Cecilia Renee Withers
Central Avenue
“Yes. I don’t do fireworks. … There are a lot of dry areas around here and I don’t want to see anybody’s house burning up.”

Carol Merriweather
Jefferson Park
“Absolutely. I just think they are dangerous. My daughter got burned on her neck from fireworks that were set off this weekend. She was just watching.”

Rolando Medina
Jefferson Park
“Yes. … The penalties should not be too harsh, but there should most definitely be some restrictions on them.”

Chuck Kronenfeld
Norwalk
“A little bit, but I don’t intend to change any of my summer plans.”

Princess Surjopolos
Norwalk
“I do worry a lot. I am concerned about the increase in terrorism.”

Paul Apodoca
Norwalk
“It’s always on my mind. If you see something, say something.”

Frances Davis
Vermont Knolls
“Independence Day in the ’hood just means fireworks and M80s and loud noises. But really Independence Day probably means a day to remember that you are free.”

De’Ana Cooper
Mid City
“Being free, open and … yourself. Back in the day … my ancestors were so closed in. They could only do a small amount of things. So, now we can actually be us and go out and strive.”

Flora Wiley
Exposition Park
“Independence Day is the blessing to be in the land of the living. I am glad of that. I am 87. I can go out and have some cake … for my birthday on the sixth of July.”

Tomas Fernandez
Downey
“No, they should wait for the next president.”

Lizbeth Becerra
Downey
“I think so. He should do what presidents are supposed to do.”

Hector Enciso
Lynwood
“They should wait for the next president, who probably will be Clinton.”

Kenny Crandell
Hawthorne
“No, they should not be prohibited, but through tighter laws and restrictions, I think they should be limited to certain people who can get them.”

Bartholomew
Leimert Park
“No, I don’t think they should be banned overall. We’ve got the right to bear arms.”

Kenny Rister
Crenshaw District
“No, they should not be taken away because the U.S. Army and the police use them for force and some people use them to protect their families and for hunting.”

Mariyah Borge
Norwalk
“Yes, they should be banned. If they are, I think we will see a big drop in this type of shooting.”

Andrew Hopwood
Huntington Beach
“No. I own one. I use it for target shooting. My rights should not be restrained.”

Lamont Hardiman
Santa Fe Springs
“I am for the Second Amendment, but not for terrorists who want to kill us. They should expand background checks.”

Dionne Knight
Crenshaw District
“Yes, if they take responsibility. There are a lot of angry people in the world. … Nobody takes responsibility for their actions, nor do they care for anybody else.”

Red Myers
Crenshaw District
“No, it is a guerrilla thing. Basically, there’s no way to beat someone who is already dead. They don’t mind losing. They are going to die anyway.”

Jacques Harris
Jefferson Park
“The ‘war on terrorism’ only comes about because of the way we treat other nations and the example that we set. So, can we win the war? ‘No.’”

Sonya Stinson
Bellfllower
“I am neutral. You may have siblings who want you to live. It should be a family decision.”

Corliss Bennett
Bellflower
“I am against it. You never know. There could be a turnaround. … It should be in the hands of the Lord, not man.”

Randall Dalton
Bellflower
“Why not, if the patient is in pain and anguish?”

Angel Castaneda
Downtown
“As one of the biggest boxing champs.”

Rory Dauson
Hollywood
“I think the ‘Rope-a-Dope.’ He was famous for pioneering the ‘Rope-a-Dope.’”

Erik Cartier
Los Angeles
“He was a great boxer and just a segue to the whole boxing world.”