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A slippery slope awaits us, if "emergency" action is needed to ban fireworks on the Fourth of July:

District of Columbia officials are calling for a ban on the sale and use of consumer fireworks.
Mayor Adrian Fenty says an emergency bill will be introduced at a D.C. Council meeting next week. . . .
If passed, it would take effect immediately. . . .
Fire Chief Dennis Rubin says that there were six "significant injuries" related to fireworks last year in Washington.

Considering that Washington averages well over 200 homicides per year, this fireworks "emergency" -- occasioned by a mere six injuries -- is laughable. Then again, most things done by the D.C. government are laughable. A fireworks ban is logically analogous to the absurdly ineffective D.C. handgun ban.

The risks of consumer fireworks have been purposely exaggerated by the anti-fun lobby. Most fireworks injuries are caused by a failure to follow basic common-sense safety guidelines that are printed on the package, including the most basic rule of all: "Light fuse, get away."

Fireworks are a personal hobby of mine. Three years ago, my twins sons (then 12) assisted me in assembling and igniting a Fourth of July consumer fireworks display that ended with this finale:

Our guests told us it was "better than Disney World."