Towards Freedom

Most people know that we have laws. What they do not know is the process by which a law is enforced. An understanding of this process by the neophyte goes a long way to facilitate enforcement of those laws. In the CVRD, it is against the law to sell fireworks, and one needs a permit to set them off. Everyone doesn't follow the law though.

There are only 3 officers that patrol the CVRD's 9 electoral areas consisting of a population of over 31,000. It is not an easy job.

When we call the bylaw enforcement number (250-746-2655) to report a violation, we need to do a bit more than exclaim "Yo! I hear fireworks somewhere towards the east and it's driving me bleeping bonkers!!"

While officers can be sympathetic, in order to spring into action, they really require something more tangible, such as the name of the violating person(s) or an address where the transgression is taking place.

Having that information allows the officer to question the suspect who will either confess to committing the crime or deny any wrongdoing.

In the former case, the officer can simply ticket the individual who will be charged according to the law (and having been identified for posterity, will likely not want to pay a fine again).

In the denial situation, the officer requires some evidence such as fresh fireworks fodder or the statement of a witness for the matter to be taken to court.

Let's be clear on why we need a ban on fireworks. A ban puts the law on our side!

Having the law on your side goes a long way to ending fireworks, because most people will obey a law that is just. Most people appreciate the necessity of maintaining an orderly and safe neighborhood. If a law is designed to promote such an environment, most people will obey that law.

For instance, we do not rob banks because there is a law that essentially says we should not rob banks. Our subsequent exemplary behavior has little to do with the actual enforcement of this law. The law aligns with a standard of proper conduct and most people abide by it, even if they think they can avoid the consequences.

There is no glory to insisting that something worthwhile cannot be done.

One of the arguments against a ban is that it would be very difficult to enforce. This is an impotent attitude which does not seem to understand that enforcement is not the key issue. A law can have an effect regardless of whether it is enforced or not - just as in chess a threat can be more influential than its execution. Nor does the law need to be exhaustively applied. We don't catch all the bank robbers, but catching some of them certainly serves as a deterrent for the ambitious few who may be looking for a career change.

Another misguided manueuvre is to incorrectly blame others for one's state of misfortune. Hence, some feel we will get nowhere with the present lamentable situation because those Indigenous are selling the fireworks. What is overlooked here is that even if those Indigenous didn't sell the fireworks, they still could be purchased online as well as from a variety of non-Indigenous sources!

Finally, when some get tired of blaming the Indigenous, they turn to blaming the enforcement officers for not doing their job, without actually thinking about how difficult that job really is! Enforcement officers are not uncaring, apathetic individuals. They can only do so much given the resources and they deserve our support, cooperation, and encouragement - not merely our complaints about the fireworks or them!

If we chain our posteriors to the problems, we will never get up to reach the solutions.

The biggest hurdle to overcome is not the selling of fireworks or the inability of 3 officers to police 31,000 individuals!

The real problem lies on two fronts: the ignorance of those discharging fireworks, "the bangbang" (not to be confused with an expressive classical pianist, by the way) and the tolerance of the victims, "the meek".

The bangbang are not necessarily inconsiderate so much as they are simply uninformed. Many of them just do not know the irritation and even trauma their 'celebrations' cause others. Some are animal lovers and would be horrified to learn they are harming wildlife or pets. Some are fine individuals who just haven't thought about the effect their activities are having on fellow neighbors. Some are even environmentally conscious, but haven't realized that fireworks leave behind toxic debris that cannot be recycled.

The meek, on the other hand, are too complacent. They have indoctrinated themselves to think fireworks are just a part of life we put up with. It is what it is!

Or is it?!

A tenet of civilized society is that each law-abiding member should be safe from harm. Each individual has the right to live free from damaging pollution, be it deafening noise, blinding light, or noxious toxicity. No individual should be expected to forsake those rights and endlessly endure improper behavior from others!

If you accept the above principle, then realize the following:

It is not your responsibility to be tirelessly tolerant. It is the responsibility of those who violate your basic rights to stop their boorish behavior!

Fences may make good neighbors, but offences certainly create bad ones! And fireworks are an offence no different from wild partying or property damage or hooliganism. These are not things to accept. They are unethical behaviors to call out, vigorously oppose, and permanently extinguish!

One of the things the CVRD encourages is to politely talk to your neighbors and build an awareness of the damage fireworks cause.

Civilized people are also considerate. They do not want to do things that directly harm those that live around them.

Building a neighborhood awareness that fireworks are not wanted and the reasons why are key here. We have Block Parents and Neighborhood Watch. These initiatives make it very clear that certain behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Fireworks are no different. Such harmful behaviors should not be allowed to hide under the guise of celebration, subterfuge of cultural tradition, or panacea of personal enjoyment, when clearly they create a major problem for so many others.

It is therefore the task of those who do not want fireworks, to speak up against them. We need to let the politicians know through letters and presentations that we want fireworks to be banned! We also need to let our fellow neighbors know through courteous, but uncompromising communications that fireworks discharge is in reality a most hurtful activity to the community.

Doing so maybe the most effective form of enforcement there is!