From the Readers

Happy Birthday to VT Lady Publisher

A wonderful lady, she deserves all the accolades attributed to her, and she’s my friend, my best friend who is always there for me in sickness and in health, for poorer or for richer, in my little successes and in my downfalls. She’s a friend in need and in deed, Thank you for everything, may you have many more happy, healthy, full of successes and prosperity birthdays.

Dalisay (Dely) Villalon

__________

For Thoughts and Prayers

My loving Nangni Vero Leighton, on behalf of Angeles and Calma Families, please know how grateful we are for your support during our time of loss. When hearts are broken with the loss of one so precious to us, we mourn deeply. We fi nd it hard to move on without our beloved. Yet, we know that the loving support of others who understands helps so much. Your thoughts and prayers touched our hearts deeply and will always be remembered with love.

Jovie Calma (former VT/CPRTV Staff) Referring to the Obituary on her departed mother, Connie Calma, in Via Times June 2023 issue).

__________

Illinois Among 3 States to Ban Fireworks

Independence Day means residents of 47 states will celebrate their freedom by choosing to set off fi reworks. Not in Illinois.

Independence Day is a time to celebrate sacrifi ces by those who died to secure freedoms we enjoy today. It calls for backyard barbecues and a booming night sky. But not in Illinoisans’ backyards. It is one of three states banning some or all fi reworks. The other 47 states, or nearly 94% of country, celebrate freedom with the fl air of a fl are.

Since 1942, the Illinois’ Pyrotechnic Use Act prohibits residents from buying and using fi reworks other than novelty fi re-works such as sparklers and smoke bombs. Violating the law is a class A misdemeanor, with fi nes ranging from $75 to $2,500.

Rockford police will fi ne residents $750 if they’re found partaking in pyrotechnics. Elgin just raised its penalty for those caught lighting off fi reworks three times within a year from $750 to $1,500. Fireworks ignite criticism because of safety concerns. However, fi rework consumption nationwide hit an all-time high in 2022 with more than 461 million pounds, up by more than 57 million pounds since 2020. But injuries fell by more than 5,000 during that time and have remained pretty steady as use has grown over 20 years.

Illinois lawmakers from both parties sponsored a measure expanding novelty fi reworks laws to include ground sparklers for Illinoisans ages 18 and older. It failed. State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, has tried to repeal the ban on home-use fi reworks for years because many Illinoisans simply buy them in another state every year.

“I think it’s just ridiculous that every state around us is making money off of Illinois citizens and here we are once again giving up money that could better be earned and spent here in Illinois,” Rose said in 2022.

After more than 80 years, it’s never too late for lawmakers to grant residents fi reworks freedom, and benefi t from added revenue, too.

Ohio changed its fi reworks laws in 2022, allowing residents to shoot off fi reworks on certain days such as July 3-5, Labor Day, New Year’s Eve and other holidays.

If used carelessly, fi reworks can lead to serious injury. But laws should be made to penalize those who act irresponsibly, not to remove freedoms from responsible citizens – and especially not on Independence Day.

ILLINOIS POLICY