# Should Fireworks be Illegal (to Consumers)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406 "2004-06-27T15:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/21 "2004-06-28T02:15:27Z")
I live in Florida. Here you can buy anything, and I mean anything (technically the limit on reloadable mortars is 500 g, but that’s still big). Tubes, reloadables, rockets, missiles, repeaters, Roman candles, helicopters, firecrackers, and all the tamer stuff such as cones and sparklers and fountains. When you purchase fireworks, you must sign a form stating that you plan on taking them out of the state to a state where they’re legal. This is plain stupid. Its like selling dope legally as long as you promise to consume in Georgia. The State knows that this is not going to happen. The State knows that they make truckloads of cash in sales tax. Local business makes huge profits. The local sheriffs know that if they crack down on neighborhood celebrations, people get pissed and tend not to reelect them. It is part of the culture down here to celebrate our freedom by blowing shit up. Local law enforcement lets it be known that they will only respond to complaints. Most, but not all of the public is content with the status quo. (You can’t please all of the people all of the time.) Florida is wet. It rains nearly every day in the summer. Fires are hard to start. Everyone understands this. There have been a few years that the Fire Marshall has declared that due to drought, a ban on discharging fireworks is in effect, even though it is known that they already are illegal. For the most part, folks respect this. This isn’t going to be one of those years. We live in a middle class neighborhood on a cul-de-sac. It is tradition for the neighbors to gather on the Fourth and have fun. It goes on everywhere. The skies over Florida are awash with amateur displays. Its fun and a great way for all of us to get together. The same is true on New Year’s Eve. Its the way we like it. Its our business. No one has ever complained. Often times I can remember a cop cruiser go by and not harass us while mortars shoot into the air right in front of it. I fully expect to be flamed for this. Sorry. Our scenario may not work in your state, but it does for us. Happy Fourth of July. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/22 "2004-06-28T03:01:43Z")
Congratulations to the OP-I don’t believe I’ve ever felt this conflicted about a thread response. On one hand, I remember my Dad crafting a pyrotechnical show in SC when I was a little kid. I’d be lying to claim I hadn’t enjoyed playing with fireworks as a teenager and young adult. But, I’m also a firefighter, former EMT/Paramedic, and I worked in a hospital ER so I’ve seen the down side of combining the untrained and explosives, with and without alcohol. ☹ When I was younger, I’d probably vote on the side of ‘what the hell-let everybody take responsibility for themselves’ but I’ve learned that people don’t do that, and too many knuckleheads set other folks property on fire because they don’t know what they’re doing. Remember kids-even if the ground is damp-the roof may be fairly easy to ignite. Have a safe 4th, y’all 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/23 "2004-06-28T05:40:19Z")
1. You can’t make fireworks 100% idiot-proof. 2. On the other hand, lots of stuff that are not 100% idiot-proof are legally sold and used on a daily basis. My suggestion? Make the “safe and sane” fireworks legal, but stick big honkin’ WARNING labels all over them, and have the laws state that property damage/personal injury as a result of fireworks is the liability of the person shootin’ them off. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/24 "2004-06-28T11:22:41Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > My suggestion? Make the “safe and sane” fireworks legal, but stick big honkin’ WARNING labels all over them, and have the laws state that property damage/personal injury as a result of fireworks is the liability of the person shootin’ them off. And we all know that people read and adhere to warning labels. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tiggrkitty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggrkitty/32/17966_2.png) [@Tiggrkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiggrkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/25 "2004-06-28T11:24:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > But the solution is education of the stupid and ignorant, not the banning of whatever tool they used to be stupid. Well we know how well this is going don’t we? What year is this and how long have we been trying to educate the ignorant? :rolleyes: People do stupid shit, add an intoxicant and those somewhat responsible adults turn into real nitwits out for a good time and don’t think twice about having bottle rocket fights. The alternative would be to legalize fireworks, but make it illegal to set any off within 100 yards of a residence. This would eliminate the possibility of your so called responsible adult neighbor from popping off a roman candle and setting his house on fire, which in turns catches 3 more on fire. You want to light fireworks, then go to a park or open field somewhere, away from innocent parties. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/26 "2004-06-28T13:42:37Z")
When I was in college, some idiot dropped an M-80 out his dorm window. It exploded a few floors down, in the room next to mine. I thought at first that someone threw a television through the window. Luckily, my neighbor was not in bed at the time, as his pillow was shredded by glass shrapnel. M-80s are just too stinking powerful to have in the hands of just anybody. I defer judgment on fireworks to the state fire marshall. They set the threshold of what is too great a fire and/or explosive hazard for public use. Those that emit showers of sparks are safe enough when done with a garden hose handy to put out any grass fires. Things like Roman candles are too great a fire hazard- you could easily set fire to someone’s roof. Use some common sense, but only what’s legal and ask yourself what is the worst thing that could happen, then prepare so that it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/27 "2004-06-28T14:27:34Z")
YAY FOR REDNECK-VILLE MISSISSIPPI!!! in natchez,(the county seat of Adams County) fireworks are “illegal” so if you wanna see them, go on the 4th of july to Ramada Inn Hilltop. watch the city blow stuff up. BUT If you are like me and live in the COUNTY, then you can do whatever you want. shoot guns(even though i can see the highway from my backyard) shoot fireworks, whatever. the fireworks stands start poppin up about 100 yards from the city limits sign. there are, on average, 5 of them, with maybe one 5 miles South of town. (i live on the north). Not that i shoot too many fireworks, but its good that i am able to. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/28 "2004-06-28T16:40:54Z")
> [@Tiggrkitty](#): > > The alternative would be to legalize fireworks, but make it illegal to set any off within 100 yards of a residence. I would have no problem at all with a law like that. Only common sense, really. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/29 "2004-06-28T19:51:11Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > And we all know that people read and adhere to warning labels. :rolleyes: If they don’t, then they deserve what they get. Just think of it as evolution in action. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/30 "2004-06-28T20:36:41Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > And we all know that people read and adhere to warning labels. :rolleyes: I do. I find they help keep the product from being destroyed and/or prevent injury or death. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/31 "2004-06-28T22:08:47Z")
This is the same old saw. It applies to guns, motorcycle helmets, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, seat belts, etc. Frankly I think there’s a reasonable way to handle each one of these proposed prohibitions, but people are instead looking for ways to slap restrictions on people with whom they disagree. I believe in freedom. But I also believe that a person’s freedom ends when they start to impinge on someone else’s freedom. That said, fireworks should be legal as long as the use thereof does not endanger others or their property. Same for tobacco, pot, firearms and booze. Problem is, it’s hard to ensure that it won’t be misused. But it’s not impossible. Making something illegal merely creates a criminal market and reduces use to some extent. Freedom with responsibility. If you can’t be responsible, you don’t deserve the freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Dopef1sh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@Dopef1sh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dopef1sh)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/32 "2004-06-28T23:41:39Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Whatever someone might feel about whether or not fireworks should be legal or illegal, i’m not sure i’d include under the label “fairly responsible” a person who travels to another state, purchases something that the law says he cannot legally purchase at his age, and then carries that something across state lines to a state where it’s illegal for _anyone_ to have said item. > > YMMV. Way to make stupid assumptions. So I’m violating quite possibly one of the most frequently broken laws in existence. It’s not great, and I’m not bragging about it, but just because I shouldn’t have them doesn’t mean I’m too stupid to use them or would use them inside/near a house. Pretend I live in South Carolina or something. The thread isn’t about whether I should legally have them, but whether or not they should or shouldn’t be illegal. I’m just contradicting other expressed points of view that kids are going to hurt themselves with fireworks and so on. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/33 "2004-06-29T01:55:20Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Oh, and before anyone reads my post and assumes that I’m routinely committing the crime of buying fireworks in Missouri and importing them into Illinois (and thus advocating illegal actions and getting this thread closed) - I never EVER bring Missouri fireworks into Illinois. Detonate so much as a firecracker here and local law enforcement are on you like stink on sh\*t. No, I buy them in Missouri and launch them in Missouri. My brother and I made the annual Missouri fireworks run recently. I was under the impression that it was not illegal to transport fireworks ( less than 1000lbs) anywhere ( across state lines ) but it was illegal to set them off in restricted states. All I bought were sparklers and snakes. My brother, on the other hand… there will be a bar b que and a show here Saturday night ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/34 "2004-06-29T19:30:30Z")
> [@Boscibo](#): > > I live in Wisconsin, and you can buy fireworks here - not the really big stuff like they sell in South Dakota, but big enough stuff that people from Minnesota come over in droves to buy it (just like they do for alcohol on Sundays). Actually, we Minnesotans are finally selling fireworks in our own state. I can’t remember what the exact restrictions are, but I think that exploding items (e.g. firecrackers) are not allowed. We’ll still cross the border for that Sunday bottle of Everclear though! I’m not entirely sure I agree with the following solution, but hey, why not offer up state issued permits for fireworks? Adults pay a small fee (generating revenue for the state) and agree to only use fireworks in a supervised area and agree to all liability and responsibility associated with the fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/35 "2004-06-29T19:43:21Z")
Nothing to add here, really, but this thread reminded me of [this](http://web.archive.org/web/20000824043331/www.theonion.com/onion3628/fun_toy_banned.html) old _Onion_ article. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/36 "2004-06-29T22:17:37Z")
Ever since moving to this section Philadelphia, I look forward to the 4th of July. The many Soviet immigrants express their love for America and the many freedoms it grants its citizens, by setting off massive numbers of illegal fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/37 "2004-06-30T12:44:13Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > The softball analogy is a good one, by the way, because softball games cause a very large number of injuries and even deaths. Ask an emergency room on a warm summer evening where their cases come from, and your going to find a lot of broken bones from soccer, football, baseball, skateboarding, you name it. Every ski hill has ski patrol, and almost every weekend they haul someone off the mountain who has been injured or even killed. Actually, the softball analogy isn’t a very good one, IMO. Putting oneself at risk is one thing, but improperly used fireworks can cause injury to bystanders (innocent or not) and property damage, or even start grass fires that end up doing millions of dollars of damage. There may be a better way to deal with this than outright banning; but unless you can show me a situation where an out-of-control softball game destroyed several homes in the neighboorhood, I’m not accepting the analogy … ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/38 "2004-06-30T14:41:23Z")
I think I’m gonna make myself unpopular and say “yes, fireworks should be illegal”. At least most of the kind that go “boom” loudly – cherry bombs, and M-80s and big-ass rockets. Roman candles and sparkly things, I have no strong opinion on. But having been a teenager, I have firsthand experience that fireworks cause a teen’s IQ to drop by 50-100 points immediately. To the point where “let’s put a firecracker in X to see what happens” sounds like a good idea, no matter what X is. Speaking from personal experience, having a ladyfinger go off inches from your ear and suffering tinninitis for days afterwards tends to make one very thoughtful where fireworks are concerned. And let’s face it, when you’re talking fireworks, you’re not talking about the most mature or sober demographic to begin with. Me, I’d rather my neighbors weren’t loading up mortars and rockets after soaking down a few Budweisers. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/39 "2004-06-30T15:21:33Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > To the point where “let’s put a firecracker in X to see what happens” sounds like a good idea, no matter what X is. And if X is a [puppy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=264121), it gives one even more incentive to see the things banned for personal use. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406/40 "2004-06-30T15:51:21Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > And if X is a [puppy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=264121)… or an [antique cannon](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=253964&highlight=Kappa+Alpha)… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fireworks-be-illegal-to-consumers/252406.md?page=3)