Letter: Punish illegal fireworks traffickers, users

Thursday, July 26, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

Sam Skolnick's July 24 article, "Fireworks fight smolders , " is unfortunately not unique to a single Southern Nevadan community this past year.

As dusk fell this Fourth of July, the sky lit up with fireworks. Regrettably, those fireworks were not safe and sane, nor professional pyrotechnic displays. In fact, the remnants of many of the dangerous illegal aerial displays and firecrackers were littered throughout the neighborhood.

As a former Bureau of Land Management fire fighter and military emergency actions officer, I found it very distressing for our family and friends as mid-size explosions occurred directly above our home with remnants falling onto the property.

In the 34 years our family has lived in Las Vegas, we have never witnessed such a blatant use of illegal fireworks . Each street in our development had illegal aerial displays that ran for hours. The thick, smoke-filled air left an eerie feel and did not disperse until the following morning.

Understandably overwhelmed fire and rescue and police departments could not address and cite each violator that evening , and for that reason it is the pre emptive measures and enforcement that are key to protecting lives and property. It is demoralizing, dangerous and an invitation for catastrophes when those violators caught endangering communities, whether it be Mountain Springs or East Las Vegas, are not prosecuted.

As Las Vegas Metro Police spokes man Bill Cassell points out, nearly half the violators were not prosecuted last year by the district attorney, citing in part, and often repeated, over crowded jails.

However, prosecution does not necessarily mandate jail time, and could better serve the public if the sanctions pursued were lengthy community service times and heavy fines for all involved.

Martin Dean Dupalo, Las Vegas