The Sheriff’s log for the past week shows a large number of reports of illegal fireworks (and many more, I’m sure, which weren’t reported).

The county’s fireworks ban was an act of direct democracy, being passed not once but twice by a vote of the people.

But apparently there are a considerable number of islanders who believe in celebrating the founding of our democracy by rejecting the basic principle of democratic government and claiming the right to break democratically passed laws they don’t approve of.

I would appreciate if at least one of those who set off illegal fireworks (starting perhaps with the people down my road) would reply to the Journal Letters Editor by completing the following sentence:

“I believe that I am entitled to break the law, terrorize local wildlife and pets, and risk burning down my neighbors’ houses because:  _____”

Christopher Hodgkin

Friday Harbor