Dr. Mike Nielsen

McCook