Letter: Fireworks legalization is a fiasco

An open letter to Iowa Legislators:

Why? What was the greater good for allowing the legalization of fireworks? How has our life improved? Gone are our relaxing summer nights, the sound of nature drowned out by bangs and whooshes and booms. Mornings have become the time to police the yard and pick up trash from neighbors 'festivities,” and wait for the spent firework cartridges to blow off our roof. Nights are spent trying to calm our upset and anxious dog. I can't even begin to imagine how a person suffering from PTSD is handling the continuous assault on the senses. Legal dates and times for discharging fireworks are completely ignored by those around us.

In a time when Iowa constituents are concerned about health care and education, why was legalization of fireworks such a high priority? Hospitals, doctors, firefighters, and EMTS all came out against the bill. But you didn't listen, and you should be ashamed.

Cindy Kreassig

Marion