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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish fireworks for home use were banned?

246 replies

ValiantMouse · 06/11/2015 19:57

People have been letting them off for over a week now. I'm sitting in my house and it sounds like the Battle of Britain is going on outside, mainly thanks to one neighbour who thinks it's ace to let off very powerful fireworks. I really hate it, my nerves are shot and if it's anything like last night, it'll be midnight before they stop.

AIBU?

OP posts:
GabiSolis · 07/11/2015 14:57

I don't think anyone is saying ban fireworks (at least not seriously). Organised displays are definitely the way to go though. I have never and would never buy fireworks or sparklers for home use. I do not think they should be available for sale to the public - only to licensed display organisers.

PrettyBrightFireflies · 07/11/2015 14:57

A license is required for a motorbike - which can be revoked, and penalities imposed.

No license, or penalties, for misuse of fireworks, though.

flanjabelle · 07/11/2015 14:58

I wish there was a cut off time for them at least. I'm knackered as over the last week dickheads have been doing them at gone 11pm at night round here. Huge bangers that wake the toddler, so I'm then up with her trying to settle her back down then up with her before 6am. it's exhausting and annoying.

wasonthelist · 07/11/2015 15:05

A license[sic] is required for a motorbike - which can be revoked, and penalities imposed.

Well, that's true, although you can apply and be granted a licence without a test - and you only need a day's training (not a test) to ride a motorbike for two years. You can use a motorbike to get to places, like work.

No license[sic], or penalties, for misuse of fireworks, though.

You can only buy fireworks for a limited period and you can't ride to work on them. There most certainly is a range of penalties for the criminal misuse of fireworks -

www.mylawyer.co.uk/fireworks-a-A76076D35095/

Bunbaker · 07/11/2015 15:08

Well said PrettyBrightFireflies

Fireworks, guns, cars, motorbikes etc are all safe if handled correctly. You need a licence to drive and own a gun, so why not have a licence to be able to buy fireworks?

wasonthelist · 07/11/2015 15:08

Organised displays are definitely the way to go though. I have never and would never buy fireworks or sparklers for home use.

Ironically, I don't favour public displays because I find them too loud, and I don't like crowds. With my little home display I can pick less noisy fireworks and have as few as I like (I don't wish to spend a long time letting loads off).

wasonthelist · 07/11/2015 15:10

why not have a licence to be able to buy fireworks? Driving is an everyday thing, Fireworks are once a year.

How much do you think a licence would be? Have you seen the size or the DVLA?

Who is going to enforce the conditions and revoke licences?

MistressMerryWeather · 07/11/2015 15:13

I'm in Belfast and from my experience the ban we had here made very little difference, people just got them illegally.

That made things even more dangerous.

I personally don't mind fireworks but Halloween 2 years ago was a nightmare, a few of my neighbors got hold of some fireworks that were made for big displays rather than a back garden (Category F4).

My house was literally shaking with every boom.

MistressMerryWeather · 07/11/2015 15:14

Oh and if we had have rang the police to try and get them to enforce this law we would have been laughed at.

PrettyBrightFireflies · 07/11/2015 15:28

How much do you think a licence would be? Have you seen the size or the DVLA?

Who is going to enforce the conditions and revoke licences?

Hell, lets do away with firarms licences while we're at it - think of all the money we'll save!

LumelaMme · 07/11/2015 15:32

Oh, come on: firearms are very much more dangerous than fireworks.

I would let a child of 5 handle a lit sparkler. I wouldn't let a child of that age (or a damn sight older) anywhere near a loaded shotgun.

Costacoffeeplease · 07/11/2015 15:33

Well as I said previously, they are banned here, except for organised displays, and it works perfectly well, anyone without a licence would have their fireworks confiscated and would be fined. And it's mostly to do with safety/fire risk, nothing to do with animals at all

I do think one day we'll look back at this situation the way we now look at the fact that there used to be a smoking section on planes Shock

wasonthelist · 07/11/2015 15:35

Hell, lets do away with firarms[sic] licences while we're at it - think of all the money we'll save!

What a ridiculous answer. Firearms are more dangerous, less popular and aren't just for fun.

How much would think a fireworks licence would cost?

What makes you think they would be enforceable? (like dog licences...)

Costacoffeeplease · 07/11/2015 15:40

It's not the cost of a licence, it's the fact that the person buying the fireworks would have to have been checked, they would be traceable, they would have to prove why they were buying them, there would be controls in place

kinkytoes · 07/11/2015 15:44

Unfortunately I think something really awful is going to have to happen before a ban on selling fireworks to the general public is seriously considered.

It's sad, but probably true.

wasonthelist · 07/11/2015 15:46

It's not the cost of a licence

Well it would have to have a cost, presumably, so why won't any of the advocates say how much it should be?

it's the fact that the person buying the fireworks would have to have been checked
Checked by whom? For what?

they would be traceable, they would have to prove why they were buying them, there would be controls in place
What proof would be accepted and what would be an acceptable (or unacceptable) reason for buying them?

I don't think you have thought this through from a practical perspective.

PrettyBrightFireflies · 07/11/2015 15:52

Simple - the cost of licence is set so the system is self-funding. More people who apply, the cheaper it is.

Checks could include whether they've ever been prosecuted for misuse of fireworks, firearms offences, ASB and similar, and thye requirement could be to supply a certificate from an accredited assessor to show they have successfully completed a training/awareness session.

Reason for purchase could be recorded, (presumably noone is going to say to chuck them around in the stret) and if they were found to have used them irresponsibly, they could have their licence evoked and be banned from buying them in the future.

Costacoffeeplease · 07/11/2015 16:00

I think pretty has more or less covered it - it would be in the same way that other kinds of legislation are implemented

I don't see how anyone could be against tighter controls on fireworks at all

Bunbaker · 07/11/2015 16:20

"I don't see how anyone could be against tighter controls on fireworks at all"

Neither do I, but clearly some posters on here are.

Binkybix · 07/11/2015 17:22

I would be in favour of licences for big displays only, which would get round lots of the practicality issues of doing them for everyone.

PrettyBrightFireflies · 07/11/2015 17:27

I think larger, public displays are licences already - and are statistically very safe.

It's the sale and use of supermarket BOGOF box sets in private gardens and the street that cause the injuries and fires; have you seen the video up thread of the man who had a firework explode while embedded in his crotch after standing astride it once it was lit?

Nataleejah · 07/11/2015 17:32

Well, i just believe in more freedom therefore more common sense. The nanny state just sits on the backs of regular people who do nothing wrong. There will always be nutters, criminals, and yobs about who don't give a shit about laws or anything else.
Been using fireworks for years, never had one single accident. And i don't like public displays either. Large crowds, late at night -- usually thats where you get unsavoury folks behaving dangerously after having too much to drink.

DrSnowman · 07/11/2015 17:56

AlpacaPicnic Fri 06-Nov-15 20:07:50 is wrong they suugest that fireworks are getting more powerful, they wrote

"I completely agree. They are dangerous things in the wrong hands and there is little to prevent any idiot deciding to buy them and use them irresponsibly. Plus, is it me or they getting more powerful and explosive every year? Not just a few rockets and sparklers these days, everyone seems to set off huge 'sets'.

Organised displays only, or people should have to pass some sort of exam and have a license to set them off..."

There is a general trend for fireworks to be made less powerful and more controlled, bangers and some other irksome loud types have become more and more restricted by law. Some of the fireworks I enjoyed in my youth are now impossible to buy :(

The question of should firework use be more restricted is a different question, I would say that we should ban the use of fireworks by people under 21. This would prevent a lot of the stupid crazy dangerous nonsense stuff, also pass law against use of fireworks when druged or drunk. I saw if you are not fit through substance abuse to drive then you are not fit to use a firework.

Call beer drinking what you like but it is substance abuse at the end of the day when someone does it to excess and gets drunk.

PiperChapstick · 07/11/2015 17:59

YANBU it's so odd joe public is trusted with them. They're shit and pointless anyway!

DrSnowman · 07/11/2015 18:02

Well I would like to say I am very keen on the right of responsible people's right to enjoy fireworks in the comfort of their own gardens.

I would be very pleased if the firework makers would create new and exotic effects both in large display fireworks and in small ones for garden use.