Testimony of Jack, Robin & Stephanie Shannon — HB 253, Fireworks Legalization and Regulation (June 3, 2020)

Summary

Testimony of Jack, Robin & Stephanie Shannon, members of the Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition, on HB 253, Fireworks Legalization and Regulation, dated June 3, 2020, before the House Commerce and Labor Committee, in opposition to House Bill 253. The testimony describes a family reunion in Kentucky where a firework missile tipped over and struck their young son, and states that the son died of complications the next day. It states that over 67% of the fireworks samples most recently tested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission failed to meet government standards. It asks the committee to vote no on the bill.

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                 Testimony of Jack, Robin & Stephanie Shannon
                 Member of the Ohio Fireworks Safety Coalition
                 HB 253—Fireworks Legalization and Regulation
                                 June 3, 2020


Chairman Manning, Vice Chair Dean, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan and
Members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, thank you for allowing
us to express our opposition of House Bill 253, which would allow consumers in
Ohio to use bottle rockets, firecrackers, ground sparklers and missiles (1.4g
explosive fireworks). Advocates say these products are safe but our family’s
experience is quite different.


Our son Michael was almost 4 years old when we attended a family reunion over
the fourth of July in Kentucky. We had a great day visiting with family, playing
games, fishing and of course eating. The evening festivities included a consumer
fireworks display put on by responsible family members. Little did anyone know
that one firework had enough force to cause the Missile’s base to rock, allowing it
to tip over and fire across a field towards the crowd of spectators. Michael was
standing between his father’s legs as the missile launched horizontally across the
field. He had reflex time to turn his head before it hit and knocked him to the
ground. He was unconscious for a brief time and awoke to severe pain from his
injury. We stood by helpless to relieve his pain. Michael endured an open skull
fracture with damage similar to a shotgun blast at close range. He had extensive
surgery but died of complications the next day.

As parents, you want to believe that you can protect your children. We thought
these fireworks were safe because they were legal to buy and use. That did not
turn out to be the case.

Fireworks continue to hurt people and cause significant damage to property.
Nearly half of serious fireworks’ injuries affect innocent bystanders like Michael
and over 35% of those injuries are to children under the age of 15! Allowing
increased consumer access will not decrease these numbers! Fireworks are
explosive devices and are especially unpredictable. It is unreasonable to believe
that consumers will have any idea how these varied products will work.
Additionally, the quality of the products being imported is unacceptable. Of the
fireworks samples tested most recently by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, over 67% of the products failed to meet government standards.
Unfortunately, only 1-2% of the products being imported are tested so a huge
number of these defective products make it to market and are sold to
unsuspecting consumers.

This bill opens up wide unrestricted use of all types of 1.4G fireworks at any time
of the day or night. The cost will be increased property damage, increased
injuries and increased hospital and medical expenses that someone will have to
pay. There is also another issue. Do you know a veteran or someone who
struggles with PTSD? Do you have a family member who has dementia? Have you
ever been in the hospital or at home recovering from surgery or an illness? Do
you have pets or livestock? You cannot prepare them for these unexpected scary
noises or experiences that may send them into a state of panic or worse back to a
traumatic experience that they have had.

As legislators, you have the opportunity to keep Ohio citizens safer by “Voting
NO” to this bill because these products are not safe in the hands of inexperienced
consumers. Ohioans can still have fireworks as part of their celebrations by
attending a professional display. They can also create new traditions that show
patriotism without fireworks like patriotic cooking contests, posters, flags or many
other things that are a safe tradition for your family. Please think long and hard
about the broad ramifications of this bill. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Michael Shannon, Age 3


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