Should New Jersey Allow the Sale of Fireworks?

Fourth of July weekend is upon us which means parades, barbecues and of course- fireworks. In New Jersey, the sale, possession and use of fireworks are illegal. According to the New Jersey Department of Labor, only with the proper applications and permits can organizations like municipalities, fair associations, etc. put on public firework displays.

According to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 11 deaths resulted from the use of fireworks last year, and approximately 11,900 people went to the hospital with firework-related injuries.

Patch asked readers and Facebook users across the state if they thought these rules and guidelines were fair, and whether New Jersey should allow fireworks to be sold?

Here's what your neighbors and fellow Patch readers told us:

• "Yes. It's a great revenue generator for sales tax, and why let that money go to PA or other states." - Galloway
• "No. Too many people get hurt because they do not know what they are doing." - Middletown
• "Yes! It's not like were all not driving to Pennsylvania to get them anyway." - Ridgewood-Glen Rock
• "No, and police departments should enforce the law regarding illegal fireworks. Animals and those with PTSD are affected. People want to set off fireworks, join the armed services." - Point Pleasant
• "They should at least sell basic sparklers and noisemakers. They dont have to sell ones that explode."
• "Independence Day. Don't fall for the government conditioning by taking the word independence out of the holiday." - Collingswood
• "They should sell little harmless fireworks." - Belleville-Nutley
• "Tough question. Last year while cleaning the rain gutters of a friend's house I found a spent bottle rocket laying in the gutter an top of a bed of dried leaves. He lives in a neighborhood where houses are only ten feet apart. This could've been disastrous for him and his family." - West Deptford
• "Absolutely. The kids love watching them." - Brick
• "People just buy them in PA and bring them here. If they were sold here, we'd be supporting our own state economy instead of PA. So yeah, why not sell them here? Would be a benefit considering everyone gets them anyway." - Lacey

Wherever you stand on the issue, the National Fire Protection Agency cautions the public, "to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and instead, to enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals." The complete list of local fireworks shows can be found on Patch's 2016 New Jersey Fireworks Guide.