Greg Awtry

In today’s paper, Bill Lundy, secretary of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association, responds to an editorial I wrote about how I didn’t feel it was the state’s responsibility to ban the sale of novelty lighters in Nebraska.

I must tell you as I read his letter, the reason for the novelty lighter ban is a bit clearer. He cited several statistics, like 37 percent of fires are started by juveniles, and 14 states have already banned the novelty lighters. I don’t doubt these stats for a moment. But before we go completely down the road of big-brother government, I wish Mr. Lundy had provided us with additional information.

There is “feel-good” legislation and there is “do-good” legislation. Banning novelty lighters … which is it, “feel-good” or “do-good?” Since 14 states have banned novelty lighters, what are the effects? Has there been a reduction in fire injuries and fatalities that can be traced back to the novelty lighter ban?

At what point does the state stop making more laws to cover up poor parenting. Where does individual responsibility and government responsibility begin and end. Should we ban all guns because guns kill folks? Should we ban all cars because children are killed by the thousands in auto accidents? Ridiculous you say? Probably so, but where is the line?

Freedom comes with personal responsibility. I suppose if we are unable to act responsibly, then we give up the right to freedom and cede all responsibilities to the state. It’s absurd.

Secretary Lundy asks for my apology. I’ll give one if Mr. Lundy will return the favor.

First, mine. As I read the text of LB 469 there is no mention, not a single word from the bill’s sponsor, Senator Karpisek, about any reason whatsoever why he wants this bill, nothing about fires, children, injuries or fatalities. I am sorry if I jumped to conclusions without all the facts, but I am still waiting for facts to validate that banning novelty lighters saves lives. I would hope you (Bill Lundy) could provide us with that information.

Now it’s Mr. Lundy’s turn. In his response he was so grossly mistaken I nearly get sick each time I read it. Mr. Lundy said, “Maybe to increase the sale of newspapers you are wishing that you can report on a firefighter death trying to save lives from a fire started by a 4-year-old with his Daffy Duck lighter.”

Shame on you Bill Lundy. I will officially go on the record right now and say if I had my wish we would never again have to cover a fire or accident, especially one where injury or death was present. For you to even insinuate that your neighbors and friends who work at the York News-Times would ever put a few lousy dollars in front of a human life is completely irresponsible. It’s worth repeating when I tell you there is not a single person in this newspaper who looks forward to the scanner going off informing us of yet another tragedy. If apologies are in order, I would ask that you apologize to every employee of this newspaper.

Who knows, maybe you are right about banning novelty lighters. We should be able to have a civil discussion about it. And, I hope we could agree on the fact you and your fellow firefighters are out there doing their job every day, just as we are, and in many instances side by side. While you are out there saving property and lives, the York News-Times is reporting factual accounts of the job you all do so well. We see what you see. We feel what you feel. It then becomes our job to inform readers about the tragedy, despite the amazing work done by our local firefighters, often times in the midst of danger.

Many times the photographic coverage we provide is sought out by police and fire departments to help with investigations. In fact, Steve Moseley, York News-Times Editor, was the official photographer for the Powell Wyoming Fire Department while he was on the Powell Tribune newspaper staff.

Like you, we are proud of our work, but make no doubt about it. We get no joy responding and reporting on the very same calls you and the other brave firefighters must.

I look forward to a continuing discussion of facts and opinions about LB 469, the novelty lighter ban, not only with you, but from our readers as well. I invite everyone to chime in.

Read Lundy’s Letter to the Editor

Nebraskans are in grave danger.

The state legislature is digging deep into its pockets, and opening up every department and agency to see what can be cut, while trying not to shrink services down to a dangerous level. They are looking for one billion dollars and since the governor has said he is opposed to any new taxes, obviously budget cuts are coming.

I said we must be in grave danger, but it is not budget cuts that have me worried. Our state government has grown faster than the private sector for years so many of the reductions are far overdue. The governor has submitted a budget proposal and he hopes to find about two thirds of the one billion in cuts and about one third from dipping into the state’s piggy bank of reserves. It’s a good plan and will no doubt act as a starting point for some very difficult decisions which must be made by the senators.

Amidst all this pending chaos looms the peril. While we must reduce the size and scope of Nebraska’s government there are two very dangerous situations that must be controlled, for left unchecked, they could have devastating effects on the citizens of our great state. Surely you must be aware of this because two bills have been introduced to eliminate these menaces from our society.

I’m not talking about acid rain or polluted water. I’m not talking about global warming or H1N1 viruses. I’m talking about novelty cigarette lighters and those little toys children get with their fast food meals. Makes you shiver in fear at the very mention of them, doesn’t it? I mean, what horror! No doubt the very thought of these keeps you up at night, as it does me.

If novelty cigarette lighters continue to go unchecked, why they could destroy our state. But what can we do? We are just the little people unable to think for ourselves. Maybe Senator Karpisek can save us! His bill, LB 469 would ban novelty cigarette lighters, and save the state from disaster. He describes these insidious contraptions as any cigarette lighter that resembles: a cartoon character, a toy, a gun, a watch, a musical instrument, a vehicle, animal, food or beverage container. He would make it a crime to sell a novelty cigarette lighter such as these. Also illegal would be lighters that play musical notes, have a flashing light or more than one button!

Oh what a relief. I have been praying someone would save us from lighters that look like Donald Duck. I’m sure you have been extremely worried about this as well. No longer! The good old state of Nebraska to the rescue. If this passes, no longer will we be in danger of being forced to watch someone light an actual cigarette with a lighter that looks like Scooby Doo. Thank you Senator Karpisek, our very survival may depend on you ramming this law down our throats.

But there are still more dangers out there folks, beware! Isn’t it about time big-brother government does something about those tempting kids’ prizes given away by fast food restaurants. Can you imagine the black hole we would spiral into if we don’t get our hands around this looming disaster? Come on, admit it, you know what I’m talking about. You have seen them hidden down there in the bottom of the sacks amid those few French fries that seem to crawl to the bottom of the bag. They range from small plastic toys to plastic mugs promoting an upcoming movie.

Who will save us from this danger? Is it a bird, a plane? No, it’s Super Hero Senator Avery! His bill, LB 126 would make it a crime for a fast food restaurant to engage in such horrible acts. I mean, look at what it’s already done to our great state! If this bill passes, no longer will Nebraska children be exposed to such cruelty. Finally, there is hope. Senator Avery, thank you for accusing Nebraska’s fine parents of being too stupid to overcome a huge corporations’ marketing schemes. Thank you for being our great protector.

Come on senators. Surely we have bigger fish to fry. We are trying to avoid a financial meltdown, trying to keep our schools properly funded, our state highways in good repair, all on less money than we had before. Now, do we really want kiddie meal cops hanging around burger joints trying to catch a dangerous criminal who just gave away a “Shrek” cup? And are we really going to cite grandpa with a Class IV misdemeanor because he wants to light his favorite pipe with a lighter that plays the national anthem?

I may be mistaken, but I thought we were trying to curb the growth of state government, to streamline it, make it function more effectively with less money. I was wrong again. It is a near miracle that Nebraska has made it this far, this long, without your heavy-handed governmental wisdom, which must be necessary to ban instruments of destruction such as these.

At least now, I can go to bed at night knowing you two senators, Karpisek and Avery, are out there trying to protect all Nebraskans from the looming dangers of Spiderman mugs and Harley Davidson lighters.

Saved, saved at last!