Dayton douses fireworks bill with veto
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton doused a fireworks bill allowing stronger and aerial fireworks with a gubernatorial veto April 28.
Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, had carried the bill in the Republican Senate and acknowledged while some people could get hurt by liberalizing fireworks, people get hurt riding bicycles, skateboarding and doing many other things.
Bill supporters spoke of the need to be free from a perceived nanny state mentally that causes residents to break state laws in the pursuit of a little fun.
Dayton in his veto letter indicated that he viewed things differently.
“Most Minnesotans are responsible enough to ignite and explode these inherently dangerous devices properly and safely. Unfortunately, some are not,” he said.
Dayton went to say that sometimes the proper role of government is to protect citizens from hurting themselves.
“In this case, government has the responsibility to do its utmost to protect vulnerable young Minnesotans, courageous fire fights and police officers, and innocent bystanders of all ages, who could become victims of someone else’s carelessness,” Dayton wrote.
