More Pointless Legislation

While anti-texting laws may be ineffective attempts to deal with a real problem, the most charitable thing I can say about this is that it is a solution in search of a problem:

A bill heard in committee Monday would prohibit felons from commercially using fireworks.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Maryville, would prohibit anyone guilty of a felony or anyone without proof of liability insurance from getting a permit to sell, make or ship fireworks. It would also allow the state fire marshal to examine sales records to make sure businesses buy and sell only from those with a permit.

I can understand the liability insurance requirement and fire marshal oversight, but is there really a serious problem in Missouri with felons selling fireworks? The article does not mention any reason it should be illegal for felons to sell fireworks. Even if there are a great many felons going into that line of work, that is not in itself cause for alarm. In fact, we should be glad those individuals are reintegrating themselves into productive society. I suppose the concern is that felons are more inclined toward violence and could use the fireworks for that end, but fireworks — although dangerous if mishandled — aren’t terribly effective weapons. They are hard to aim and are usually designed to minimize damage to people and property if they are misused. Let’s not go making it even harder for felons to get jobs outside of crime just because it sounds kind of scary to have them around gunpowder.