On November 30, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) joined other organizations concerned with fireworks safety in asking the Ohio Senate to hold off on passage of House Bill (HB) 253, a bill to legalize the discharge of fireworks, during the final weeks of lame duck.
The letter states, “With all of the challenges our state is facing, we are perplexed to see HB 253 moving after just two committee hearings in the Senate and no real dialogue. Certainly, there are more important issues for this chamber to discuss in the final days of the 133rd General Assembly. Bills to legalize fireworks discharge have continued to circulate in the legislature over the past few years. Proponents typically represent the fireworks industry while opponents represent a diverse coalition of healthcare professionals, advocates for veterans, first-responders, animal rights groups, and citizens who have been harmed by fireworks.”
The Fireworks Safety Coalition has not been approached about participating in any interested party meetings or discussions about possible changes to the bill. Further, many of the physicians and other healthcare professionals who oppose this legislation are unable to testify or participate in the process because of a surge of hospitalizations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fireworks are inherently dangerous and the current statewide prohibition on discharge conveys that message clearly. Individuals may choose to disobey the law, as they do with impaired or distracted driving; however, legislators have an obligation to encourage citizens to be safe and avoid actions that can harm others. Passage of HB 253 sends a dangerous signal that backyard fireworks are safe.
Fireworks sales skyrocketed this year due to the cancellation of large, public displays. As a result, injuries and property fires went up. Again, passage of HB 253 will only encourage these actions and lead to more injuries and destruction.
The OAFP has long opposed the legalization of discharging backyard fireworks from a public safety standpoint.