Several times each year in Monroe, Louisiana, some of our citizens launch large mortar shell and other explosives called fireworks, which cause pets to cower in fear and often run away. Windows literally rattle due to the explosions. Our veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome endure repeated explosions, harming their mental health. Those who sleep before midnight, including the elderly and children, can't get to sleep. Birds, squirrels, and other tree-dwelling wildlife get their eardrums blown out. Birds become disoriented and fly at night when and where they shouldn't be, leaving their young to starve. The overwhelming majority of citizens do not use these large fireworks; only a small fraction of folks are using them. Please specifically ban these large fireworks in Monroe.

The fireworks are literally explosions, repeated explosions throughout the City. The decibel level is equivalent to military-grade explosions in some cases (it sounds like a war zone);

Many people are trying to sleep, put children to bed, care for loved ones, and work while others are setting off small to large explosions.

Each firework explodes into millions of irretrievable pieces which aren't picked up and which eventually flow into our sewers and then into our waterways.

The pieces of the discharged fireworks fall on others' rooftops, the explosions kill or injure birds and other wildlife, the smoke floats to others' properties, and the sound literally rattles neighbors' windows.

The explosions pose severe fire risks. And often the explosions are indistinguishable from gunfire and other more deadly explosions.

While the fireworks already amount to trespasses, noise ordinance violations, nuisances, and littering, we need a specific ordinance for prohibiting the discharge of these large fireworks in the City limits because none of the other ordinances are being enforced. The harm from these large fireworks greatly outweighs the small benefit. We can celebrate our independence, for instance, without wrecking others' peace and tranquility. In addition, there's nothing patriotic about buying foreign-made fireworks.

Rodney McFarland

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