Petition to Repeal Fireworks Act Gets Readers Fired Up

Royal Oak Patch Facebook followers are making noise about a petition to repeal the Fireworks Safety Act of 2011, which was designed to increase revenue to the state and encourage citizens to buy consumer fireworks in Michigan rather than in neighboring states.

calling upon members of the Michigan Legislature to immediately repeal the state law "in the interest of the safety and well-being of the citizens of Michigan."

To date more than 5,300 people have signed the petition at SignOn.org, with a listed target goal of 7,500 signatures.

Will you sign the petition?

We asked Royal Oak Patch Facebook followers if they planned to sign the petition and here is what they wrote:

Andrew McGarrow: "Get some ear muffs. Next thing you know, they will be taking our right to vote."

Nancy Eshelby: "I'd sign it in a minute if it weren't initiated from a political partisan site."

Sherry Lazdinsh: "As a mom I'll sign! This Fourth of July (was horrible). It was miserable! If you have kids and you have to listen to them scream in terror night after night, you would be against the law as well. People were inconsiderate of their neighbors and had zero respect of others around them."

Judith Prawdzik Gates: "If it stays as it is, I hope cities can put some limits on days (fireworks) can be used because this Fourth of July was insane along with the week before and after."

Tina Sherban: "I'll sign! The fireworks went on every night for weeks and my dog was a wreck every night, which then ruined our nights. Not to mention we couldn't sleep becouse my neighbors were still lighting (fireworks) off at 11 p.m. to midnight, and sometimes later. It was better when people were afraid to get in trouble! Now people think they have free reign to make as much noise as they want with no regard for anyone else."

Heather Aumann DeMare: "We still have fireworks going off every night at about 11 p.m. (It's bad) when you have two kids sleeping and wake up in terror. And not to mention I have to get up for work in the morning. I understand and expect the fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Years but every night? Where do I sign? And it will be interesting to see if any insurance prices go up for fires and injuries from the increase of usage. The cost won't be covered by the state who is making the extra money from allowing the fireworks. No, homeowners will have to cover the damages."

Susan Edwards Love: "Yup. Already signed it."

Adam Kammerer: "Not at all. There just needs to be curfews or something in place for them."

Marlene Konkoly: "I signed. Really hopeful this eventually works and the law is repealed!"

Jennifer OrPenga: "Not signing. I enjoy fireworks. I enjoy other people enjoying their fireworks. I have neighbors who are respectful about it and responsible with them. I may be one of the few lucky ones, but I will not sign."

Rain may have prevented fireworks-related blazes

Was the new law a public safety problem in Royal Oak?

There were no fireworks-related blazes in the city of Royal Oak on July 4, but Fire Marshal Tom Nikkila says the wet weather might be to thank.

“I was so happy to see it rain,” Nikkila said. “I was in Redford before the Fourth of July visiting relatives and it sounded like a war zone."

Nikkila says he thinks Royal Oak was lucky to have no incidents.

had Independence Day been dry there may have been multiple fires.

“Nothing stayed in anybody's yard," Batten said, noting that he observed some residents near the fire station letting off multiple fireworks that left the resident's yard and went "clear across the street."

"The wet weather kind of helped keep fires down," Batten said.

Fireworks activity should be over now - at least until Labor Day. use to only the days already allowed by state law - the day before, the day of and the day after a federal holiday.