To hate fireworks and think they should be banned

[TaliZorah]

In residential areas?

They are so disruptive and dangerous. It's not even limited to 5th November or New Year's Eve they will go on for a week around every celebration plus people's personal parties.

AIBU to think letting off explosives in populated residential areas is incredibly stupid and unfair? As well as people getting injured it's not fair to the wildlife, and domestic animals. My cat has a heart problem and jumps like he's been hit every time the fireworks go off and ends up cowering behind the seat.

Then there's people with PTSD who think it sounds like gunshots, people like me who's illness gets worse with lack of sleep...

They should be organised displays only.

[DisappointedOne]

Watch this and tell me it's not utterly spectacular. Not one of these fireworks was part of an organised display. Every one was let off by private individuals, as is the case across the entire country. This is actual new year, but the whole thing lasts upwards of 3 hours, and random fireworks go off over 2/3 days.

[DisappointedOne]

Wonder how many people are blinded by cat shot every year. More or fewer than those permanently maimed by fireworks........

[DisappointedOne]

*shit

[TaliZorah]

I don't see what's spectacular about explosions in the sky?!

[TaliZorah]

It's dog shit that blinds people not cat shit that's a myth

[redbinneo]

We love them, the cats, DH, and me stood on the back step last night and enjoyed the free show.
Why on earth, is some peoples first reaction to something they don't like, to ask for it to be banned?

[DisappointedOne]

Combine the 2 - let's see in 2017 with exploding cats. Keep everyone happy.

[StrictlyMumDancing]

its just what I was thinking.

[DisappointedOne]

I don't see what's spectacular about explosions in the sky?!

But enough of your joyless life.

[DisappointedOne]

Not according to the NHS.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Toxocariasis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[StrictlyMumDancing]

But enough of your joyless life.

Yes, because having seen someone hit by a firework and thus realising that there should be some control over explosives sold to people and not enjoying explosions means I have no joy. I'd have a lot more joy if I'd never bore witness to that needless event.

[DisappointedOne]

How often does that happen though?

[StrictlyMumDancing]

One person being hurt not enough for you disappointed?

[DisappointedOne]

I just don't understand how a country can allow (and actually encourage) people to buy fireworks and let them off freely (they're sold by the rescue services as a fundraiser) and have bonfires etc and then another considerably richer country is terrified of them and can only see the the dangers. It's a bit like bed sharing with babies really - bit of fear and the UK goes completely hysterical.

[WMittens]

TaliZorah

Other dangerous things people find fun are banned.

And yet further dangerous things people find fun are permitted. Should we also ban horse riding, motorsports, parachute jumping, rugby, skiing, etc. etc.?

[WMittens]

redbinneo
Why on earth, is some peoples first reaction to something they don't like, to ask for it to be banned?

Because authoritarianism.

[WMittens]

StrictlyMumDancing
One person being hurt not enough for you disappointed?

If the population of the Earth was 50 and one person was hurt by fireworks, then that's too many. If the population of the Earth was 7 billion and one person was hurt by fireworks, then I'd say that's not enough to ban them for, say, 3 billion people that enjoy them. What are the firework injury rates per thousand people?

[StrictlyMumDancing]

The last time the fireworks injuries statistics were recorded in the UK was 2005, at that point there was an average of 1000 injuries a year, mainly to children. The vast majority of which were at people's homes. That doesn't include the damage to people's property that occurs.

God knows why they stopped recording those stats, maybe too much paperwork. But figures were rising, and more and more professional grade product is being placed on the open market every year.

There definitely needs to be tighter controls in place.

[chocadd1ct]

totally agree OP. I don't mind them but I have a child with severe ASD who is utterly terrified. 5 Nov and 31 Dec are sheer hell for us .

and it is very different to horse riding or parachute jumping - if my neighbour decided to do these, then it has no bearing on us. fireworks are totally different and are enforced on people who do not want/like/cannot cope with them. We sat with ear defenders under the blanket but there is just no hiding from this noise.

[StrictlyMumDancing]

WMittens I haven't said they should be banned totally though. Neither has the OP.

[redbinneo]

If we really wanted to ban something that is noisy and dangerous, and kills and maims a lot of children, lets start with the motor car.

I thought not.

[TaliZorah]

Cars also have benefits.

What is the benefit of a firework? Does it help society? No.

Don't be stupid

[StrictlyMumDancing]

red given the way a lot of people drive round my way I'd take greater restrictions on automobiles too.