The Fourth of July is supposed to be about our independence, but where is our independence when it comes to purchasing real fireworks like my parents' generation was able to buy in their youth? I love Connecticut, always will, but I refuse to purchase wanna be fireworks! So many other states allow you to buy firecrackers; sky rockets, cherry bombs, roman candles, M-80s.

Can you imagine all the added money our state could be taking in? Instead people drive down South, spending money on real fireworks, giving money to a state other than ours. My feeling is, start selling them in Connecticut, but only to adults of legal age, with the stipulation of having to keep them locked up and away from children, just like you would a gun, rifle, and ammunition.

I realize some people have been hurt by fireworks, some by misusing them, and others by malfunctions happening. Just put "use at your own risk" on them, like a warning on a cigarette package, so people can't sue.

So for all the blue laws that have been changed, our state is still behind. Please bring back our freedom to use real fireworks so we can really feel independent again!

Ed Victoria

Groton