[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written by a Reader. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The B-Town Blog nor its staff:]

Dear Burien,

Fireworks are illegal in Burien, and I want to encourage everyone to follow this law.

We have fortunately had a little rain lately, but this has been a warm and dry spring and there is a lot of combustible vegetation out there. I ask you to consider the impact on your community of fires on public or private property. Parks are less usable, firefighters are overworked and homes are damaged.

Many people and animals – pets and wildlife – have panic responses to the unexpected loud noises. Instinctive fear of explosions is innate. If you love fireworks, you unlearned an instinct you were born with. Not all living things will unlearn it, and people who have experienced dangerous explosions may never be able to associate them with fun good times.

For many who have served their country, these explosions release panic, fear and reification of trauma they survived. If for no other reason than respect to our veterans we should all support this ban.

If some people have a right and others don’t, it’s not a freedom but a privilege. When you celebrate with fireworks, which one are you celebrating? You can celebrate freedom – for everyone – by donating or volunteering your time with:

  • Mary’s Place, or other organizations that help and uplift people who are experiencing homelessness. Help more people live free from want.
  • Planned Parenthood or other organizations that empower women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
  • The ACLU or other organizations that advocate for people’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and freedom from unwarranted search and seizure.
  • The Human Rights Campaign and other organizations that stand for basic rights for people who are LGBTQIA
    Black Lives Matter, asserting justice for People of Color.
  • Northwest Immigrants’ Rights Project, bringing the right to legal representation to people regardless of income or nationality.

I’m sure I’ve left things out. And you won’t all agree with my priorities. Choose ones that resonate for you. Or lobby the city to issue firework permits or set up designated places for them.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th!

– Sarah Moore

[Have an opinion or concern you’d like to share with our ~100,000+ engaged monthly Readers? Please send us your Letter to the Editor via email. Include your full name, please cite your sources, remain civil and – pending our careful review – we’ll consider publishing it.]

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.