Locals protest fireworks stands

[harvey007]

Source: Silver City (NM) Sun

Across the street from the protesters, local Pastor Mark Fisher, of Word of Life Church in Arenas Valley, said the fireworks sales were a fundraiser for his churchand part of the church's ministry. The company - TNT Fireworks - buys the permits to sell, sets up the tent, and supplies the fireworks, and members of the church organize the displays, staff the stand and take a percentage of the sales. This is Word of Life's second year participating in the fundraiser, Fisher said, and before Word of Life, several other local churches were the beneficiary of the fundraiser.
"This allows me to get my ministry outside the four walls," Fisher said of the fireworks stand. "We have young people coming in here and they are hooked on alcohol and drugs and they come in here and we are able to minister to them."

Read more: http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_18359246

[wysimdnwyg]

1. "We have young people coming in here and they are hooked on alcohol and drugs... "

"And they come in here and we help them blow shit up!"

[jberryhill]

12. Ah didn't notice you got that first....

What could possibly go wrong with selling fireworks to drunk and stoned teenagers.

[plumbob]

2. Apparently, for the Word of Life Church, if not prohibited, it's mandatory.

From the OP:

Fisher said he understood the people's concern, but he and his church weren't doing anything illegal.
"We thought about a month and half ago that they were going to ban them altogether," he said. "But then we got the call that said, 'Are you ready to start selling?' I completely understand the drought situation, but why come and take it out on me? That's not going to change the law," he said.

Well, just cause you believe in some invisible old man with a beard in the sky who had his own son killed to satisfy his bloodlust, that don't make you smart, does it?

[liberal N proud]

3. Sell some explosives in the name of God!

"we are able to minister to them"?? :rofl:
Blessed be the things you blow up my son. Go in peace?

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. That's kinda curious. They've banned certain firewords - presumably

those that are likeliest to cause fires - then they ban fireworks within city limits, where there is the LEAST likelihood of them causing fires. So instead of having the fountains spewing on you suburban driveway, you drive out of town to the county park or wherever and light them off in the brush.

???

[Thirtieschild]

5. NM is a tinderbox, 1.06" of moisture in Silver City since the first of November

A state law allows the sale of fireworks. Municipalities can't do anything to stop it. I hope we make it to the monsoon season. If we have a monsoon season this year.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. That's exactly my point. If they can't stop the sale of fireworks,

they INCREASE the fire danger by outlawing fireworks in town, where they can be set off on pavement. In response to banning fireworks in town, people will take them outside of town, to the tinderbox.

I would think they'd do the exact opposite - forbid fireworks outside of city limits, and require all fireworks displays be set off in enclosed, preferably paved, areas.

[begin_within]

14. Every city should designate an area where fireworks are allowed,

then ban them everywhere else. Some place where they can be controlled and are not likely to start any fires. That's the real solution in my opinion.

[ngant17]

13. I would have hoped the ban was from the perchlorates

which leach into the water table after the fireworks drop to the ground.

If you really love your country, you wouldn't want to pollute it with perchlorates on July 4.

[damntexdem]

6. It just blows them away. I guess they have a short fuse.

If God didn't want us to blow our hands off, She wouldn't have created fingers. ;-)

[avebury]

8. K&R

[EC]

9. Isn't New Mexico in the middle of a draught?

So are fireworks the best idea that church could come up with for fund raising? It seems dangerous when it's so dry.

[Psephos]

10. spoilsports n/t

[jberryhill]

11. "they are hooked on alcohol and drugs and they come in here...

...and we sell them fireworks.

This man is a genius.