Will Minnesota Legalize Aerial Fireworks?

You hear and see them across Minnesota every summer near the 4th of July, yet they're still illegal. But, now there's a bill to legalize aerial fireworks here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

The Minnesota House was set to take up a bill Monday that would legalize some forms of aerial fireworks, including bottle rockets, firecrackers and other displays that shoot fireworks into the air.

It's all part of a bill sponsored by Republican state representative Jason Rarick of Pine City, who says Minnesota is losing out on a lot of tax money because while people still set off these types of fireworks, they buy them in neighboring states-- like Wisconsin.

According to THIS story, "Minnesota's fireworks ban doesn’t stop one person from lighting a firecracker. But it does prevent residents from exercising their freedoms and allowing our state to make some additional money," Rarick said in the story.

The story went on to say the legal sale of fireworks would include "allow aerial and audible devices to be sold and used from June 1 to July 10 each year. Only people above the age of 18 could make fireworks purchases. Local governments could charge an annual license fee to stores that want to sell fireworks and are able to prohibit them from being sold," the story noted.

Governor Dayton, though, isn't a fan. In fact, he vetoed a similar bill back in 2012. "If somebody takes fireworks and blows off their own arm or blows off a child's arm standing nearby, whatever, I want the State of Minnesota to say, you're doing that illegally," Dayton said in this story.

Will it pass this year? We'll have to see-- but I'd guess, if you want to light off fireworks this 4th of July, you'll probably have to buy them outside Minnesota.