Community Corner

Blow Up Michigan Fireworks Law, Plymouth-Canton Residents Say

Residents of Plymouth-Canton added their voices to criticism on MoveOn.org petition calling for repeal of Michigan's fireworks law.

PLYMOUTH, MI — Michael Petty, of Plymouth, is a veterinarian and is against Michigan’s fireworks laws based on his experience working with animals traumatized animals. He wants changes sooner, rather than later.

“I cannot even begin to tell you how terrible this act has been on my patients,” Petty wrote in Change.org petition. “Terrified dogs and cats, and animals jumping through windows, getting injured and/or running away. And it seems to be non-stop from mid June until cold weather comes. Fear is a type of pain, and it must stop.”

Petitioners cited various problems with the fireworks law, including that it allows an almost nonstop, three-day siege on neighborhood that leaves veterans with post traumatic stress disorder psychologically reeling and pets frightened and quaking in the corner.

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The fireworks tax brought in about $1.6 million in revenue last year, and the state isn’t likely to walk away from it without a battle — one the 35,000 people who have signed a petition to repeal Michigan’s fireworks law appear prepared to wage.

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Here’s what some other Plymouth-Canton residents had to say on the MoveOn.org petition site:

Deb Bargo: “Too many fires and fear for the animals.”

  • Should Michigan’s consumer fireworks law be repealed or amended? Please tell us what you think in the comments, and share your experiences with legal fireworks in Michigan.

David Gorski: “On the night of July 4th, our neighborhood sounded like a war zone, with explosions coming from all directions.”

Jody Mathias: “Fireworks were going on in my neighborhood at 11:30pm last night. I wanted to have the windows open to enjoy the cool evening without using my air conditioning, but had to get them closed so I could sleep through all the noise with my ear plugs in.”

Janet Fowler: “Had enough of firework sale tents everywhere and fireworks flying over my house for a week!”

Judy Marcero: “The fireworks have gotten completely out of hand. They shoot them off all summer. The noise prevents people from sleeping, upsets pets and must be awful for those suffering from PTSD. They've been a virtual nightmare.”

Carol Nazelli: “I thought I was in a war zone. I was very stressed. I thought my little dog was going to have a heart attack, that’s how bad it was.”

Comments from this website:https://petitions.moveon.org/s...

Photo by Andre Hofmeister via Flickr Commons

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