Residents of Washington, D.C., are expressing their serious concerns about the rampant sale and the dangerous use of illegal fireworks in their city. These aren't light, harmless displays—these are explosives that carry significant risk on multiple levels.

Not only are these illegal fireworks extremely disruptive around the clock and  create mounds of trash in our neighbors,  they also pose a major safety risk to our communities.

In the District of Columbia (and elsewhere), the sale and use of fireworks not only cause noise pollution that disturbs residents and wildlife; but also create stress and trauma to many of our vulnerable residents, including our seniors and children, and others with sensory concerns and disabilities--such as our veterans and people with autism. Moreover, the noise from these fireworks can also  exacerbate existing health issues for people; and traumatize pets (source: health studies conducted by American Public Health Association).

Furthermore, these fireworks also pose significant risks of injuries and fires. A recent example is the massive apartment building fire--caused by fireworks that--in SE DC that left 70 people displaced.  ABC News: "The massive fire took over 130 firefighters several hours to extinguish and prompted an evacuation call for D.C. fire crews early on in the battle as temperatures soared to the 90s, sending one firefighter to the hospital for heat exhaustion". 

In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year across the country, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and 16,900 outside and other fires resulting in property damage in the millions. Furthermore, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that fireworks cause over 9,000 injuries annually.

This petition seeks to protect our community and well-being by calling for  ZERO Tolerance  AND  Enforcement on the SALE and USE of FIREWORKS in our city. Please join us in advocating for this cause to bolster the safety and tranquility of our city.

We need to raise our voices collectively and demand that the Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Police Chief-Pamela Smith take action to prioritize the well-being and safety of residents in the District of Columbia.  

Tell Mayor Bowser, Police Chief Smith:  NO MORE...ENFORCE the Ban on the illegal sale and use of fireworks must end!

Sign the petition today!