House Votes To Repeal Law On Bottle Rockets - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

The North Dakota House has voted to get rid of a law that outlawed the sale of bottle rockets in the state.

Donnell Preskey has more on the debate.

A fireworks bill gets lawmakers fired up about civil rights.

It is currently illegal to sell bottle rockets in North Dakota, however it is still legal to use them.

The House voted to repeal the 2009 law allowing bottle rockets to be sold again in the state.

Opponents say it's a safety issue, blaming bottle rockets for eye injuries.

Supporters say the bill represents a personal freedom that was half taken away in 2009.

(Rep. Blair Thoreson / (R) Fargo) "I spoke to a retailer in South Dakota, who is right across the border. He said he wanted to thank you for what the legislature did a number of years ago. He said, "you've done more for my bottom line than you can imagine." People are leaving our state to purchase bottle rockets and while they are there purchasing the rest of their fireworks along with it."

(Rep. Steve Zaiser / (D) Fargo "It's a dangerous thing, and we're trying to eliminate something that has a high propensity of causing problems, and clearly a bottle rocket blowing up in your eye is not a pleasant experience for anybody whether you are four years old or 40."

(Rep. Rick Becker / (R) Bismarck) "If you believe we are the mommy's and daddy's of North Dakota and we need to protect them from injuries, vote red. If you believe the nanny state is repulsive and you want to preserve freedom, all freedom, even minuscule freedom like this silly bill we are talking about then vote green."

39 states in the nation ban bottle rockets.>>

The House also passed a bill creating a second season for lighting fireworks.

The bill allows people to sell fireworks December 26th through January 1st.