- The Most important thing you can do is contact (write, email, fax, call) your legislators and ask that they support pro-fireworks legislation!!! It is likely that you are one of very few people who contact their representatives about fireworks, so your letters and emails can help shape their views and opinions of fireworks in a real way.
- The Second Most important thing you can do is register for occasional e-mail alerts! E-mail alerts are used sparingly and only for important, time sensitive information updates. For example, alerting people for impending legislation, or requests to contact legislators regarding upcoming committee hearings on a fireworks bill.
- The Third Most important thing you can do is to tell your friends about this site and have them contact their legislators and register for email alerts. We need to be vigilant in contacting our legislators.
What can I Do??
Letter Template for contacting your Legislator (copy and paste into Word, update with your info. and your legislators info, print and mail, OR copy and paste into your email and update info. and click send!)
YOUR NAME
DATE
DATEYOUR ADDRESS
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR ADDRESS
Senator/Rep XXX
Senator/Rep Address
Senator/Rep Address
Dear XXXXXX,
I am writing you today to talk about HF1774/SF1694, a bill to legalize consumer fireworks in Minnesota.
It is time that Minnesota legalize all consumer fireworks (1.4g). People are going to light fireworks. Legal or not. Walk outside on July 4th and watch and listen to all the whistles and pops from rockets and firecrackers. Chances are they are coming from a neighbors yard or down the block. Where did all of these fireworks come from? Places that legally sell them, like South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Minnesotan’s are bringing them home from different states. Those states reap the financial benefits with tax dollars. Millions of dollars are spent by Minnesota residents in other states bringing fireworks across the border. If all consumer fireworks were legal in MN, the state would reap the financial benefits.
Based on information from an Annual Report: Fire In Minnesota 2009, provided by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal:
99.4% of ALL fires in 2009 were NOT caused by fireworks. Just 92 out of 15,477 fires were attributed to fireworks in 2009.
Fireworks caused $89, 550 worth of damage compared to $208,658,176 for ALL fires in 2009.
there were 52 injuries due to fireworks, which works out to 1 in 91,586 minnesotans being injured due to fireworks, compared to 1 in 84,200 minnesotans being injured due to boating accidents and 1 in 35,273 minnesotans being injured due to snowmobiling accidents.
The current law as it stands is not serving to protect anyone. Minnesota residents are not so inept as to not know how to light fireworks in a safe manner.
Why should Minnesota let South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin reap the financial benefits of the sale and use of consumer fireworks?
It is time to legalize all consumer fireworks to recoup the tax money that is going elsewhere.
I would appreciate your thoughts on this issue.
Thank You,
YOUR NAME
Don't know who your State Representative/Senator is?? no problem, click on this link and it will help you find your reps.
