Do not legalize fireworks

I am an eight year active duty combat veteran. I served honorably from 2004-2012. I would like to address some concerns in regards to the proposal to legalize fireworks in Iowa.

Fireworks are illegal now and law enforcement cannot even keep up with current safety and noise ordinance complaints throughout the summer. I know this because I have multiple neighbors who light off fireworks the entire summer, day and night. I have sustained over $2,000 in damages to my property from bottle rockets and other airborne fireworks, even though they are illegal. So what do you suppose will happen in my neighborhood if fireworks became legal in Iowa? It will be the Fourth of July every day and night of the summer. Where are my rights to live in a peaceful neighborhood?

If legalizing fireworks in Iowa still seems like such a great idea, why not authorize fireworks only in city or state parks? Then the cities and state could incur some of the same damages that citizens would be expected to tolerate.

This brings me to my next point: There is no need to legalize fireworks. Fireworks displays are put on in virtually every town in Iowa during the summer. There are plenty of opportunities for people to go to see fireworks in Iowa.

Some argue legalizing fireworks will capture the revenue Iowans currently spend in the surrounding states on fireworks. However, if the state legalizes fireworks, Iowa would have boom shacks full of explosive fireworks. That requires the state to spend more money on training rescue crews for potential disasters at those locations. What happens when one of the firework boom shacks blows up and there are tons of explosives shooting off in every direction?

If this bill is about bringing revenue to the state, legislators should not try to justify it by saying fireworks now are subject to stricter safety guidelines than in the past. They are fireworks. They are explosive and there is nothing safe about them.

Even now, as fireworks are illegal to use, the state cannot control their use. Some argue that is a reason to legalize them. However, this is similar to stating that if we legalize drunk driving our citizens will be safer.

Finally, think of the effect legal fireworks would have on veterans and other citizens with Post-traumatic stress disorder. Nothing like welcoming home our veterans with constant explosives shooting off all summer. I do not have PTSD and fireworks still make me agitated when I hear them.

Please look out for law-abiding citizens and protect our rights to live in safe and peaceful neighborhoods without having to worry about bangs, booms, and property damage that would be incurred by legalizing fireworks in Iowa.

The bottom line is, there is no need for the legalization of fireworks in Iowa. The state can generate revenue in plenty of other ways besides fireworks sales. Concentrate your focus on other areas such as anti-bullying programs, mental health funding and program implementation, and the list of much more pertinent concerns in the state. Please do not continue to pursue the legalization of fireworks in Iowa.

' Mike Leibold, of Cedar Rapids, is an eight year active duty military veteran and supporter of the Iowans Against Fireworks Coalition. Comments: (319) 269-5146