Philadelphia Police Report Three Teens Tried to Light M-80 in Grocery Store
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
PHILADELPHIA PA (JUNE 21, 2023)(CNBNews)--This past Tuesday (June 20) around 5 PM Philadelphia Police responded to the 5300 unit block of Chew Avenue (Fresh Grocer) to
investigate a 911 call about three black males trying to light explosives within the store.
Police said the three black males between the ages of 16 and 19 were all wearing black clothing. They fled the store. The Bomb Squad cleared the scene and recovered the 18 M-80 explosives.
There were no reported injuries.
A press conference is scheduled for later today at the Bomb Squad Headquarters, 8501 State Road.
According to Wikipedia a M-80 is a pyrotechnic device containing a charge in excess of 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic flash powder, civilian use requires a license issued by federal authorities. This is the result of the Child Protection Act of 1966 and regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, with the purpose of limiting the potential property damage and bodily harm M-80s can cause. This law also covers cherry bombs.
In 1975, federal regulations were passed to limit all consumer-grade fireworks available for general sale to the public in the United States to a maximum of 50 milligrams flash powder, down from a previous maximum of 200 milligrams. However, firecrackers mounted onto a rocket stick, or other aerial firework devices, such as rockets, Roman candles, and the larger version of M-80s (M-1000 etc.), may still have significantly more, up to 130 mg, or more, depending on device and classification, and can be legally purchased by any American civilian citizen, except where prohibited by state law.
A person with a federal explosives license, issued by the ATF, may be allowed to purchase M-80s. Federal and state officials sometimes distribute them to farmers to scare away wildlife damaging their crops.[5]