MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2018
For more information:
Prevent Blindness
Whitney Anderson
(614) 464-2020 ext. 105
FIREWORKS, FIREWORKS MORATORIUMS, FEES AND SALES
Opposition Testimony Scheduled on May 9 for Ohio House Bill 226
Columbus, OH – Organizations and individuals in opposition to HB 226 will testify at the Ohio Senate’s Government Oversight and Reform Committee on May 9 at 10:30 am in the Senate Hearing Room, Ohio Statehouse.
After passing in the Ohio House of Representatives last October, HB 226 is being considered by the Ohio Senate. If passed, the new law would make Ohio one of the most liberal states that allow discharge of backyard fireworks including bottle rockets, firecrackers and missiles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with only minimal safety restrictions in place.
Half of last year’s 11,000 serious injuries due to consumer use of fireworks were to innocent bystanders, many of them children. Others who suffer significant harm from these explosives include farmers, whose livestock are startled and whose crops are damaged; veterans suffering from PTSD; and pet owners, who often lose their companions when they flee in fright.
Robin Shannon, mother of Michael Shannon who was killed by a backyard firework at age three will join the testifiers to share her family’s story.
Testifiers will be available throughout the day for interviews.
WHO: Members of Ohioans Against Fireworks
WHAT: Opposition Testimony – HB 226
WHEN: Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Senate Hearing Room, Ohio Statehouse
SPEAKERS:
- Robin Shannon, mother of 3-year-old child killed by a backyard firework
- Representative from Medical Community
- Lt. Dave Belcher, Ohio Fire Officials Association
- Sherry Williams, President & CEO, The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness
