Texans have celebrated with fireworks for over a hundred years. We know from experience that fireworks related fires and injuries are just as much a problem in states that don't allow fireworks.

If consumer fireworks were removed from sale, a Texas market would be created for fireworks smuggled in from other states, or worse, manufacture homemade fireworks or purchase illegal fireworks from Mexico.

Texas firework manufacturers and distributors have improved the quality of fireworks over the years and, coupled with an increased emphasis on firework safety awareness, have seen a dramatic downturn in the number of firework related injuries and fires. If we remove licensed fireworks from points of sale, we remove a regulated and safe product and open the door to bootleg illegal fireworks. This is not a safe solution.