BAN ALL ILLEGAL FIREWORKS

What the fireworks industry says

The Spin

>> There are more children hurt in bicycle accidents than with fireworks.
Fact – Only 5-10% of families shoot fireworks on the 4th of July yet a large percentage of children have bicycles and they ride them daily.. In addition, many children ride their bikes to school during the morning “rush” traffic.

>> Even if you ban fireworks locally people will still buy them in other areas or order them over the internet.
Fact– That’s like a drug dealer saying we should allow him to sell drugs because if we don’t the drug addict will get his drugs elsewhere. Availability is a major factor in the use of both these illegal products. We know there will always be people who break the law. If they didn’t we would not need any police officers.

>> All our customers sign a “verification” form stating they are exempt from the Florida law, therefore our sales are legal.
Fact- Common sense would tell anyone that every customer is not a farmer, or a fish hatchery operator or operate a railroad or has a quarry in their backyard. Doesn't this sounds like a fraudulent transaction? Is this any different than a person walking into a drug store and asking the pharmacist for a prescription drug without a prescription. He would be told that the drug cannot be dispersed without a prescription from a Physician, however, if you sign this form stating you are a physician I can sell it to you. Unless the person really is a licenced physician this would be fraud and that person and the drug store owner would be prosecuted.

>> A barking dog is more of a neighborhood nuisance than fireworks.
Fact – Dogs are legal in neighborhoods, fireworks are not. In addition, Hillsborough County already has a “doggie” ordinance and a “doggie” court for doggies that are “bad”

>> There is not a history of fireworks injuries in Hillsborough County.
Fact – You don’t have to look any further than our own County Commissioners. Commissioner Hagen lost 60% of the sight in one eye from a fireworks injury. We are told it cut short a promising baseball career.