To think that fireworks should be banned from public sale?

[Runny]

It would be nice if people could use them responsibly and reserve their use for the 5th of November and New Years Eve, but around here theyve been going off for weeks and even now as I'm sitting here typing this, as 12.40 in the afternoon some idiot is letting them off in broad daylight. In fact it's been happening all morning! My poor dog is going beserk. I'd like to go around to whoever it is, ram a lit firework up their arse and launch them into space for being such an inconsierate, anti social selfish twat!

They are bloody dangerous in the wrong hands, they cause distress to animals, young children, elderly people, war veterans and people with ASD. How is it possible that anyone over the age of 18 can walk into a shop and buy them?! It's absurd. There is no need for them to be on sale when you can go to an organised display and watch them.

Please can we ban them?

[Keepingupwiththejonesys]

I love fireworks and so do my children. We don't go to a set event, we normally go next door but this year have been invited to my dhs boss's house and he's got loads of fireworks. I've never been to his house but from what dh has said his backyard is like a field so it will all be well contained. I'm looking forward to it and so are the kids.

I have a dog who's not the slightest bit bothered by fireworks. We will give her a new bone before we go out and she will be set for the night. I do know we are lucky there though and feel bad on a lot of pet owners and their pets. My sister and family are out tonight and my parents are having their dog for them as she is so scared of fireworks bless.

So I don't know. I think maybe yabu as the idiots who set them off in the day time and for no occasion will find a way to do it anyway. Yanbu for being annoyed though as they aren't for everyone x

[MatildaTheCat]

Agree a thousand times over. Our poor dog is a wreck. The idiots are not few or far between round us. Loud bangs in the middle of the night for weeks on end.

Apparently there are silent fireworks that are the only legal kind in one country. Now that's a thought.

[BackforGood]

YABU. Loads of people love fireworks. Lots of people have family events, or events for their neighbours or events for their friends. Really enjoyable occasions. Something wrong with the idea of banning things because a tiny minority don't know how to behave with them.

[WannaBe]

I find it ironic that posts calling for people to not let balloons off in memory of events/loved ones generate hundreds and hundreds of posts of support due to the impact on the environment, yet bonfires which kill thousands of animals every year and pollute the environment as well as fireworks which injure thousands of people every year and stretch the emergency services to capacity as well as being bad for the environment should be bought in their millions just because people like them.

A box of fireworks is far, far more expensive than going to an organised display. And the argument that if they were banned for private sale people would get them on the black market is ridiculous. Should we legalise hard drugs too? Prostitution? abolish the speed limit because someone will always break it anyway? How about the drink drive law...

Fireworks are dangerous. Very few people in this country have the right sized garden to be able to use them safely. In Australia, South Africa fireworks have been banned from general sale for decades. The General public appear to be unscathed by this law and there is not a huge black market in illegal rockets....

[Captaintango]

I love fireworks, and we are going to an organised display tonight to watch them. I agree with a ban for the sale of them to the public though, a town near us has had people throwing them in the street. I saw poundland are selling individual rockets this year too and feel that it's irresponsible, priced far too low and too accessible for those who are dangerously setting them off.

[PinkiePiesCupcakes]

YANBU I've signed.

More due to the upset it causes my DD, she jumps, cries and panics due to the explosions. It does t help when you live in close quarters with a lot of people. It only takes a small percentage to let them off and of sou DS like a warzone out there, even when they're being sensible.
Last night was terrible, DD had to have a radio on to try and block out the noise.

[PinkiePiesCupcakes]

Oh AMD as for the cost of organised displays being a 'mortgage'
There's ones all over thast are free or cost about £3.
Wish o had a mortgage that was £3./

[MrsJayy]

Bloody hell poundland fireworks completely irresponsible. I remember as a kid nobody had fireworks at home a guy who owned a field let kids build a bonfire and all the families congregated there and did fireworks it was great. in my street now the gardens are not big enough but they will be going off all night a shed caught fire last year because of a stray firework so perfectly ordinary people can cause damage with them

[HelenaDove]

I agree with you OP. And Poundland fireworks? WTF are they thinking .............oh of course Profit. I thought it was bad enough when i saw the Morrisons TV advert for a box of fireworks for £20.

FFS!

[HelenaDove]

Exactly Mrs Jay Where we live is flats Its very worrying.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

I love fireworks, and I'm quite capable of using them responsibly. One of my DCs has ASD and finds the large organised displays too much. He always says he'll be able to go 'next year'. So we buy a few fireworks and some sparklers and have our own little display in the back garden. I warned the neighbours who have dogs a few days ago.

We use them safely. We take great care. We don't set rockets at people, cars or houses. And we set them off on bonfire night and occasionally on New Year's Eve.

I welcomed the changes brought in that limited the sale to this time of year, and brought in some regulations.

You cannot regulate everything in life.

[SooWrites]

'A few stupid people' have injured two youths with burns (one incident caused facial burns to a young man walking home from work) and killed a dog thus far in our local area. I expect that won't be the end of the injuries considering they're chucking bangers at moving vehicles.

YANBU.

The general public are not sensible enough to be trusted with explosives.

[SirChenjin]

When you say you 'warned the neighbours with dogs' what are they meant to do to make sure their dogs aren't distressed?

[flippinada]

YANBU - I've already signed.

I think some people don't (or choose not to) understand how horrible this time of year can be for some people - and animals of course. It's not about being a bit scared or wanting to spoil others fun, it can cause real trauma.

[HelenaDove]

Take a look at Eamon Holmes twitter account. He has tweeted pictures of his dog........eyes wide cowering in fear

[HelenaDove]

Snork i hope you are not expecting your neighbours to care about any recreational activity they may do that might affect your DCs ASD.

They might not be too bothered if it isnt reciprocated.

[ChestyCoffin]

I've signed the petition too.

Fire/explosives/small spaces and people are so dangerous.

[BeBopTalulah]

The last time I saw a private/back garden firework display it was rotten. I also spent the whole evening terrified someone would get hurt. Our local public display is sensational and such a great atmosphere. It's also free.

Selling explosives to the general public is barmy, and I don't care what time of year it is. I enjoy our seasonal traditions as much as the next person, but as usual some people just take the piss.

I have also witnessed the distress caused to a very elderly man with dementia who obviously never forgot the horrors of war. Distress to pets is bad enough, but that man's experience will stay with me forever.

[Ohyesiam]

YANBU, I can't believe that didn't happen years ago.

[Runny]

I just can't get my head around how, in our current health and safety obsessed culture, it's still legal to go into a supermarket and buy explosives? As already mentioned they are banned from sale in lots of other countries, Ireland for example.

And let's be brutal. Garden fireworks are shit, they are usually far more expensive than paying enty to an organised display,

[TallulahTheTiger]

Can anyone give advice what to do? Do I let daftdog into garden to bark at them? In the house she is howling and pacing. Should I just ignore this or give her attention??!

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

I don't think you're supposed to give them attention, but I feel so sorry for my dog so I do, but I try to be cheerful. like fuck I feel cheerful and do give him a cuddle but if I didn't he'd burrow into the carpet and the floors.

It's horrible, he's shaking like leaf and panting.

[InSheen]

Definitely YABU : it should be sold to adults only sure as it is now, but the steady santitising of the world by control freaking and fearful people is creating a world devoid of fun and no more safer.

[MrsJayy]

I was reading something by a dog training I like on Facebook apparently that advice has changed you can pet or stroke them if they are looking for reassurance. Wouldn't my dog though as he does get agitated and would bite

[TallulahTheTiger]

We're now spinning in circles and snapping. Bloody hate this.