Shot-Off by Everyday People Who Share a Property Line with Us.


Fireworks in Missouri are legal. Vendors across the state can sell fireworks from June 20 to July 10 and Dec. 20 to Jan. 2. Despite fireworks being legal statewide, Missouri cities have their own laws when it comes to shooting off them off. It’s up to each and every individual city and municipality in each and every county throughout the state to set its own laws & rules, including for public displays. This means a patchwork of hundreds of different rules. Local laws can also go against county laws. Our county law (that bans private citizens from shooting off fireworks during a time of danger from draught) means nothing. Thus, anyone, who wants, are free to shoot off fireworks (big & little) in our area because the local authorities don't care. Fireworks have always been totally legal for private citizens to shoot off here: no matter how dry the landscape. It's tradition. That includes close-to-professional-size rockets in the hands of private citizens.

Although our other neighbors on 4 sides normally shoot off fireworks for July 4th, this is the first year that our closest next-door neighbor has ever done so. That got my attention. Their surprise fireworks weren't as varied as a professional show, but they were nevertheless big enough and long lasting enough for me to photograph from our deck. They served as an "opening act" for the later professional fireworks show in the distance.

I love fireworks displays. However, I'm frankly not a big fan of private citizens shooting them off. Obviously, my opinion is in the minority where we live. Most everyone here shoots off fireworks for the Fourth. The tree silhouettes in this gallery are mainly from trees in our yard. However, none of the sizable rockets from next door ended up in our yard, which is not something I can say about blasts set off by both the neighbors across the street and those directly behind us. Unlike those shot by the other two neighbors, I think these were aimed more toward the street away from us. That made me feel more comfortable than our normal fear of having to duck or grab the hose.