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Bill allowing sale of more consumer-grade fireworks passes Iowa House
May. 20, 2015 11:21 pm
DES MOINES - The Iowa House late Wednesday passed legislation legalizing more consumer-grade fireworks like cones and bottle rockets.
Current law allows for the display only of sparklers and other novelties.
Forty states allow more consumer fireworks than Iowa, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Some lawmakers from both parties expressed safety concerns with legalizing more fireworks, joining the concerns raised by the many medical organizations that oppose the legislation. Others said they oppose the bill because of the concerns of veterans whose post-traumatic stress disorder can be triggered by fireworks.
Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said the proposal is a matter of personal liberty.
The bill passed, 53-43, with a mixture of legislators from both parties voting for and against the bill.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, which has a similar bill eligible for floor debate.
(File Photo) John Collar, owner of Pyro City Fireworks in Eagleville, Mo., shows off his stock Wednesday. Although his store is merely 10 miles from the Iowa border, he said many of his Iowa customers come to purchase fireworks but are vacationing in Missouri. (Alison Sullivan/The Gazette)
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