Residents of unincorporated areas of Sedgwick County had a clear message for their county commissioners on Tuesday night: "Give us back our fireworks."
About 100 people attended a meeting at the Cargill Learning Center auditorium at the Sedgwick County Zoo to discuss proposed changes in county fireworks law.
Most who addressed the meeting asked county commissioners to repeal a 1978 law that bans fireworks.
"I want to see my grandkids watch fireworks like I did," said Alton Savoy, who lives near Haysville. "I should be able to shoot them off on my own property."
Susan Pool said she and her neighbors in eastern Sedgwick County want to be able to celebrate the holiday with fireworks.
"We want our Fourth of July celebration to be legal, and we want it to include fireworks," she said.
Bob Kennedy, a retired law enforcement officer, said he thinks the issue goes beyond fireworks.
"This is not about fireworks," he said. "It's about celebrating the independence of our nation."
The meeting began with Sedgwick County Fire Marshal Tim Millspaugh outlining three options now under consideration by Sedgwick County commissioners.
Option A: Maintaining the current law, which bans the sale or use of fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county.
Option B: Allowing the use of limited types of fireworks, similar to those permitted in Wichita and other incorporated cities.
Option C: Repealing the county law and adopting state fireworks laws. Commercial-grade fireworks would be legal on private property.
Of the 15 speakers who addressed commissioners, most favored Option C. But there were dissenting voices.
"For safety's sake, I would like to keep it the way it is," said John Dailey. "I've had at least two grass fires on my land because of somebody else's carelessness."
Gerri Watts said she was concerned about animals that are traumatized by fireworks.
"A lot has changed since 1978," she said. "There are more people, they're closer together, and they have animals.... I'm hoping animals will be given serious consideration."
Patrick Wolke said commissioners should consider fire department response times when making their decision.
"It's not patriotic and it's not unpatriotic to shoot fireworks," he said. "The bottom line is how long is it going to take the fire department to get to your house if somebody sets it on fire? If you set it on fire?"
Most speakers, however, said they wanted to see the county ease its restrictions on fireworks.
Gary Riedmiller, who has lived near Mulvane since 1992, said that whatever law is in effect, people are going to shoot fireworks.
"People been shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July since the 1700s," he said. "Go for Option C. Let common sense prevail."