To want fireworks banned from public sale?

[JellyDiamonds]

I'm not a killjoy, but I'm sitting here with a fucking terrified dog. He is not a dog who scares easily, but it sounds like the Blitz out there tonight I've got the TV turned up loud to drown out the sound, I've shut the curtains and he is still cowering in the corner. Not even the lure of a treat is bringing him out.

It's the same every year, selfish fuckers buying bombs to set off in their gardens with little consideration for neighbours with pets and young children. At least pets have shelter from it though, farm animals and wildlife don't.

In fact I hate the entire concept of bonfire night really. Burning a catholic on a bonfire. How is that still acceptable in 2014.

Just go to a public display and stop inflicting this noise on your neighbours please!

[QueenTilly]

Why do these threads always get simplified to "well you choose to have pets"?

Is anyone seriously under the impression that the world only consists of humans and domestic pets? Not every single species of wild creature has been driven to extinction. I don't want to bring all the squirrels, foxes, collared doves, magpies, swans, ducks and the heron into my house to watch the TV on loud, and I don't think they'd like it if I did. I can still feel concerned about their welfare.

And what about mine, eh? I sleep fairly deeply when I sleep so I haven't been kept away this year, but the air quality in the mornings quickly reassured me that there had been noise to miss. In case you mistake my meaning, I mean that I was having problems breathing. As I do every single bloody year for the first week of November. I pity the people who have proper respiratory problems all year round, because it must be even more hellish for them in November.

[AmazonGrace]

Haven't read the whole thread but I completely agree with you, OP.

I don't think fireworks should be available in supermarkets, the whole idea that these mini bombs can be bought over the counter by the public doesn't sit right with me.

I think there should only be organised events, where safety of all involved is paramount. These are the only firework displays we attend.

[alemci]

I made sure I collected the free fireworks with the offer and shopped in Sainsburys and was pleased with this. The fireworks were very tame and not loud noisy ones. We did our fireworks display early in the evening on Friday night.

I think you will find that some of the fireworks going off for the last month have been to celebrate Divali and there has been alot in my area (Greater London). They often went on 'til quite late and

I don't want to go to a public display, crowded, difficult to park etc. we did used to go to our local one at the primary school but this event doesn't happen anymore.

[coraltoes]

The punishment for dog owners who are caught not picking up dog poo should be to eat it. Live on telly. Every Friday: dog shit rules, hosted by Dale.

[daisychain01]

YANBU - when I lived in the Home Counties, I knew that all weekends from mid October thru mid November there would be a household in the area choosing to let off fireworks. They invariably let off bangers at midnight selfish arses

This is the 2nd winter since my DP and I moved to a rural village in the West and we were pleased that the only fireworks we saw/heard were this past Saturday night when the local village community did a public display on the rec. near us. It was a lovely display with plenty of noise, whizzes and crackles. But that was done and dusted in 20 mins, and there was a social event with food and drink.

We remarked how much nicer it was for young children and animals because they only had a brief (manageable) period when they may have been scared. The reason fireworks are a pain is that they are not managed and people cannot lock up their animals for 3 weeks due to unpredictable and inconsiderate people doing random displays. They spoil it for the majority who want to enjoy displays.

Was anyone else like me incensed by the DMs irresponsible "special offer" of a box of free fireworks given away last weekend? Cheers! That's great, 50,000 random people each getting 6 fireworks each pathetic!! The offer should have been some free fireworks to registered community organisations.

[ravenAK]

Ahem. Not being a particularly yee-haw fan of the not overly bright playing with small bombs in tiny gardens does not necessarily equate to a love of dogshit.

Fireworks are great - but the stick has to come down somewhere; dogs are also great - but they do have to take the occasional crap which someone has to clean up.

To be fair, though, if I wanted a dog, which I don't, it'd be quite hard to convincingly replicate dog ownership via an annual local dog display, whereas I can watch as many fireworks as anyone could reasonably desire by popping to the park or just looking out of the window.

[EmilyGilmore]

How about a quid pro quo: no more fireworks when pet owners stop allowing their dogs/cats to piss/shit outdoors, on pavements and in parks. I don't care if you pick it up, some will remain on the grass where I want to play with my toddler or enjoy a picnic but can't because I'm so revolted by the sight of your dog crapping wherever it likes. As for standing there watching while your mutt pees against my wall - how about you teach it to pee/shit in your own garden or on your own doorstep so I don't have to witness it, smell it or guide my children away from it.

What do you reckon? Do we have a deal? Thought not. And pet owners think the rest of us are anti-social for letting off a few fireworks - you know, with which to entertain actual human beings.

[SeymoreButts]

Apologies if this has been said upthread but in some parts of Australia backyard fireworks have been banned. In NSW you can get a licence for a one off display but it is heavily regulated and has to be approved by the state. As far as I'm aware they don't grant the licences to individuals but rather schools, businesses etc. A certified provider then handles the display for you. I was surprised at first, and I do miss the 5th November celebrations, but I absolutely think it's the right way to go.

[GuiltyAsAGirlCanBe]

A firework veered into the crowd at an organised display and hit me in the side of the face/neck when I was a teenager. Luckily the burns were superficial and didn't scar. If I had been facing it I could have been blinded.

I can't believe they sell them to every tom dick and Harry either.

[FlankShaftMcWap]

We have spent a portion of this evening trying to catch a heifer who was so panicked by the noise of fireworks that she managed to get over the shed gates, injuring herself in the process, and ran blindly down the road completely distraught. Dangerous for her, dangerous for us trying to round her up and frankly distressing to see her in that state for the sake of amusement. Days after the so called event. Could have done without it tbh. We know to prepare for the 5th and it's usually quite grim but should we have to write off the entire autumn because people decide that one night just isn't enough for them?

[ravenAK]

Didn't know about the petition, LilMissSunshine9.

Not moaning - I like fireworks. I make a responsible decision to leave setting them off to other people, preferably people who know what they're doing & have a non-residential space to do it in.

I think it would be sensible for others to voluntarily do likewise &, given that some won't, I would welcome some degree of restriction on their sale to the public, on the grounds of common sense.

But I've got a longish list of things I'm much more bothered by, if I'm honest! .

[mrsannekins]

Oh, I'm definitely with you OP. We've had 9 nights now of random bangs of various degrees of loudness, and I'm fed up.

I'm all for the large displays, don't get me wrong, I think they are lovely, but I think fireworks shouldn't be on sale to the public at all, and displays should be licensed, and controlled.

The wanker across the road from us had a display in his garden last weekend, and we actually had rockets hitting our windows, and the road outside our house was littered with rocket casings, and unexploded powder.

[thoughtsbecomethings]

I too totally agree that they should be banned from public sale, due to the random setting them off and terrifying nearly all animals, and the cost of them.

[LilMissSunshine9]

And how many of you moaning actually signed the petition?

[ravenAK]

I love fireworks. They make me smile. I know they're horrible for pets (ours aren't bothered by them, but I'm aware that many are), cause litter, create unnecessary work for the Fire Brigade - but I really, really enjoy them.

& yet I've got to the age of nearly 44 without ever putting a match to one, or it ever occurring to me to buy them.

Because a) there are loads of free public displays I can go to & take my dc b) I don't actually even need to leave the house - I can currently see a load going off outside - have opened the curtains to enjoy &
c) it is manifestly irresponsible for me, as a private householder with neighbours I don't wish to upset, to start dicking about with explosives in the back garden...

I'd restrict their sale such that you at least had to fill in a form saying when & where you proposed using them, with space requirements & a curfew, & that you had read & understood the instructions. Legal comeback if you then set them off other than in the circumstances you'd put on the form & a complaint was made. Might make people take them slightly more seriously, at least.

[mytitiferssungtheirsong]

I read this thread last night and agreed with OP. Now sitting having my dinner having put dd to bed at 7 and agree with OP - like the bloody blitz out there! The neighbours must have burnt at least £100 at the rate they are going. I can see no joy in this. It is noisy, expensive, dangerous and just flipping annoying to listen to when I am just trying to relax on a Sunday night.

Keep it safely to public displays I say!

Grrr purses lips into shape of a dogs bum

[sniffle12]

Not to mention one just went off while I was writing that... this isn't the celebration of a popular festival, this is just an excuse for people (usually the least sensible people) to play with exploding toys for two weeks.

[sniffle12]

Tbh why focus just on noise? They're dangerous, hurt people and animals, put a strain on the emergency services, pollute, litter, exacerbate respiratory conditions... I don't see any reason not to limit them to organised displays at set times (bonfire night/new year's/religious festivals).

[JustAShopGirl]

I hate all the air pollution too - you can taste it in the air this morning - foul...

[londonlivvy]

Well most public displays are late - not starting til 730 or 8, which is too late for our DD. They are also very very big, very crowded and loud, which I think would be terrifying for her. So I think that a few gentle fireworks at 6pm in our garden is a good compromise and hardly an unreasonable stance. We didn't do this in the end, because hubby went out, but that was the plan.

In the end, dd was awake anyway til 930pm cos of all the fireworks. Sigh.

[Boleh]

Making them illegal won't make them safer. They are illegal here in Malaysia, still set off at every possible occasion in the road outside people's houses only they are illegally aquired dodgy Chinese imports, totally unsafe.

Personally I love them but at Chinese New Year it is absolutely bonkers from dusk to dawn. A lot of people who don't enjoy it just leave for the main evening - if I did that I'd be worried about damage to the car and house in my absence though.

Keeping them legal and well regulated and as far as possible encouraging people to go to organised displays seems more sensible.

[sickntiredtoo]

I like fireworks, although I would support a ban on selling to under 21s
Since when should pets come before people!

[ourbabybeau]

There were fireworks going off in the field behind our back garden tonight- the house was actually shaking and the inconsiderate twat was letting them off when their is animals kept in the field next to it. I snitched to the farmer who owned said fields- so hopefully the tosser will of had a mouthful by now.

I don't have anything against organised displays- but letting them off for over two weekends in back gardens is just fucking ridiculous. Bonfire night is ONE night- not two fucking weekends of endless parties so you can show off to your friends.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

My Neighbours also had massive fireworks too, pissed me right off.