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| Balloon dress by by Michael Gjerek & BalloonsIT Team. Balloon dresses seem to have caught the eye of people around the world. Here's an older one that hasn't hit the viral distribution channels. |
Banning balloons in California? Who would have ever thought that could happen? I'm actually still having a hard time believing it's possible, and yet, here we are again with the legislators in California trying to stop the sale of all helium-filled metallic balloons. You'd think these law makers would have better things to do with their time. Sure, damage has been caused by foil balloons in the past. That's precisely why there's already a law on the books in California that dictates how these balloons can be distributed and sold. These safety precautions are already taught by all responsible instructors in the industry. It's simple enough. Make sure any helium-filled balloon that is electrically conductive, or is attached to anything electrically conductive, has sufficient weight attached to keep it from flying off and getting tangled in power lines. Then educate the customers that are buying the balloons so they understand why we weight everything.
Unfortunately, the California State Senate doesn't think it's as simple as education. They are considering Senate Bill 1499, which would make it "a crime for any person to sell or distribute any balloon that is constructed of electrically conductive material, and filled with a gas lighter than air, or any balloon filled with a gas lighter than air that is attached to an electrically conductive string, tether, streamer, or other electrically conductive appurtenance, except as specified."
It's going to take a huge effort, and very quickly, to stop this. Apparently this is moving very rapidly through the senate. We need everyone in the industry, from wherever you live, to get involved now. It doesn't matter if you use foil balloons. The existence of the law, not the use of the balloons, will have an impact on everyone in the industry.
Read about the situation as it stands now on the Continental Sales website.
A letter circulating from the Balloon Council outlines what we can do to defeat this legislation. Read the full text of that letter for more info.
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| This macaw was created just in a jam room based on an image from a book. |
Rebecca Kanar of ABC Balloon Twisting, out of Pittsburgh, PA, creates a wide range of balloon art for events throughout her region. Her fun and brightly colored twisted creations compliment her decor work.
