Fireworks!
Every year, millions of Americans rejoice in our nation’s birthday by using fireworks. It’s a long tradition, woven into the fabric of our society. In 1776 John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, about the Fourth of July.
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty…and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
Two hundred and forty-five years later, the Fourth of July still reminds us of our shared ideals, as fireworks fill the sky with light, “from one end of the continent to the other,” symbolizing the hope that has always propelled us into a brighter future.
During the past three years, consumers have purchased billions of dollars’ worth of fireworks. Celebrations matter, and the July 4th holiday is celebrated with all-American food, music, togetherness, lots of red, white, and blue and of course fireworks.
My colleagues and I who are active in the National Fireworks Association (NFA) continue to make safety our top priority. At my fireworks company in Joplin, Missouri, I have a core mission: providing legal, high-quality products that allow my customers to safely celebrate the Fourth of July, and other holidays, with fireworks.
A significant part of the NFA’s mission is to educate the public on how to safely use fireworks. By following our list of important recommendations, Americans can prevent injuries and save lives. The recommendations are straightforward: for example, you should never point a firework at another person, hold one in your hand, or relight a dud. You should always block and brace fireworks and read the instructions on the package and follow them carefully. Never use fireworks while intoxicated, and if alcohol is going to be consumed at your gathering, always decide on a “designated shooter.” And please obey all local laws and ordinances.
Used properly, fireworks are safe and help families and friends enjoy and celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July.
When the NFA created a PSA on fireworks safety a few years ago, we worked closely with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and Commssioner Peter A. Feldman and our video has been widely shared. Much can be learned from our collaboration, which shows that the private sector can work with the government to promote safety. Now, under a new Administration it seems the CPSC and other federal agencies like the National Park Service do not share that same spirit of collaboration we had before. In fact, the current Administration approved a PSA that is insulting to everyday Americans, portraying them as crash test dummies dressed in backyard BBQ clothes with foolish voices, and circus music in the background. Instead of treating the issue of safety as a serious matter, and respecting the public’s intelligence, the agency turned fireworks safety into a bit of a joke. I feel this was a missed opportunity where our industry and the CPSC could have collaborated much more effectively to educate the public on the proper and safe use of fireworks, together.
Americans must be vigilant when they use fireworks, but they also must be vigilant when upholding their rights as free citizens. And they must exercise their first amendment right to protest when singled out by a government agency.
For the past few years, the Biden Administration’s National Park Service has denied Governor Kristi Noem’s repeated attempts to allow fireworks to be used at our Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Increasingly, all over the country, on the local level, unreasonable restrictions are being imposed. Justifications include noise, safety, and even the impact that fireworks have on pets, especially dogs. Yet our industry is already striving to ensure that local ordinances are followed, and backyard fireworks are used safely. We are even devising ways to calm the anxiety of family pets. We don’t need new mandates promoted by a few – we need more citizens understanding and celebrating the traditions and principles that make America exceptional.
The fireworks industry is hyper-seasonal. Small businesses have a very narrow window in which to import, manufacture and sell their products. Furthermore, bans and severe restrictions on fireworks traditionally have a negative impact on veterans’ groups, schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations which use retail fireworks sales as fundraisers. Fireworks, and the Fourth of July, mean a lot to them, along with their fellow Americans.
The NFA relies on our allies on Capitol Hill, as well as state legislatures and local councils, to support our industry, as well as the rights of our customers. There is always a fear that in certain communities, the current year’s fireworks season will be the last. Yet the NFA has a long tradition of standing up to overreaching government action.
Defending the right to display “illuminations” would make John Adams and our other Founding Fathers proud. Enjoy the Fourth of July and its traditions. Be safe and do not be afraid to speak out against those who wish to restrict, limit or outright control how Americans celebrate our Nation’s birthday, a nation founded on individual liberty.
Steve Houser, President, National Fireworks Association and Red Rhino Fireworks
