Dear Distinguished Representatives — Fireworks Are a Domestic Threat (Anthony S. Anselmo)

Summary

A written statement to Representatives from Anthony S. Anselmo arguing against passing a bill on fireworks. The statement says fireworks are a domestic threat and that laws exist to protect society. It states that Chapter 2533 of Columbus code already prohibits the buying and handling of fireworks. It says consumer grade fireworks are sold in Ohio at 56 retail locations open 365 days/year, and that discharge is banned but sales are completely open. It asks the Representatives to defend people who suffer from fireworks and to remember their oath.

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Full text

Dear Distinguished Representatives,

I thank you for the opportunity to present before you here today.

When you gave an oath to serve, you swore to protect the Constitution of Ohio but also to
protect the citizens. You serve to protect the citizens from harm both foreign and
domestic. Be assured, fireworks are a domestic threat and there is absolutely no need for
them. None! By passing this bill you are saying that someone else’s right to mindless and
dangerous entertainment overrides my personal safety. Passing of this bill would violate
everything you swore to uphold and protect.

Laws exist to protect society. We don’t allow people to shoot off firearms within city
limits. We don’t allow individuals to fire a canon whenever they want to. We don’t allow
people to perform actions that could hurt other individuals. Why? Because everyone has
the right to peaceful pursuits: life, liberty and happiness. The only time you don’t have
the right to pursue what you wish to do is when you are taking away someone else’s
rights and liberties. Fireworks remove that ability for life, liberty and happiness because
they are an uncontrollable force.

For the past year and a half, we subdued our liberties because we were told we had to
protect the most vulnerable from a virus. Begrudgingly most Ohioans did this because
they wanted to protect themselves and other people. If we can put this much effort to
protect everyone during times of pandemic why can’t we do the same with explosive and
dangerous combustibles? And you’ve heard all the dangers before. Hazardous fires, harm
to wildlife, unintended mental damage to those with PTSD, and worst of all possible
harm to children. Last year I personally witnessed parents allowing their children to shoot
off roman candles in their hands, at cars in the street! Why should I allow my house to be
burned down to the ground because of someone else’s bad parenting?

Fireworks are a danger to my health and safety of both myself and my family. I have
several birds that can easily die if they are shocked. Parrots are extremely susceptible to
heart attacks from sudden anxiety. I likewise have extreme anxiety which makes this time
of year a maddening hell for me. My family’s rights of safety should not be compromised
because of someone else’s illogical and uneducated form of entertainment. So I ask you,
who is going to stand up for my rights to protect my family?

The proponents of this bill indicate that the purpose of this legislation is to push the re-
enforcement down to the local level. In short, this is malarkey! Local statues already exist
for most counties. In fact, Chapter 2533 of Columbus code already prohibits the buying
and handling of fireworks. Columbus Police neither have the manpower, nor the ability to
re-enforce safety during the July 4th season. Passage of this bill will send the wrong
signal to residents that they would have the ability to misbehave when they legally don’t,
and put more of us in danger, already strapping our existing first responder services.

This small part of the bill that removes the ban on consumer discharge of fireworks needs
to go away. What we need is more protection from those who would do us and others
harm for their bad choices. We need effective means to curtail these bad behaviors during
this time of year not an incentive to fund an industry based on bodily harm.

To quote one of my favorite movies, “The needs of the one, outweigh the needs of the
many.” You my distinguished Representatives are here to protect the ones, the few who
need that protection. These are our very Veterans who we just celebrated a few weeks
ago for their sacrifice. Either you are here to protect us and serve your constituents, or
your purpose is compromised.

HOWEVER, I believe most of you ARE here to serve and protect just like our Veterans.
You heard the call of duty and wanted to our make lives better for us in this great state of
Ohio. You have a choice to move us forward to a safer, more just society. I implore you
to at best vote DOWN Substitute Senate Bill 113 or at least amend the section on
consumer discharge to retain the decades-long ban.

Lastly, during the Senate hearing on this bill, one of the Senators said he was supporting
this because he was concerned of the money going out of state. Once again this is
inaccurate. Consumer grade fireworks are sold in Ohio at 56 retail locations open 365
days/year. Discharge is banned, but sales are completely open. So I’m going to quote
another famous line from another movie. “How many people have to be hurt before it
becomes cost effective for you to do something about?” The movie was ‘And The Band
Played On’ and it was about the AIDS epidemic. I believe if you pass this bill you will be
continuing another epidemic of pain and suffering when you have the power to stop it
right here, right now.

I implore you to defend those of us who cannot defend ourselves, those of us who suffer
this time of year because of the inconsideration of others. We deserve a safer Ohio, we
deserve a better Ohio and I ask you to keep that in mind today. I ask you to remember
your Oath.

Thank you for your time,
Anthony S. Anselmo
2433 Linbaugh Rd
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Ironhide1975@icloud.com


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