To the editor:

The minority seem to rule. Case in point: the consideration of outlawing fireworks at the Fourth of July for the city of Lawrence.

If I recall correctly the newspaper article sometime in July, considerably less than $1 million in damages have been sustained due to fireworks in Lawrence over the past 25 years or more. True, a couple of years ago, fireworks were blamed for an apartment fire. However, for a few years leading up to that fire, damages were less than $500 for any given year, with no damages reported for many more.

Now, in contrast, each year, millions of dollars in property damages, medical expenses, forest fires, etc., are lost due to cigarette smoking. Are we banning them? This threat of loss exists every day of the year, not just three days.

Cigarettes are only one cause of property loss due to careless handling of flammables. Each year, many fires are a result of candles left unattended. Just last week, a structure fire in Lawrence was due to an unattended candle. I’m sure many more instances can be thought of.

Let’s quit blowing this issue out of proportion. The minority of the public (including a few commissioners) should not be able to deprive the rest of the public of our rights and privileges.

Scott Mesler,

Lawrence