> Today, no kid would be caught dead with a firecracker for fear that he would be.
>
> I don't quite buy that. Laws prohibiting fireworks exist in many places - and keep getting more restrictive - and parents don't want their kids playing with firecrackers, but most *kids* I know are still thrilled to death with them and will sneak off and play with them in secret.

You're right, of course. I misspoke. What I meant to say was, "Today, no *parent* would be caught dead letting their children play with firecrackers."