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Legislators attempting to make sale of fireworks legal in Iowa

firerackersDES MOINES – Despite serious risk of injury to consumers, the Iowa Legislature is trying to advance a bill legalizing the sale of consumer fireworks to the public.

This week, a Senate panel in Des Moines approved a bill that would make legal the sale of potentially dangerous fireworks such as firecrackers and other explosive products. The bill would need to be passed by the full Senate and then looked at in the House before going to Governor Terry Branstad’s desk. He has signaled he might be in favor of a bill loosening restrictions on the sale of consumer fireworks.

Iowa code 727.2 regulates the sale of consumer fireworks in Iowa. Anyone who offers for sale, exposes for sale, sells at retail, or uses or explodes any fireworks, commits a simple misdemeanor.

The National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) says consumer fireworks are to blame for thousands of injuries every year, including “permanent scarring, loss of vision, dismemberment”.

According to the NFPA, in 2013, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,400 people for fireworks related injuries; 55% of those injuries were to the extremities and 38% were to the head.

Children are most at risk of injury, especially young people between the ages 0-4, followed by children 10-14.

Advocates for legalizing fireworks say other states have already done so, and could help the Iowa economy.

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