Skillicorn Wants Public Ability to Buy Bigger Fireworks

From State Rep. Allen Skillicorn:

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn wants Illinois to legalize fireworks to allow businesses to compete with other states

Crystal Lake, IL – State Representative Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake) says in light of the recent tax hikes on motor fuel and cigarettes, Illinois needs to relax the current restrictions on fireworks to give Illinois-based businesses a chance to capture some extra business.

“Illinois must become competitive with surrounding states such as Wisconsin, Indiana, and Missouri and allow fireworks,” Skillicorn said.

“The gas tax increase and the tax hike on cigarettes will drive people to make purchases in surrounding states and for businesses in communities along the Illinois border, there is going to be a substantial drop off in sales.

“Allowing businesses to sell fireworks is a small way these businesses can make up some of the lost revenue they will experience as a result of the tax increase on motor fuel.”

Americans spend about $1 billion on fireworks annually. Skillicorn has introduced House Bill 3852 to legalize fireworks. The legislation would bring Illinois in line with Indiana’s fireworks laws.

“Americans spend a lot of money on fireworks, and right now our current prohibition on fireworks puts our towns and communities near the state border at a competitive disadvantage,” Skillicorn said.

“My legislation would help us keep some of these sales and the tax money they generate in Illinois for a change.”

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Chicago Tribune columnist Dahleen Glsnton agrees with Skillicorn.

Fireworks will be going off in backyards all over the state this 4th of July. How’s that ban working out for you, Illinois?

She writes,

Illinois, it’s time to face the truth. That 77-year-old law banning fireworks isn’t worth the paper it’s written on…
Yes, backyard fireworks are a nuisance, and in the hands of people who don’t know what they are doing, they can be dangerous. But then again, so can cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol, and no one is trying to stop people from using them. We just tax the hell out of them.

When it comes to generating new revenue, Illinois has basically taken the position that if the people need a thing bad enough or enjoy using it, it’s fair game to be taxed — excessively…

Indiana, where most Chicagoans go to purchase fireworks, rakes in about $2.5 million a year from the extra 5% fee it tacks on to fireworks sales, on top of the 7% sales tax…

Why should Illinois residents keep pouring money into Indiana’s economy while our own state is barely staying afloat financially? Why is Illinois one of only four states that refuse to allow fireworks sales? What do our politicians know that others don’t?

If fireworks are going to keep us up all night, at least taxpayers ought to get something out of it.


Comments

Skillicorn Wants Public Ability to Buy Bigger Fireworks — 7 Comments

  1. Absolutely! Our neighborhood spent over $4000 this year, more next year.

    It’s a blast and about as dangerous as putting gas in your car.

  2. All we need is for one kid to blow out his eye and this jerk will go back to whatever hole he crawled out of. Good work Al, another important piece of legislation.

  3. Talk to first responders and emergency room workers about fireworks injuries around July 4th.

    Operating fireworks are way more dangerous than putting gas in a car.

    It would be more equivalent to driving a car, although have on clue what the rate of injury is in either.

    That would be something to look into if advocating for the legalization of fireworks.

    There are all sorts of things that can go wrong when operating fireworks.

    Using legal fireworks properly certainly minimizes the risk.

    But back to the driving a car properly analogy, the risk is lowered not eliminated, due to various factors.

    Of course one can get injured doing a wide variety of legal activities, be it climbing a ladder, roofing, riding a bicycle, driving a snowmobile, driving a four wheeler, etc.

    One thing to be aware of is that if someone gets seriously injured from the use of fireworks used on your property or operated by you, you may be facing a personal injury lawsuit.

    injury.findlaw.com/product-liability/fireworks-injuries.html

  4. My fascination with fireworks and firecrackers probably ended around age 14. Never had a need in the years after to hear bangs to get jollies.

  5. To the immense sunshine blog readership (all 7 of you): the mystery inside our Sociology and Political Science professor’s head is finally solved. Fireworks exploded too close to his eardrum and left him the way he is now; pontificating garbage fox news talking points as if he was some sort of intellectual. Stay tuned…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeeoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww…

  6. Bred, glad to agree with you for once. As a young teen I loved the stuff and had several close calls. Got hit with a ball from a Roman candle and grew up. Leave fireworks to professionals.

  7. I’d be ok with it if he set off a huge one in the state capitol. Don’t expect Gov. Fatty to save anybody by jumping on the pyrotechnic.

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