NFA Launches Petition Asking President Trump to #SaveTheFourth

Fireworks Association Will Soon Issue Guidance for Retailers and Municipalities to Celebrate Safely

WASHINGTON – With recent reports that local municipalities across the country are considering canceling or have already canceled local Fourth of July celebrations due to COVID-19, the National Fireworks Association (NFA) announced today it has launched a petition asking President Trump to #SaveTheFourth. 

“What our collective psyche needs right now is the spirit of community that makes the Fourth of July,” said NFA President Steve Houser. “Our country can still celebrate our freedoms on Independence Day while adhering to safety and the appropriate social distancing guidelines.”

For the first time in over 10 years, our country will celebrate the Fourth of July with illuminations over Mount Rushmore which many consider the Nation’s shrine to some of our greatest Presidents. The NFA believes that municipalities should also allow these types of celebrations to take place with neighbors in their communities and will soon be issuing guidance to the fireworks industry on how to do so safely.

“We are working with our partners in the fireworks industry to make sure Americans can still celebrate our nation’s birthday,” said Houser. “We will soon be issuing guidance for firework retailers and municipalities on how all Americans can safely celebrate the Fourth of July even while in the midst of a global pandemic.” 

The fireworks industry is hyper-seasonal and brings over $1 billion in revenues to small, family-run businesses that import, distribute, wholesale and sell fireworks. Those few short weeks of sales leading up to the Fourth of July determines an entire year’s worth of income for these families. The trailers, tents, and roadside stands that sell fireworks each and every year are run by Veterans’ organizations, school booster clubs, scouting troops, churches and other local non-profit groups that support many families around the country, especially in trying times we currently face. These non-profits use the Fourth of July as a critical fundraising period.

“Our small businesses and non-profits who sell our products need this Fourth of July to remain relevant in their communities. Our communities need Independence Day. That’s why we’re launching this petition. 

“We’re asking all of America to join us and tell the President that we need to save the Fourth,” concluded Houser.

About NFA: The National Fireworks Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the safety of consumer fireworks and professional display fireworks. Importers, distributors, manufacturers and sellers of commercial fireworks make up the over 1200 small businesses member companies who operate in the United States. 

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