Yes! I agree with Jan and Charlie Peterson’s letter (“Stop fireworks to keep island, water clean,” June 15), let’s stop the fireworks.

How can we do it? For decades, I have bombarded The Beachcomber and business owners who finance the display. My animals, both indoor and livestock, are terrorized. Veterans with PTSD, men and women who served our country (which, remember, the birth of which is what we supposedly celebrate on July 4) are terrorized. The wild creatures of this island, which make up such a large part of its character, are terrorized. We cannot know how many nests of birds are disrupted, how many fish die, from our yearly invasion of their world. Dogs and cats are lost, some not found. Fires are started, some highly damaging. And now, the Petersons bring to the table the fact that groundwater is contaminated by fireworks displays. Why do we continue?

Can we band together and bring an end to this? Does anyone out there have ideas?

If island businesses feel the need to support something patriotic, how about low-cost housing, perhaps named “Freedom House?” They could paint it red, white and blue and give a lot of people a roof over their heads and hope for the future. It would be celebrated all year.

Momentary beauty and an adrenaline rush are not worth the damage we inflict.

— Debbie Butler