Boone County working to regulate “misuse” of fireworks after fireworks war
State lawmakers and leaders in Boone County are working to regulate the “misuse” of fireworks after the Columbia fireworks war earlier this month.
Officials with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Boone County Fire Protection District, Boone County Joint Communications, MU Health and Spirit of 76 Fireworks all participated in the hour long discussion at the Boone County Government Center Tuesday.
“It’s a total misuse [of fireworks], Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said of the fireworks war. “What we have to do is provide safety.”
“We’re not looking to ruin this for the family that is having a barbecue that is shooting off fireworks responsibly,” Sheriff Dwayne Carey said. “What we want to do is prevent that dangerous reckless behavior from occurring. It’s really just as simple as that.”
Carey said the only option deputies had at the fireworks war was to charge participants with second degree assault, which is a felony. Both Carey and Boone County Counselor Charles Dykhouse said that’s an “overcharge.”
“That creates other problems, including clogging our county jail, bond pressures and all these other things,” Dykhouse said.
Both the sheriff and the fire chief said “retaliation” is another big concern.
“As soon as we go in, then the culture is to turn on first responders and start shooting at them,” Carey said.
“It’s a dangerous situation for everyone involved,” Asst. Fire Chief with the Boone County Fire Protection District Gale Blomenkamp echoed.
“That’s inappropriate,” Rep. Chuck Basye (R – Rocheport) said in response.
Ultimately, leaders came up with two options at Tuesday’s meeting-either they can amend an ordinance or they can amend the criminal code. Both options would require an emergency clause to ensure a law is in place by July 4, 2019.
“The first time somebody loses an eye or they take one of the mortars to the temple and they are laying there dead, then everybody is going to wish that somebody did something,” Carey said.
Atwill told ABC 17 News that Sen. Caleb Rowden (R – Columbia) is going to look in to the best option and then have another discussion with Boone County leaders.
