Just visited Cody, Wyo. where, during the summers, they have a nightly gun fight on Main Street.

Before the “fight” there is a gun safety message and they test one blank gun to show the damage to a soda can and demonstrate the loud bang. Even warned, we all jumped. The families in the front were warned that the noise could scare children, especially babies, and that the noise could hurt dogs’ ears.

No one moved. Halfway through the program, parents reluctantly left with their howling children. The pet owners moved back but did not leave.

Years ago we visited Marineland, where the Orcas were put through their maneuvers. The front rows were warned that the lower seats were splashed and viewers were often soaked to the skin. They seldom moved but the park routinely received complaints about the soaking.

Yes, the pirates are loud and Moby Duck is large. It is the Seafair Pirates – a tradition. They give a warning, they make us jump, we tell the kids the pirates are daddies and they mean to make us jump. Welcome back to Kirkland.

Loita Hawkinson, Kirkland