I'm writing this letter on the morning of July 3. Except for the explosion at 7:30 a.m., it's relatively quiet now. But, like death and taxes, the chaos will for sure start in a few hours and last into tomorrow and beyond.
Last Sunday on "60 Minutes," a 94-year-old holocaust survivor gave her opinion of what was necessary to turn some normal people into animals. She said, "They need permission." In that case, "permission" from the ruling government. I'm not claiming that setting off fireworks is the same as murdering millions of people, but the same principle applies. Once the city gives its "permission" to set off explosions, and emphasizes that by not enforcing what little law is left, the result is chaos.
The city council commissioned a survey several months ago about city life. Buried in the survey were two questions: Do you support limiting personal fireworks to "Save and Sane" fireworks? Do you support a complete ban? A small majority did not support a complete ban. But another majority did support the limitation to "Safe and Sane" fireworks. And the minority that wants a complete ban is significant. We're not a small bunch of isolated crackpots. So given that the people have spoken, why hasn't the city council acted on those results?
The people who explode M80s late at night for the past week, and for the weeks to come, or who fire off their mortars well after the cut off time, are barbarians. Modern barbarians to be sure, but barbarians nonetheless. Why? Because they don't care. They don't care who they keep awake, who they disturb or who they put at risk. All they care about is their explosion. Because the city has given them "permission" to do it. All of the fireworks with displays only operate in the evening. So, why does the city allow them to start at 9 a.m.? More permission for the barbarians and their explosions.
I drove past a fireworks stand that said it was supporting a local church. As a Christian, I would ask my brothers and sisters, "What do you think the Savior would say to you making money off of the misery of so many in our community?” I would ask the same question to the members of the city council who profess to be Christians. See 1 Cor. 13:4-5 for the answer.
As for Zac French's letter last week — I'm a retired lawyer. Perhaps Mr. French doesn't know that it is illegal to discharge a firearm in the city. It is a violation of federal law to discharge an M80 or similar device. And there is a city ordinance that limits noise. I am not worried about a few pieces of cardboard as much as I am about something still burning landing on my roof. Either way, it is a technical trespass which is also a crime. Freedom does not equal lawlessness.
As for his statement that "religion is a big thing in Battle Ground," what religion is he talking about? Certainly not the faith in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In that religion, the primary commandment is loving your neighbor, not trying to blow him up.
Rick Hauser
Battle Ground
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