Fireworks control

Cape Girardeau and Jackson officials would like to make the Fourth of July safer.

Some residents say fireworks make their neighborhoods seem like war zones.

It's more than an appearance issue. In 2002, 8,800 people were treated nationally for fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most of those were from aerial fireworks such as bottle rockets.

Elected officials in Cape Girardeau and Jackson want to make sure the two cities are less likely to contribute to those statistics in 2004. They have scheduled a joint meeting for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Jackson City Hall to discuss common issues.

The Cape Girardeau council is considering a to ban on all aerial fireworks, including Roman candles and skyrockets. Jackson officials say they would prefer to prohibit only the sale and use of bottle rockets and other fireworks that are launched on a stick.

It is prudent to have the two cities work together. Having similar regulations would make it easier to regulate both the sales and use of fireworks.

We trust that officials of both cities will come to an appropriate compromise that will make us all safer.