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Celebrate our independence, but do it safely

Fireworks shows that routinely take place in backyards or on neighborhood streets this time of year will go on this weekend as usual.

The difference is that this year, setting off fireworks in most local communities now won’t mean breaking the law.

For years, the irony has been that the sale of fireworks in Ohio has been legal. In fact, the sale of fireworks is a big part of Ohio’s economy and a source of significant local and state tax revenue. Yet, for years, our lawmakers opposed legalizing the practice of setting off consumer-grade fireworks in Ohio. During that time, buyers who followed the laws allowing them to purchase fireworks at local dealers previously were asked to sign documents promising to take their purchases out of the state.

But let’s get real. In most cases, we all knew that didn’t happen, and in the days before and after holidays like Independence Day and New Year’s Eve, it was our already-stretched local police officers who ended up responding to repeated calls in attempts to enforce laws that normally law-abiding citizens knowingly decided to break this time of year.

That’s why one year ago, we used this space to back passage of the bill allowing fireworks to be ignited in our state — so long as it was done with strict guidelines and limits on days and times.

Our opinion has not changed. We are pleased that under the new law that ultimately passed and took effect in time for this holiday weekend, both police and residents now will know what to expect and when to expect it. They also will be able to expect these amateur outdoor shows to end at a reasonable hour.

That’s because the new law also allows local governments to maintain the right to restrict dates and times or even to impose a full ban on fireworks, if they choose.

The new law makes discharge of consumer-grade fireworks legal on several holidays in addition to Independence Day. They include: New Year’s Eve and Day; Chinese New Year; Cinco de Mayo; Memorial Day weekend; Juneteenth; July 3, 4 and 5 and the previous and following weekends; Labor Day weekend; and Diwali, a five-day Indian festival.

The law also will permit the use of fireworks on “legal holidays” as defined by Ohio Revised Code. In addition to some of the days above, ORC lists the following as holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and “any day appointed and recommended by the governor of this state or the president of the United States as a holiday.”

Now, let’s be clear. These commercial-grade ordnances absolutely are dangerous. But so is riding a motorcycle without a helmet. The key to these types of risks, of course, is being educated, following instructions and taking great care.

If you choose to use fireworks to mark our nation’s birth this weekend, we urge you to follow the guidelines offered by the manufacturers and sellers. Always keep a bucket of water nearby, and always keep the fireworks away from youngsters.

Here are a few other tips offered by the National Safety Council:

Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol; wear protective eyewear; never hold lighted fireworks in your hands; don’t light them indoors; use them away from people, houses and flammable material; light only one device at a time; don’t attempt to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks; and always soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

Enjoy a wonderful holiday celebrating our nation’s independence. But please, be respectful of your neighbors, be aware of local laws and time restrictions for shooting off fireworks and, of course, always celebrate safely.

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