- A & E - Business & Science Eighty years ago, people were
allowed to walk up with children in tow and feed the bears in
Yellowstone. Fifty years ago, seat belts in cars were looked at
as a suggestion rather than the rule. Fifteen years ago, bicycle
helmets were rare, and the children who wore them were often
teased. But today, of course, no one with any sense feeds the
bears, skips fastening their seat belts, or sends their children
out onto the streets without a bicycle helmet. These obvious
safety provisions have prevented a lot of terrible things from
happening. So why is that we in America are so stubborn about
our fireworks? Perhaps it’s because the fireworks display is so
closely associated with the celebration of American
independence, or perhaps it’s because people just don’t like
being told what they shouldn’t (or can’t) do. But the fact is
that fireworks are not just another toy, and anything which
involves an open flame deserves to be regulated. Take sparklers,
for instance. Most estimates indicat