New law lets you buy fireworks 10 days earlier in Louisiana, in time for Juneteenth

Fireworks stands can now sell the celebratory explosives in Louisiana as early as June 16. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law Friday (June 5) a bill that extends the window by a more than a week when retailers can open for business.

Fireworks retailers are currently permitted to open shop from June 25 to July 5 and Dec. 15 to Jan. 1, to accommodate the Fourth and July and New Years Eve. The tweak to the law now allows sale of fireworks in time for Juneteenth.

The sponsor of the legislation (HB 298), Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport, said during a May 21 hearing on his bill at the Louisiana State Capitol that Juneteenth celebrations are becoming increasing popular across the United States. He wanted fireworks to be available to help mark the holiday.

The celebration on June 19 commemorates the date in 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver news that the Civil War had ended and slaves were free.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/fireworks_sales_louisiana_open.html