Bill would expand fireworks sales in California
By Hannah Madans, Sacramento Bee
In California, Fourth of July is the one holiday that gets the fireworks pass – for one summer week, starting today, you can buy sparklers and fountains to celebrate Independence Day.
In a couple of years, you may be able to hoist a champagne glass as your fireworks light up the winter sky to toast the new year.
A bill that has already passed the state Senate – unanimously – would double the weeks fireworks can be sold, from June 28 to July 4 and from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
A second week of sales would not only give New Year’s celebrants another way to party, but also would ignite sales for wholesalers such as TNT Fireworks, the sponsor of the bill.
The companies have some key supporters in their corner – the nonprofits that set up those plywood roadside stands that dot the Sacramento area this time of year.
“The fact that we’re cutting back on all the programs, safety net programs and what not, a lot of the money that nonprofits used to get, they don’t get anymore,” said Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, who is carrying the measure. “The sale of fireworks on a local level helps create a lot of revenue.”
Senate Bill 1468 would add that second week for just two years, 2014 and 2015. It’s pending in the Assembly.
Under current law, about 290 California communities allow nonprofit groups to sell fireworks, including churches, high school booster clubs and sports organizations.
Among them is the Rosemont Little League, whose treasurer Dennis Gallagher said fireworks sales make up 20 percent of the league’s budget.
Adding more sales between Christmas and New Year’s Day “would be an additional revenue stream that we would definitely pursue,” he said.
Sorry, but in this dry, arid state selling fireworks anywhere is just handing the match over to burn down our forests, homes and add to the injuries in the ER. Add in the costs to fight the fires and is the revenue really worth it.
Every holiday you can hear the illegal fireworks going off, even though they’re banned in the basin.
Commonsense says against this bill and so should our legislature.
I suppose the case could be made that bottle rockets, sky rockets, etc. cause fires in California. But fireworks legal in California (safe & sane) have not been shown to be a factor in home & forest fires. Additionally, the time of year being proposed is a time when the fire danger is significantly lower than July. I think this is a reasonable proposal and I am in favor of it.
Jack, Please note the facts below from the NFPA… many fires and firework injuries are caused by every kind of fireworks. This bill is bad.
“In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 total structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated eight reported civilian deaths, 60 civilian injuries and $36 million in direct property damage.
In 2010, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks related injuries; 57% of 2010 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 37% were to the head.
The risk of fireworks injury was highest for children ages 5-14, with more than twice the risk for the general population.
On Independence Day in a typical year, far more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for two out of five of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.”
Legal fireworks used by people who ignore the instructions and safety precautions cause plenty of damage. The teen-aged pyromaniac living next door to us ignited a legal firework and threw it onto the shake roof of the house behind theirs. The place was quickly gutted. The senior lady and her caregiver never knew the place was on fire until the fire fighters arrived. The kid bragged about his mischief at summer school. This is just one story.
Parents start drinking, the kids aren’t supervised, and bad things happen. Idiots abound. Change the law. Find another way to raise funds, such as making kids WORK for the money. Wash cars, mow lawns, clear roof gutters, etc. Things that matter. Fireworks don’t matter.
One exception: professional displays. They’re safe, sane, and truly lovely.
End the nanny state. People will always do stupid things. There are more people injured every year from Bicycles and kitchen knives than fireworks. I suppose we could also ban matches and how about cars? How many are killed by them? Lets ban idiot liberals while we’re at it.