During a discussion this morning on fireworks, Sedgwick County commissioner Tim Norton got a laugh when he used an old saying “You can’t fix stupid.”
No matter what rules the county has and enforces regarding fireworks, some people, he said, will do stupid things. If people want to shoot fireworks at each other, set off commercial-grade fireworks or make their own fireworks, they will, Norton said.
His comment came while commissioners discussed reaction to the no-fireworks rule in the unincorporated areas of the county. Some said their constituents want to be able to shoot fireworks on their own property. Norton said he would support allowing county residents in the unincorporated areas to celebrate the Fourth of July the traditional way — as long as they do it on their own property, not others’.
Commissioner Kelly Parks said many of his constituents appreciate the no-fireworks rule because they own livestock that gets spooked by loud noises.
26 Comments
well we have dogs that are scared to death every year when all the shooting goes on .. you all ban all this stuff in your county persay, so they all come over here in ours to blow it up.. what’s fair about that.. i am in empathy with the poor animals that have to listen to the noise and there is no way anyone will control the stupidity of people no matter what laws they lay down. and there are those that have no respect for their neighbors and shoot the big guys right over their homes, instead of their own.. so what’s right with that, as well put, YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID…
If people want to shoot fireworks….let them! It only happens once a year. Let people take responsiblity for their actions, you don’t have to make a law for everything. Just like it mentions in the article….people are going to do it if they want to bad enough, regardless of whether or not there is a law.
I agree,you can’t fix stupid,and the county commissioners are good examples of that! They have the gall to talk..when they p*ss money away like drunken sailors on CRAP in a depression!
yeah, there are a million reasons to forget that you were a kid once yourself and got a kick out of the 4th of july fireworks. that is what happens when you old,”no fun allowed” becomes your anthem.
Let me get this straight. If I live in the wrong area, on my OWN LAND, I cannot do something that is legal in the rest of the state?
I call BS. If I own the land, it is my castle.
I’ve lived in places where fireworks are not sold and it’s illegal to possess and discharge the stuff. Even illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits. However, there’s just as much fireworks and shootin off guns there as anywhere. There may be no fixin stupid, but there’s also no makin a law that stops stupid.
I do live in one of those unicorporated areas of Sedgwick County. I am not a part of a homeowner’s association which should be the determining factor whether or not I shoot fireworks. I did shoot them on MY property, If I can shoot a firearm legally what is the difference??
wow KB142, what are you going to do with the cattle during thunderstorms since loud noises scare these precious little animals?
Fireworks are for enjoying with family. As a kid I was a firework fanatic. Now I have settled down a bit and just watch the people down the road blow up their money. The idiots are the grown-ups who mix alcohol & fireworks. ie. roman candle fights.
I find it rather amusing that Kelly Parks is concerned about a little noise from a firecracker spooking his cattle when he supports out-of-season hunting. Don’t those guns make noise? Or all they all equipped with silencers?
I believe that whatever is allowed in the city should be allowed in the rural areas as well. To me, it reeks of discrimination. I live in a small town, but own 120 acres far from any city. If I want to shoot fireworks on my land, I should be allowed the same privilege as city dwellers. As was stated before, I can shoot my guns anytime I want on my own property, so what difference does it make if I shoot fireworks one day a year out there? Sure, I understand that it’s a fire hazard, but there is also a fire hazard in the city. And, if fireworks cause a fire in the city, there could be substantially more damage caused in terms of monetary losses and potential for loss of life. Repeal the law, it makes no sense. Let ALL Kansans celebrate their freedoms in the same way without fear of citations, fines, and incarceration. After all, that is why this country was founded!
look at the incident up on north piatt. that is all the proof you need that you cant fix stupid. that is pure ignorance. but leave it up to the ghetto people to pull something like that off.
Hey folks! Like bangs and pows and blams 24/7/365? Join the men and women in the Middle East. Ask the vets that are home now to make the future home-dynamite laws.
Tim Norton saying that as he was writing the County’s annual $$$ONE MILLION$$$ check to Airtran?!?!?
Your right Tim,YOU guys can’t fix stupid and Airtran laughs all the way to the bank each year.
They must of been paid a kickback from the fireworks company. The second that they put up the no fireworks signs and announced they couldn’t shoot them, people went and bought more than ever before! They went off in every direction you looked.
Who doesn’t love a good fireworks display on the 4th of July, but why can’t people be satisfied with one or two giant, organized fireworks displays in their community? Why do so many people feel they need to spend so much money; sometimes 2, 3 or 4 hundred dollars or more for fireworks that are gone in just one evening? There seem to be a lot of pyromaniacs that need to get their fix blowing off fireworks over their neighbors houses and under cars, etc.. Of course, it won’t be so thrilling when their neighbor sues them for destruction of property, or if that fireworks accident results in the lost of an eye or a severe burn. But Tim is right, “you can’t fix stupid”. Some people just have to learn the hard way. Maybe the city should fine violators to pay for the police and fire service that has to be increase for this reason.
learner_teacher! You’re another a*shole that can’t mind their own business! Don’t worry about what people spend on fireworks or ANYTHING else if they worked hard for it! SHUT UP! Im going to sue you for being so STUPID! And another thing,it’s once a year..I have to put up with idiots like you that ALL year round!
I found that the grandkids enjoyed our amateur show much more than the much larger professional ones they have attended. That said, we were rsponsible citizens – coordinated with neighbors, cleaned up after, and a great time was had by all. Nobody hurt; nobody busted.
Some of you all seem to forget what we celebrate on the 4th of July.
To say you can do this here and not there is nonsense.
This is the same county group that figures you don’t need a place to park near that new barn downtown.
taxes..we need more taxes, rules, regulations, arrests, fines…damn criminal to expect to continue a grand old AMERICAN tradition unregulated in a time of CHANGE
learner_teacher must be a n0bama voter. n0bama voters probably shouldn’t have the right to celebrate July 4th since they hate America – and America is coming to hate them. Cool!
HobbyFlyer – you are absolutely full of Bullsh*t! This patriotic America-loving Obama voter celebrated the Fourth proudly and saluted all the war veterans in my family – war vets who ALSO voted for Obama.
Typical. The “patriotic” folks thumbed their noses at the LAWS in Wichita again this July 4th, but on July 5th they went back to whining about illegal immigrants thumbing their noses at our laws. Set an example, morons. Obey the laws whether you like them or not. I don’t need your spent rockets in my yard, on my roof, or in my trees any more than I need illegals sapping the Nation dry. We can’t stop Wichitans from using illegal fireworks by asking nicely. We tried that. Perhaps hefty fines would persuade them to stop.
Sounds like a power strugle amonst the County and City Officals. I bet come election time, some law’s will change!!!! Stupid, Stupid Law………………..
Temper, temper, rocket 123. Bet your a heck of a neighbor.
Law breakers should be punished and if the city and county profit from it so much the better. Don’t like it, don’t do the crime.