Interestingly, M-80s are still legal in some very specific cases. Those who hold federal explosives licenses can legally possess them. They are most commonly used today by farmers trying to fend off invasive wildlife. Of course, it is highly illegal and subject to severe penalties to set them off as fireworks or to use them in ways other than those expressly authorized. When it comes to fireworks, which are not considered safe and healthy in California, “a very high percentage comes from Nevada because it`s the next source of someone traveling out of state and bringing them into California illegally,” he said. M-80s and other gun salvos are not legal in California. The State Fireworks Act of 1973 only allows the sale of “safe and healthy” fireworks to consumers. If fireworks fly or explode, it is prohibited. M-80 aircraft are not considered fireworks; They are classified as illegal explosive devices and are banned in all 50 states. Their construction is not regulated and they contain much higher amounts of explosive powders than what is legally allowed in a consumer fireworks.
At that time, fireworks, as well as other potentially hazardous items, such as chemical assemblies, could be excluded if they were designed in such a way that they could be appropriately marked. However, a wave of new laws based on the spirit of the Child Protection Act quickly made the M-80s and similar salutes illegal in the consumer market. Finally, in the mid-1970s, fireworks were limited to a maximum of 0.772 grains or 50 milligrams of fireworks – only 1/100th the power of the original M-80 or 1/60 of the consumer version. Contrary to urban legend, an M-80 containing 3,000 mg of powder is not equivalent to a quarter stem of dynamite. Dynamite usually contains a stable nitroglycerin-based explosive explosive, while M-80s or any other type of firecracker contain a low-explosive powder such as flash powder or black powder. [5] Of all the different fireworks and fireworks that have been available over the centuries, only a few specific styles have become household names. The stuff of urban myths and legends, the M-80 and its slightly less powerful cousin, the cherry bomb, are sometimes considered the gold standard for consumer fireworks. However, both are illegal in the United States. But what makes these powerful explosives so appealing? And why were they banned? If you enjoy using consumer fireworks, be sure to check your state`s regulations on how to use them (unless you live in a state where they are illegal). There are probably regulations about how far you should be outside the city limits and how far you should be from a body of water. Make sure you have water nearby that you can use to put out any fires that may occur.
Also, be sure to read the safety information on the firecracker carefully to avoid injury in case the fireworks don`t work. While Cal Fire recently received increased state funding for law enforcement, education and fireworks suppression, illegal fireworks enforcement is not as well-funded or staffed as counternarcotics, and penalties are much less severe, Gouge said. Gangs make M-80 devices and sell illegal contraband fireworks, which can be sold in California at a 200-300% markup. If you`ve spent time at a local large fireworks store, you may have felt like the M-80s are legal again or that your business is taking a big risk. M-88, M-90 and many other designations are now commonly used on legal fireworks packaging to evoke nostalgia for the M-80. However, these fireworks meet the 50 milligram regulations and are NOT true M-80s. These differ significantly from the current “M-80s” as they are subject to regulations governing the sale of explosives and fireworks to the general public. [6] These fireworks most often contain a small capsule containing up to 50 mg of powder and a fuse. Around the capsule is plaster or similar material and finally a red tube and two plastic tips. Due to the size of these fireworks, buyers are sometimes fooled into thinking that the whole tube is full. In addition, the fuse sometimes protrudes from the ends of these firecrackers, unlike the center of the tube on real M-80s.
Real M-80s have paper caps and contain 50 to 60 times more powder. LOS ANGELES – It`s that time of year again when otherwise peaceful neighborhoods erupt in a cacophony of bomb-like fireworks that turn them into acoustic war zones. In the morning, at noon or in the evening, it doesn`t matter. Deafening “salutes,” or “M-80” as they are called, are as ubiquitous as they are illegal. In September 2019, Cal Fire oversaw the disposal of nearly 400,000 pounds of illegal fireworks seized by various state law enforcement agencies. M-80s are not legally approved, so importing, possessing, transporting, storing or manufacturing in Canada is illegal. [4] Other sources include illegal consumer fireworks that commercially resemble M-80 devices, homemade M-80s from products that are easy to find online, and illegal domestic fireworks and M-80 devices that are smuggled and sold to fund organized crime elements, said Gougé. The explosion at a San Francisco fireworks factory in 1986 occurred when an illegal machine used to make the M-80 broke down, resulting in the widespread destruction of a city block, killing at least 8 people and destroying 125 small businesses.
Fireworks technology has come so far since World War II, and there are so many unusual designs to choose from that it`s honestly ridiculous to take a risk on the black market or the homemade M-80. Not only are they very dangerous and illegal, but their effects pale in comparison to what today`s safer fireworks can accomplish. Choose from the variety of legal fireworks in your jurisdiction and enjoy the wonders of modern technology. In 1975, federal regulations were passed to limit all fireworks intended for general sale to the general public in the United States from an earlier maximum of 200 milligrams to a maximum of 50 milligrams of flash powder. However, fireworks mounted on a rocket rod or other aerial fireworks, such as rockets, Roman candles, and the larger version of the M-80 (M-1000, etc.), can still have much more, up to 130 mg or more, depending on the device and classification, and can be legally purchased by any U.S. civilian unless prohibited by state law. Today, fireworks are legal to buy in 46 states and Washington, DC. Ohio, Vermont, and Illinois only allow the purchase of candles and other new fireworks, and Massachusetts does not allow the sale of fireworks at all. Critics of these fireworks bans investigate how easily people can cross state borders to buy fireworks, especially in the small state of Massachusetts. They also examine how much safety regulations for fireworks have increased in recent decades, so promoting good fireworks education may be more effective in preventing injuries than banning them altogether. At Dynamite Fireworks, we don`t just sell high-quality branded fireworks. We also provide you with the information you need to use it responsibly, lawfully and safely.