For many people, springtime means blooming flowers, chirping birds, and glorious sunshine. Spring is about rebirth and rejoicing.

For millions of Americans, however, spring means the return of loud car stereos thundering through their neighborhoods. Boom cars turn spring into a time of anxiety, angst, depression, and even sorrow. One noise victim commented, "I feel as though I should go into mourning and wear black when I see the last of the snow melt here." Thousands of neighborhoods have been ruined by blasting boom cars and hot rods. Repugnant, intense noise disturbs sleep and relaxation, fosters criminality, and decreases property values.

The aggressive, constant pounding and thumping from boom cars is strongly encouraged by malicious advertising from the electronics industry. Pioneer Electronics, for example, recently launched a stealth $3 million advertising campaign for its car stereo equipment, with the theme "Disturb," "Defy," "Disrupt," and "Ignite." Pioneer boasts that its campaign is "full of attitude and edgy documentary-style video," and is targeted to the "16-24-year-old male 'Tuner' with a passion for cars and entertainment." According to Pioneer, "Tuners" have "created a lifestyle around their love of chrome and nitrous oxide," and personalize their vehicles "to create works of art that make a statement."

And what kind of "statement" does Pioneer want Tuners to make by adding powerful amplifiers and subwoofers to their cars, which are already loaded with loud, illegal racing equipment? That they have the right to disturb the peace from a mile away. That they have feelings of aggression and hostility toward society. That they have the right to assault communities. Pioneer and other electronics companies are supporting violence, thuggery and delinquency.

Magazines such as Auto Sound & Security, Performance Auto Sound, and Car Audio are full of aggressive, malicious ads for boom car equipment. JBL gloats, "Either we love BASS or hate your neighbors." JL Audio warns, "Be Very Afraid." MSX swaggers that it is "proud to be loud." Kicker asserts, "You deserve a beating ... Kicker's loudest, meanest subwoofer ever." Concept blusters, "When TOO loud ... is just right!!" Lightning Audio promises "sonic submission." Boss Audio Systems advises, "Turn it down? I don't think so." Cerwin-Vega Mobile Audio vows to "Shake the living, wake the dead" and celebrates "Maximum Boom: 50 more years of disturbing the peace." Crossfire crows, "We're louder ...Deal with it!" Panasonic brags that its systems are "loud as hell." Earthquake Sound offers "the Meanest, Loudest, Most Powerful, Mother F—- Amplifiers Money Can Buy!"

Many boom car ads are violently sexual. MTX advises, "Turn it up/ Keep it up." MA Audio's slogan is "Murdering all weak beats with slammin' Hard-Kore POWER" (complete with a nearly-naked woman brandishing a knife). Eclipse Audio offers an orgasmic woman experiencing "pure audio ecstasy." According to Planet Audio, "Size does matter." Skunk Racing blusters that its megapower exhaust is "well hung."

One of the most gruesome ads is from Viper Audio. The "Cold Blooded" Viper pledges "violent Class D fury and ferocious multi-channel mayhem. No escape from the hellacious pounding of the heat-hardened subs and the aggressive in-your-face power of neodynium speakers. The fearsome Viper is unleashed."

And the founder of Viper Audio? Darrell Issa — a Republican congressman from California. Issa is the former chairman of the powerful Consumer Electronics Association, which uses its financial muscle to lobby against local ordinances protecting peace and quiet. He is also the founder of Directed Electronics and Viper car alarms. Issa is one of the most prominent members of the noise industrial complex.

Car stereo and performance auto parts companies are promoting mean streets and mean people. Boom car advertising champions brutality, savagery, and acoustic terrorism. Boom car equipment is at the core of a vicious, violent, anti-social subculture. The nation needs to take strong action against the growing menace of loud car stereos.