Nearly every day and night for the past month, we’ve been hearing bombs exploding in Kailua. Please stop calling them “illegal fireworks.” These are dangerous explosives and should be treated as such. The people who are blowing up stuff aren’t merely “scofflaws” popping a few firecrackers. They are terrorizing people and pets, while threatening our homes through direct hits or by causing fires.

Obviously, someone knows who are setting off these explosives. So why aren’t they reporting the perpetrators to the police?

A couple of reasons: If you call the police, they will tell you they cannot do anything unless they catch the perps in the act. Also, there isn’t any incentive to risk retribution from the bomb throwers if you provide evidence to the police in the form of smartphone videos or photos.

Lawmakers need to create stronger penalties that include jail time and bigger fines for possession or selling of explosives. Then offer rewards for tips or evidence that leads to the arrest and conviction of these neighborhood terrorists.

Rich Figel

Kailua

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