Consumer Fireworks Should Be Fine

There was a proposed amendment to firework regulations to the Consumer Product Safety Commission back in December, 2016. This proposal makes a suggestion that the CPSC should amend firework regulations to make them safer. This new amendment would create new requirements and modify existing requirements for safety regulations of fireworks. Basically, this amendment is stating that many of the injuries due to fireworks are because of the different metals and materials inside of the aerial cakes and shells. The CPSC is stating that these metals are dangerous for people and that having them inside of fireworks causes injuries to people using them. This proposal caused a lot of controversy in the fireworks industry. If this were to pass, up to 85% of the artillery shells and other aerial fireworks would be banned in the United States. Many leaders in the industry actively spoke out against this amendment and there were petitions circulating asking for signatures to shoot down the proposal.

I don't think that this proposal will pass. One reason is that it would practically eliminate all of the aerial consumer fireworks that we have now. This would cause no one to want the watered down fireworks left that pass the new regulations. This would lead to decreased revenues for the states selling fireworks and a loss of jobs within the consumer fireworks industry. Another reason that I predict this will not pass is the expense. If the CPSC passed this, it would lead to increased extensive testing done for consumer fireworks coming into America. This is very costly and would need federal funding. This is a waste of money as the fireworks that are available now are not unsafe as it is.