Just 18 states allow ‘‘energetic’’ fireworks of the type the state Senate has voted to legalize in West Virginia. They include rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers of the type now illegal in our state — for good reason.

Just one state senator, Mike Oliverio, D-Marion, voted against a bill to legalize bigger, louder, more dangerous fireworks in West Virginia. To his credit, Oliverio does not believe the risk to the safety of Mountain State residents, including children, is worth the additional money the bill would, if enacted, provide for volunteer fire departments.

That is how the measure gained so much favor in the Legislature. Proponents offered an exchange: Legalize ‘‘energetic’’ fireworks, tax them and give some of the money to volunteer fire departments.

During 2008, about 7,000 Americans were injured by fireworks. Though most of them suffered only minor burns and wounds, some were injured seriously. In all likelihood, enactment of the bill advanced by the state Senate will increase the number of West Virginians injured by fireworks.

Current state law bans most fireworks. Sales of pyrotechnic devices in our state are limited to safer items such as sparklers and torpedoes. The Senate bill expands the market dramatically to include some items normally seen only in commercial fireworks shows.

Defenders of the bill claim it includes ‘‘safety’’ features. One of them is that fireworks, when sold, must be accompanied by safety brochures. That will be about as effective as the health warnings on packs of cigarettes, in our opinion.

Another provision stipulates that the ‘‘energetic’’ fireworks can be purchased and used only by those 18 years of age and older. That will be as effective as the laws flaunted by thousands of West Virginians and intended to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.

Oliverio was right to take a stand on principle. We are saddened that his colleagues in the state Senate were, in effect, ‘‘bought off’’ by the promise of a few extra dollars for volunteer fire departments. We urge members of the House of Delegates to extinguish the bill.

(Distributed) The Associated Press