Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin says he’s against a State House proposal to make North Carolina fireworks laws more like South Carolina’s.
“I oppose House Bill 367 because it is a step backward for North Carolina,” said Goodwin. “If we make North Carolina like South Carolina regarding fireworks, then we will see a dramatic increase in injuries and deaths.”
Goodwin said the bill amounts to “giving up” when it comes to preventing folks from illegally bringing fireworks from South Carolina.
Current North Carolina law prohibits the manufacture, sale, and use of exploding airborne fireworks. Violation of the law is a Class 2 misdemeanor. That’s why many North Carolinians take that pre-Independence Day drive to the Palmetto State, where airborne fireworks sales are allowed.
Still, Goodwin said that statistics show that the two states are very different when it comes to results.
“The statistic I’m looking at says it all,” said Goodwin. “South Carolina is a much smaller state than us, but with its law, it has 146 percent more emergency department admissions due to fireworks injuries than North Carolina.”
One medical professional who knows something about the aftermath of such emergency room visits at UNC Hospital is Dr. Ernest Grant, outreach coordinator for Jaycee Burn Center.
“We have seen a number of injuries related to fireworks, as a result of the current legislation that we have,” said Grant. “and we feel that the proposed legislation would only result in the related injuries that we’re seeing.”
Legal fireworks in North Carolina include snakes, glow worms, smoke devices, poppers, and sparklers that do not explode, spin or propel themselves into the air.
Grant said that allowing the sale and possession of exploding fireworks under HB 367 would result in worse injuries, with economic consequences.
“And it, perhaps, will result in not only the loss of fingers, eyes and things of this sort, but also the possibility that someone who may be currently employed, now having to go into disability,” said Grant.
The Jaycee Burn Center is one of eight organizations that have joined Goodwin in opposing HB 367.
The others are The North Carolina State Firemen’s Association; the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs; the National Fire Protection Association; the American Burn Association; the North Carolina Emergency Nurses Association; the North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educators and Safe Kids North Carolina.
Grant said that conversations with state legislators, and the text of the bill itself, have given him some insight into the rationale behind the bill.
“One: It is to stem the flow of monies that go to South Carolina – that the monies would stay in North Carolina,” said Grant, “The other is that it’s potentially a jobs bill.”
He counters that the current roadside vendors are mostly from South Carolina and Tennessee, and there’s no reason to believe that would change dramatically, even if HB 367 become law. He added that such vendors are at their peak for only about a month.
Right now, the bill has been pulled from the agenda, but could re-appear in the near future.
Goodwin said he hopes that doesn’t happen. He’s calling on the public to contact legislators, with this reminder to anyone who’s considering a backyard fireworks show of their own:
“If people want to enjoy fireworks displays, the ones that involve airborne fireworks, there are countless professionals who are trained in this all across the state,” said Goodwin.”
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