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.

[StrictlyMumDancing]

Definitely grey. It upsets DH that there's massive controls on BB guns that he used only for game purposes in designated places, yet the moron next door can buy something from the shop down the road that could easily kill someone with little check.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

So what if we all managed to ban everything that gets on our nerves. In theory it sounds fantastic but reality is it would be pretty shit. No one would do anything. What's needed is a bit of tolerance and common sense.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Common sense in that it's not ok to let off fireworks during the day because it's bloody pointless and throwing them at humans or animals is the sign of someone being stupid Twat.

[TaliZorah]

It's not because it gets on people's nerves it's because it's dangerous. Eastenders gets on my nerves but I don't want to ban it

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

They are only dangerous if they get into the hands of idiots. Guns, Dogs, knives all ok until a knobhead gets their mitts on them.

[TaliZorah]

Which is why organised displays are great. Stops idiots using them.

Also things like windfall make them dangerous even if people are using them properly.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Which would be an accident. Unfortunately they happen. And they can happen at organised displays too. I went to one where one of the rockets fell sideways as it went off. Luckily no one was hurt.

[Sallyingforth]

What's needed is a bit of tolerance and common sense.

If everyone used common sense, there would be no reason to ban firearms. Unfortunately common sense is not guaranteed, so guns have to be banned except for a few licensed users.

The same principle should apply to fireworks.

[Takeparacetamolandstopmoaning]

I'm not sure how many accidents you think happen as a result of fireworks. You'll get more injuries from running down escalators.

saferfireworks.com/statistics/gb/index.htm

Around 1000 injuries reported in the whole country, very few serious enough to require admission and 1 death for the period these stats cover (8 years)

[wasonthelist]

Not this AGAIN

YABU as are all the other moany joy-sapping folk who pop up every time this is mentioned (approx every five seconds). It might be nice to deal with some of the irresponsible folk, but I am really sick of everything being banned-regulated to flip just because of a few (and it really is a few) idiots.

[Zazedonia]

LOVE fireworks - and fed up with everything fun being banned.

[wasonthelist]

If everyone used common sense, there would be no reason to ban firearms.
Unfortunately common sense is not guaranteed, so guns have to be banned except for a few licensed users.

The same principle should apply to fireworks.

What a total load of utter bollocks. Firearms and fireworks aren't in any way comparable.
I sincerely hope we never have a ban (on fireworks) in the unlikely event it's even discussed I'll devote time and cash to stop it happening.

[WahhHelpMe]

So I fact cats do pose a risk but because you're in favour of them, that risk isn't significant enough to ban them seems the same

Whilst I think banning fireworks would be stupid, I'm not saying to ban cats either, I'm just pointing out that you yourself have admitted they pose some risk in certain circumstances but you're also willing to overlook it as they are something you seen to enjoy / want freely available even though the amount of posts here about cats and cat shit in general is far greater than fireworks

[babybythesea]

DH works in a zoo. I mentioned this on a thread back in Nov but there was a back garden display next to the zoo. One of the keepers happened to be in with a sick animal and said how loud it was and also saw the reaction of the animals. DH had one of his animals with a four week old baby. The parents killed it that night. And another (adult bird) flew into the side of the cage with such force it gave itself a massive brain injury and died.
I'd back a call for organised displays only. As it is, the zoo can do nothing except politely ask that residents nearby show a bit more consideration.

In the last zoo I worked in, firework displays always ended up in animals with massive bouts of diarrhoea and general stress in the group (increased fighting, food refusal). Bears, gorillas, orangutans, small primates, birds....

Probably doesn't sound like a big deal until it's animals you work with and care about freaking out.

[Dickbumdick]

*I don't trust people who don't like cats, they're always a special type of dickhead
*

Erm, fuck you!

[limitedperiodonly]

I like cats. I like fireworks too.

[Sallyingforth]

The same principle should apply to fireworks.
What a total load of utter bollocks. Firearms and fireworks aren't in any way comparable.
It's your comprehension that is total bollocks. I did not say they were comparable.
I was replying to the suggestion that 'common sense' solves the problem.
The fact that increasingly powerful fireworks are being used more frequently every year, causing distress to many people and their animals, demonstrates that common sense isn't being applied and that some form of control is needed.

Control works well in Ireland where everyone can enjoy fireworks in organised public displays, but people and animals are free from the distress of sudden loud explosions a few feet from their windows.

I'll devote time and cash to prevent that happening.
There are always selfish people who put their own pleasure above others' pain.

[kali110]

YABU as are all the other moany joy-sapping folk who pop up' i don't want them banned but that's just nasty.
I think they should only be set off certain nights, up till certsin times and only certain ones available to the general public.

Please, fireworks are a much bigger risk than a cat!

[TaliZorah]

The risks that come with cats are minimal.

The risks with fireworks are massive. Not just injury but mental distress, waking people up, injury to animals and wildlife...

[WahhHelpMe]

Well in your eyes, anyway I happen to give credit to most to have common sense, and generally that's deserved as they are used safely

[TaliZorah]

How is it safe if it harms people with mental health issues, young children and pets?

Or do those not matter as long as we can set off explosives?

[emotionsecho]

There's no point to alcohol, misuse of it causes untold damage not only to those who misuse it and the financial, physical and emotional costs associated with alcohol misuse and abuse are horrendous.

Alcohol is dangerous and disruptive it is available 365 days a year and some people have the misfortune of living with the consequences of it 365 days a year every year.

Orgaised displays of fireworks cannot all be held in fields miles from anywhere, a better system could be introduced regarding fireworks for private use without banning them entirely.

[gleam]

I'd go along with toning down some of the noise from fireworks - they do seem to be a bit louder than they were.

But banning for home use - no. I don't want to live in a complete Nanny State.

[araiba]

gleam

maybe they should make them less bright and flashy too?