CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Every Fourth of July we hear from fire fighters about the dangers of fireworks.

But now there's a proposal in front of West Virginia lawmakers that would legalize nearly all types of fireworks.

The catch is the sale of the fireworks would help fund those fire fighters who for years have been warning against them.

The idea was proposed to lawmakers by retired chemical engineer Cliff Rotz, and it would help pay for firefighters’ pensions.

“This will legalize roman candles, rockets, mortars, shells and fire crackers and a few others; anything that flies or goes bang,” Rotz said. “Fireworks have become much much safer over the past few decades. The statistics show that injuries are down.”

The plan is to impose a 10 percent safety fee; generating about $1.3 million each year for firefighters’ pensions.

“Right now people are buying fireworks anywhere and West Virginia is losing the sales tax and this 10 percent safety fee,” Rotz said.

But firefighters aren’t sold on the idea.

“They’re talking about $1.3 million in tax revenue, but one fatality would totally negate that in terms of litigation,” Tom Miller, with the legislative committee of the firemen’s association, said. “Explosive fireworks have been shown in the hands of children to be inherently unsafe and part of this proposal is handing them out to kids under the age of 21 and requiring them to wear eye goggles, but it won’t help them if they blow off their hand.”

Now this is just a proposal. Rotz was asked to testify in front of a senate committee during the interim session by Raleigh County Senator Mike green, who says the idea is worth exploring.

A similar bill died in the last legislative session.