PRESS: Photo 'condones' crime

The front page of the July 5 Press had many photos of the local Fourth of July activities. Among these there is one photo of a man’s silhouette on a rooftop against a firework background. The caption to this picture indicated he was at a neighborhood fireworks show in Coeur d’Alene.

I am a bit surprised that I have to bring this to the editor’s attention, but it is illegal in the city of Coeur d’Alene to have such fireworks. Your photographer took a photo of an illegal activity in progress and your newspaper printed it on the front page of the paper along with “fun” photos of the Fourth of July festivities. I do believe one of your past editions has actually done a cover story on illegal fireworks in the city during the Fourth of July holiday and had quotes from law enforcement officials regarding the criteria of an illegal firework and the penalties for using them in city limits.

So are you condoning the use of such fireworks in the city or did you just provide the Coeur d’Alene Police Department with photo evidence and the printed name of a witness to the crime?

SHIRLEY MILLER

Coeur d’Alene

Editor’s note: The Press also publishes photos of car crashes, some involving illegal activity, but that doesn’t mean we condone them. Newspapers reflect what’s happening in their communities, then leave it up to readers to decide how that information may best be put to use.