Should Ohio Fireworks Laws Be Changed?

• Little Danny

  

  Seeing that it's that time of year, there's a lot of discussion about changing firework's law here in Ohio. Right now, it is illegal to light up much more than a sparkler in Ohio. However, we all know this is one of these laws that is not strictly enforced. Heck, my neighbors and I were setting off bottle rockets, roman candles and other fireworks last night and the local constables were nowhere to be found.
  
  
  http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=36872785.story
• wes_mantooth

  

  the law is so retarded, but since they don't enforce the law...I guess there is no need to change it.
• GoChiefs

  

  They enforce it in Logan somewhat, but cops there are assholes.
• ts1227

  

  The dumbest part of it is that they can be manufactured and purchased here, but not discharged.
• majorspark

  

  wes_mantooth;820647 wrote:the law is so retarded, but since they don't enforce the law...I guess there is no need to change it.

  A law not worth being enforced is not worth being on the books.
• Thinthickbigred

  This is a political corrupt matter ...... Its a joke
• Little Danny

  

  I go to my parents house in Kentucky every 4th. I swear it seems like people are setting off mortars in their back yard. All the neighbors on the block get together for a block party and a firework show that rivals stuff that cities put on here in Dublin.
• JerseyBuck

  

  Every year my family gets fireworks that were manufactured here, bought here yet we had to tell them we'd be setting them off in PA. Very dumb. We've had police drive past and even stop for a few minutes and talk when we set them off. There is only one time I remember a cop telling us to wrap it up and that was the year after the psycho firefighter shot and killed 3 people, a few houses down.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  The law only protects the state/city/county when they need protection other times it is a worthless set of regulations.
• majorspark

  

  Little Danny;820666 wrote:I go to my parents house in Kentucky every 4th. I swear it seems like people are setting off mortars in their back yard. All the neighbors on the block get together for a block party and a firework show that rivals stuff that cities put on here in Dublin.

  And Kentucky has yet to burn to the ground.
• curlingrocks

  

  majorspark;820699 wrote:And Kentucky has yet to burn to the ground.

  
  Unfortunately
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  majorspark;820699 wrote:And Kentucky has yet to burn to the ground.

  
  Who could tell the difference if it did?
• Jughead

  

  If it costs the state money to have this as a law, yet they rarely enforce said law, than this law definitely needs to be repealed.
• Sykotyk

  

  It's an 'after the fact law'. After you blow up your friend, knock your house off its foundation and start a small brush fire, the cops can go to you and say "You know what you did was against the law, right?" and punish you then. But, if done responsibly, nobody really gives a crap.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  Just got back from our cottage on Lake Erie. Literally everyone was setting them off, we had $400 worth (whole sale, I don't know the store value) to contribute to the cause. It was a blast. Pun intended.
• Glory Days

  

  majorspark;820699 wrote:And Kentucky has yet to burn to the ground.

  
  haha you want to be like Kentucky?
  

  Sykotyk;820748 wrote:It's an 'after the fact law'. After you blow up your friend, knock your house off its foundation and start a small brush fire, the cops can go to you and say "You know what you did was against the law, right?" and punish you then. But, if done responsibly, nobody really gives a crap.

  
  Probably about 10 years ago I saw someone's gutter catch on fire from fireworks.
• Go4alOngbOmB

  

  Just like last night, we all went to my buddies house out in the middle of the country. We ate good food, played cornhole, horseshoes, and rode quads. Once it got dark the "usual 4" of us went a safe distance away from everyone and set off about 600 dollars worth of good ole american explosives. No one got hurt, the 4 of us who DID light stuff off were sober, and everyone had a great time.
  
  I'm also a believer this is an "after the fact" law. If something does go wrong, then it's a good way to teach people who were not responsible a lesson. So why shouldn't the letter of the law say the same thing? You can set them off, but if something goes wrong you are 100% responsible for any damage done to yourself, anyone else and anyone's property, and you will be fined accordingly. Because honestly, its pretty much what happens right now.
• wes_mantooth

  

  majorspark;820660 wrote:A law not worth being enforced is not worth being on the books.

  
  probably true, but there are still tons of goofy laws in the books from different states....all of them unenforced. I could really care less one way or the other if they change it.
• McFly1955

  

  I wish my effing neighbors wouldn't let their 12 and under kids do fireworks in their front yard unsupervised until 1:30am the last 2 nights and probably tonight as well, while I have a 10 month old sleeping in my house.
• dwccrew

  

  McFly1955;820983 wrote:I wish my effing neighbors wouldn't let their 12 and under kids do fireworks in their front yard unsupervised until 1:30am the last 2 nights and probably tonight as well, while I have a 10 month old sleeping in my house.

  
  Kill them with fire.
• tuskytuffguy

  McFly1955;820983 wrote:I wish my effing neighbors wouldn't let their 12 and under kids do fireworks in their front yard unsupervised until 1:30am the last 2 nights and probably tonight as well, while I have a 10 month old sleeping in my house.

  Like others have said, cops will do something when something bad happens, or if you bitch about it. So, ya shoulda called.
• tsadrummer

  Ohio's firework law is a complete joke, so you can buy in Ohio but you can't set them off in Ohio? That makes perfect sense...If your gonna enforce a law either do it right, or change it.
  
  If changed, there should still be restrictions, but not so strict, maybe even consider times or certain days that they can be used on. In my opinion, They should be aloud on certain holidays (Forth of July, New Years, and so on) and weekends only from maybe 11 A.M. til 11 P.M. This would give people a fair amount of time for firework usage so they won't be keeping neighbors up all night.
  
  If used properly and safely with taking proper precautions, fireworks can be a safe and fun way to celebrate events. All it takes is a little bit of common sense to stay safe. Its quite easy to do, here are a few ways to stay safe when using fireworks.
  
  1) They should be used only when only sober and not under the influence.
  2) Keep fireworks away from minors, and when using novelties, have parental guidance.
  3) Never use fireworks as weapons, even for "fun" as some may call it, don't use fireworks to shoot at each other and/or use them improperly.
  4) Be sure to take extra cautions with certain items, for example, when using a repeater, make sure it is secured well so there will not be a tip over (between some bricks, attached to a stake,and so on).
  5) Keep a good distance away from anything flammable when using fireworks.
  6) Have people wanting to buy go threw a 3-5 hour training for proper use, and once completed the course, test them on their knowledge, and if they pass, reward them with a license to buy consumer fireworks (1.4, not 1.3).
  
  I support the side for changing the Ohio firework law, fireworks are a way of celebration and can be safe when used cautiously.