Laramie County denies fireworks permit, facing discrimination allegations

The Laramie County commissioners have denied a fireworks sales permit for the second time to Artillery World and Jurassic Fireworks. Frank “Pete” Elliott Jr., who represents the businesses, claims this decision is discriminatory against Colorado-owned companies. He has drawn parallels between this situation and discrimination during the Civil Rights era. Last year, despite their permit denial, the businesses were able to continue operating due to a court order. This year, the commissioners expressed their discomfort with granting the permit while legal issues are still ongoing. They believe that the behavior of the fireworks businesses makes them poor partners for the county. Commissioner Troy Thompson mentioned specific complaints about Elliott's marketing tactics. These include loud recorded messages and employees directing traffic. Elliott argues these tactics were in response to rumors spread by a neighboring competitor. Concerns escalated when Thompson received a phone call from Elliott about a planned protest against the permit denial. Thompson perceived this call as a personal threat, which he found unacceptable. Both Thompson and Commission Chairman Gunnar Malm emphasized that their decision is based on behavior rather than discrimination. Elliott argued that he meant no threat with his call and simply wanted to ensure safety during a peaceful protest. He intends to challenge the commissioners' latest decision legally. The court had previously outlined conditions for the fireworks businesses to follow, which they have adhered to over the past year.