KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Fireworks stands are open again as the Fourth of July holiday approaches, and while the complaints continue from opponents of the annual self-bombardment, no additional restrictions are anticipated.
Complaints range from late night fireworks keeping people awake to veterans and pets who can actually be traumatized, especially since the state legalized exploding and flying fireworks.
After what he claimed was a week long barrage during the Memorial Day Holiday Kalamazoo south-sider Ron Zellers asked City Commissioners if they couldn’t ban fireworks from the neighborhoods.
Commissioner Matt Milcarek says the state of Michigan has taken the issue out of their hands, not that it hasn’t been tried. In the last three legislative sessions, 41-bills have been proposed to repeal or modify the current state law and none of them have even gotten a hearing.
Rep. Brandt Iden,of Oshtemo, who chairs the House Regulatory Reform committee tells the Detroit News that he hasn’t heard a lot of complaints from constituents in his district.
He says he might be willing to consider tweaking the law for more restrictions in heavily populated areas, but has no interest in considering a major overhaul or repeal of the law.
