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Yes - children should be allowed to shoot off fireworks AND children should be allowed to mow the yard AND children should be allowed to shoot a BB gun - UNDER the watchful of a responsible adult.

Fireworks, lawnmowers, BB guns and other objects all have the capacity to cause bodily harm, serious bodily harm. Yet, to shield a child from these objects is ridiculous. Each family must decide at what age its children can operate certain machinery like a lawnmower. By the same token, each family must decide an appropriate age for a child to enjoy lighting the wick of a black cat or an M-80. Regardless of what each family decides, a responsible adult should always be there to oversee.

Fireworks are a glorious part of the American tradition (adopted from the Chinese!), especially on 4th of July. To deny a child presumably old enough to handle this task under the watchful eye of an adult is ludicrous. Let's face it; lighting off fireworks is FUN! Watching the kaleidescope of colors is a BLAST! What child doesn't beg to partake?

My son has shot off fireworks since he was 8 - and he always did so with me near him. Some parents may allow an earlier age and some a later one. Regardless, children are not children forever; they need weening toward adulthood at some point, and if fireworks helps the transition, I'm all for it.

Happy 4th of July!

Learn more about this author, Stuart Kantor.
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