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!

It's not just about scared animals and children though. It's funny how those who are getting all defensive about them are only thinking about people who worry about scared animals and children. I'm worried about those fireworks which get into the wrong hands. And I'm as far from stuck up as you can get: live in a council house etc.

I don't think people are being selfish when using them properly, but while they are on general sale then they will get into the hands of idiots. They are explosives. They contain gunpowder. There should be a license to buy them. They are fucking dangerous. Why don't the firework loving people see that? No of course they are just a bit of fun. Yeah try telling that to someone who has been injured by one being used maliciously!!!!

People really need to read the thread

There are some things best left in the hands of experts. IMO, explosives are one of them.

I think they should be banned for public sale, and only available at organised displays.

We went to watch our City's big display last night on the seafront, and lots of people gather on the beach to let their own off and build bonfires.

Some idiot threw a handful of rockets into a bonfire where there were loads of people (including children) standing quite near and the whole bonfire exploded. I don't think anyone was seriously injured, but that was incredibly lucky considering.

I see lots of 'unsafe' letting off of fireworks - fireworks going off crooked and horizontal rather than straight up, two year olds running around with sparklers, and instances like last night with the fire. I'm not a killjoy but I do think that allowing Joe Public to buy explosives on a large scale is ridiculous and unsafe.

Magnificent- Why does it make us entitled for suggesting that people are selfish for setting off fireworks?! I would actually say it is more entitled of people to continue with their DIY firework displays, irrespective of the terror caused to a significant proportion of people and animals. Surely it is entitled to basically say 'Sod you and your elderly father with dementia/terrified child/petrified dog/farm animals- I'm going to set off a load of extremely loud fireworks in my garden anyway because I don't actually care about anyone else.' THAT seems entitled to me.

What is getting really tiresome is every year this comes up, EVERY FECKING YEAR, the same moans about it. If it such a big problem start a petition and get whatever nubmer of signatures are required for it to be debated in parliament or whatever route is suitable and actually DO SOMETHING otherwise just quit moaning because all the moaning across all these years has does absolutely nothing and guess what next year you'll all be back here moaning again.

Like the petition biscuits linked to upthread and suggested that others sign if they're concerned or unhappy, LilMissSunshine?

LilMissSunshine9 - I totally agree

Proper debate on the subject rather than an annual whinge could help us to achieve better control.

The problem we have is that this is like a lot of things (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs). It isnt being properly policed whether by the Police themselves or organisations like Trading Standards.

Introduce controls (eg fireworks only sold by licenced sellers for a couple of days before bonfire night and NYE). Then actually enforce those controls.

IME it is highly likely that sweeping up the rogue firework sellers will probably net some of the dodgy fags & booze sellers as at the same time. A scumbag's a scumbag and doesnt care what he is selling if there is a dodgy buck to be made.

well only 2,699 people signed that petition out of millions of people in the UK so that is pretty telling in that either it the petition isn't widely publicised or in fact the majoirty of people are happy with the current law regaridng fireworks.

or that peopl will moan moan moan and instead of doing something e.g. going and clicking a link and signing a petition they rather just carry on moaning and hope someone else/others get the job done

IMO part of the problem is so many people that go on and on about how it's okay because they're being safe. But that's their opinion. My parents said that too, until my sister got a nasty injury to her hand. Then they realised they weren't being quite as safe as they'd thought.

I know people that will quite happily hand their child a sparkler to wave around without a second thought. So children running around waving sparklers. Those things can cause a hellish burn. They are dangerous. But if you asked those parents - they'd say "oh we're careful, we're safe, they're just sparklers."

It's not just them that can get hurt either. It's neighbours, people walking by, people sitting outside minding their own business in a nearby garden, their children... they're all "in the line of fire." But hey, what does that matter, as long as you can have your little trip down memory lane through fireworks in your garden.

Porn is not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.
Alcohol is not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.
Cigarette is not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.
Fireworks are not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.
Decadent Cakes are not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.
Any personal vice is not necessary, and can be harmful to some, so it should be banned.

In 15 years, if we follow this trend, we will live in a very clean, very neurotic society, where we will be bored to death.
We will anxiously wait for our compulsory week of vacation abroad, where we can let loose like a newly 21 yo American girl/guy for 7 days out of 365. Because that's a very healthy way of living....

Fireworks are the only thing in that list other than cigarettes that while you're enjoying your personal vice can cause severe damage, injury and distress to anyone else unlucky enough to be in your vicinity.

Funnily enough, cigarettes cannot be inflicted on other people in closed spaces where they have to 'enjoy' your vice whether they're willing or not.

And it wouldnt be acceptable to flick your lit cigarette randomly at people walking past nor leave the butt on the ground.

I love fireworks, both organised displays and when people set them off in their gardens. DDs have been enjoying spotting them out of the window. When they're older we'll definitely have our own in the garden. I would probably warn any close neighbours that have pets but beyond that we wouldn't worry too much.

I agree with some pp - why should the actions of a minority spoil it for everyone else who is responsible. Yes fireworks can be dangerous, but so can a great many things. I've got to my 30s without ever meeting or hearing or anyone I know having a bad experience or injury with fireworks, so although there are risks it's not like it's a case of fireworks = injury/death/disaster!

Just my opinion and I appreciate not eveeryone would agree

FrenchMind - almost everything on your list has strict regulatory controls, and nothing else can kill someone with one dose...

did someone say its only one night a year?

seriously?

theyre going again tonight same as the last 2/3 weeks.

so whats tonight?

anti social fuck everyone else night?

they've been going off nightly for a week or two around here, still been some tonight, and will most likely be another week before it dies down (if we go by last year)

YANBU - licensed fireworks displays only in the future please. I'd put that on my manifesto for public safety and public nuisance reasons - let alone animal welfare!

Actually Alcohol can kills others especially with a person goes out and drinks all night then gets in a car and drives somewhere and causes an accident resulting in another person dying or being seriously injured.

The last drink driving stats from the Gov are from 2012 where 230 were killed and 1,200 seriously injured and 8,510 slightly injured.

I looked for firework injury stats but RosPA only have stats for 2005 of which only 475 are happened at a family/private party.

Whilst it is not like for like it does show though that other 'legal' and 'regulated' things do kill other people.

YANBU

I am very VERY close to going round to my dim-witted neighbour and cramming a rocket up his ignorant selfish arse.

We have had to endure 3 hours of this bollocks - knackered kids unable to sleep for the noise, the youngest crying his eyes out because he wants to sleep; terrified dogs whimpering under the table.

The decibel level of the stuff he is letting off is beyond belief - it is rattling the windows.

Fucker.

bod it sounds like hes got hold of some big display rockets rather than the ones actually meant for a private garden.