Anyone else following this? (legalization of Fireworks in Iowa)

dmclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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I'm shooting them off tonight but have let all neighbors know. Hopefully Johnston police have better things to do then write me a ticket.

The head of the Johnston police department was the former head of the Windsor Heights police department. I'm guessing your fine with fireworks but expect to be pulled over for 3 mph over the speed limit.
 

AgronAlum

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Jul 12, 2014
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People in a 3-mile radius around my house fully embraced legal fireworks. There was no need to go to a show, just stand in an open area and look around!

I'm sure they were better than Urbandales. We were right next to them and we still ended up watching WDMs over the tree line instead.
 

Mr Janny

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Met some friends down in Altoona last night, to watch the Adventureland fireworks. Holy crap. The constant background sound of Eastsiders lighting off what must have been hundreds of thousands of fireworks was impressive. It started around 8PM and continued through our departure at 10:30. It sounded like a bad night in Fallujah. Ames was incredibly dead, by comparison.
 

jbindm

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Can't say I'm a fan of the legal fireworks. If people stuck to the letter of the law then I'd be ok with it. But as far as I could tell, all this did was give the idiots who light them off every year anyway easier access to their noisemakers. I live in the Waveland park area and fireworks were being set off well past midnight in the neighborhood. I didn't bother calling the police because they have better things to do, but they shouldn't have been put in that position on the first place. This was a bad idea.
 

tim_redd

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thousands and thousands of dollars worth of fireworks must have went off in the area around my house yesterday.
 

jsb

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I just don't think that the crap fireworks you can buy are that fun to look at or impressive. So why waste money?

This new law has not improved my life.
 
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3TrueFans

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I just don't think that the crap fireworks you can buy are that fun to look at or impressive. So why waste money?

This new law has not improved my life.
I think a professionally done fireworks show can be impressive and fun to watch. Firing off a couple roman candles and bottle rockets in your back yard is neither.
 
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Farnsworth

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Apr 11, 2006
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I just don't think that the crap fireworks you can buy are that fun to look at or impressive. So why waste money?

This new law has not improved my life.

I almost thought the opposite. We went to the I-Cubs game on Sunday so we saw at least one show, and yes it was very good.

However, the stuff people in our neighborhood bought were pretty darn impressive. Not nearly as good as a professional show, but they had all types of huge mortars. It was a lot nicer just being able to sit out in our driveway and look at fireworks in all direction go off. Some people had pretty organized shows as well.

Someone on our block pooled together a couple hundred bucks from neighbors and I was really surprised with some of the quality fireworks he got. He made notes of everything (what not to get, order to fire stuff off, etc) and hopes to put together a good show next year.
 

wxman1

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I almost thought the opposite. We went to the I-Cubs game on Sunday so we saw at least one show, and yes it was very good.

However, the stuff people in our neighborhood bought were pretty darn impressive. Not nearly as good as a professional show, but they had all types of huge mortars. It was a lot nicer just being able to sit out in our driveway and look at fireworks in all direction go off. Some people had pretty organized shows as well.

Someone on our block pooled together a couple hundred bucks from neighbors and I was really surprised with some of the quality fireworks he got. He made notes of everything (what not to get, order to fire stuff off, etc) and hopes to put together a good show next year.

I 100% agree. I would much rather spend $100-$200 between friends and enjoy it rather than fighting crowds, timing etc. Down in KS different cul-de-sac's in our neighborhood would do exactly what your neighborhood did. Everyone pitched money in and then they all sat out and set them off in the middle.
 

Farnsworth

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I 100% agree. I would much rather spend $100-$200 between friends and enjoy it rather than fighting crowds, timing etc. Down in KS different cul-de-sac's in our neighborhood would do exactly what your neighborhood did. Everyone pitched money in and then they all sat out and set them off in the middle.

That's what we are doing next year. We live on a cul-de-sac and everyone was hanging out and drinking all day. When night came we realized 3 different houses bought fireworks to set off, so next year we are just going to pool them together and do it as a group. It's a very social road though, we have block parties all the time.

Sure beats driving, finding a spot, people, waiting, fighting to leave, not being able to drink. Plus you get to do it in the comfort of your home and run the street! Great shows all over our suburb and lots of people walking from street to street to view different shows.

We did have a huge mortar blow up in the tube though that was a little scary.
 

clonedude

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Apr 16, 2006
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I just don't think that the crap fireworks you can buy are that fun to look at or impressive. So why waste money?

This new law has not improved my life.

Totally this. If you're impressed by what you can buy at these local tents, then I don't know what to say. They are extremely annoying, and extremely boring to look at.

But then again, I'm bored even at big shows put on in major cities after about the first 5 minutes..... up until the finale. Just not that impressed with fireworks at all in general.

And yes, I guess I'd qualify as the "get off my lawn" guy. I like my peace and quiet. If you want to shoot them off all day long on the 4th, go ahead, no big deal. Any other day than that, and IMO you're disturbing my peace. I wouldn't want a bunch of kids drag racing up and down my street at 11 pm making tons of noise, and IMO, fireworks are no different.
 
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Clonehomer

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Apr 11, 2006
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I'd just be happy if we could find a way to keep idiots from setting them off in the middle of large crowds of people. Seems people saw legal and thought they aren't dangerous anymore.
 
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ClonesTwentyOne

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Totally this. If you're impressed by what you can buy at these local tents, then I don't know what to say. They are extremely annoying, and extremely boring to look at.

But then again, I'm bored even at big shows put on in major cities after about the first 5 minutes..... up until the finale. Just not that impressed with fireworks at all in general.

And yes, I guess I'd qualify as the "get off my lawn" guy. I like my peace and quiet. If you want to shoot them off all day long on the 4th, go ahead, no big deal. Any other day than that, and IMO you're disturbing my peace. I wouldn't want a bunch of kids drag racing up and down my street at 11 pm making tons of noise, and IMO, fireworks are no different.
You're not very peaceful and quiet on here though.
 

NWICY

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I didn't think I would have a strong opinion on the topic, but last night my 15-month-old convinced me to be anti-fireworks.

Yeah but when that 15 month old is 3-4 yrs old then they'll be liking them. :);)
 

arobb

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I just don't think that the crap fireworks you can buy are that fun to look at or impressive. So why waste money?

This new law has not improved my life.
You're doing it wrong.
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wxman1

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I will say the roman candles I got were not what I was expecting. I am used to the ones that just blow colored balls and nothing else. Easy peasy safe to hold in your hand. First one I lit last night ended up being a little bigger and having reports etc. After it started I knew it was a mistake to hold it but was fairly comitted at that point. The last one blew up in the tube and I had a temporary hearing impairment. I got damn lucky and will not buy those anymore.
 

ClonesTwentyOne

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I will say the roman candles I got were not what I was expecting. I am used to the ones that just blow colored balls and nothing else. Easy peasy safe to hold in your hand. First one I lit last night ended up being a little bigger and having reports etc. After it started I knew it was a mistake to hold it but was fairly comitted at that point. The last one blew up in the tube and I had a temporary hearing impairment. I got damn lucky and will not buy those anymore.
What brand?