The skies over Georgia could be getting a lot brighter soon, with Gov. Nathan Deal considering a bill that would legalize the sale of fireworks in the state.
The issue has been bandied around the Capitol for years, but on April 2, the state House voted decisively in favor to send House Bill 110 to the governor. A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article indicated that Deal was leaning toward signing the bill, favoring the economic positives despite safety concerns raised by firefighters and health groups opposed to the legislation.
In the article, Deal raised the fact that Georgians already are buying fireworks in bordering states like Tennessee, Alabama and Florida, where sales are legal.
“By and large, I think we acknowledge that citizens of Georgia are buying fireworks in adjoining states,” Deal told the AJC. “And the issue of safety is simply a question of whether or not somebody can afford to cross the state line and buy fireworks.”
“Bomber” fireworks are displayed on shelves at Dixieland Fireworks in East Ridge on April 11, 2015.Hamilton County and its municipalities don’t allow fireworks sales. The exception is East Ridge, just over the Georgia state line, which got state legislation passed in 2011 to legalize fireworks sales.