Gov. Mark Dayton says he gets it that many Minnesotans like to shoot off loud fireworks.
But he also knows that the big booming and flying kind cause many injuries, so he sided with the medical and fire prevention community and vetoed a bill that would have allowed more and bigger fireworks in the state.
In his veto letter over the weekend, he wrote:
“I greatly respect the care with which the legislative authors crafted [the bill]. especially their willingness to listen to and incorporate the concerns of people with differing views….
“Much as I would like t0 reward their efforts and to satisfy the many Minnesotans who want greater latitude to buy and use fireworks legally in our state, I cannot do so. Most Minnesotans are responsible enough to ignite and explode those inherently dangerous devices properly and safely. Unfortunately. some are not.”
He included a list of dozens of groups opposing the expanded fireworks bill, including the state fire marshal, the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Emergency Nurses Association, Prevent Blindness America and others.
this reminds me of a story …
This might seem like an unimportant issue, but it really isn’t. Or, if it is, one might ask why the legislature can’t focus on the important stuff.
Anyway, the whole thing reminds me of a story:
http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2012/04/are_bills_regulating_fireworks.php