To believe that fireworks shouldn’t be available to the general public?

[FatNoMorePat]

Fireworks at this time of night!!!

I’m partial to a sparkler don’t get me wrong, but I just don’t agree with fireworks being readily available for joe public. Particularly when people let them off after 11pm!

I’m not saying get rid of them all together but make it stricter so they’re only let off in safe environments by people who’ve had adequate training who then clean everything up and it’s all done and dusted before 11pm.

Am I getting old??

[Caprisunorange]

Can set your clock by this one dangerous as guns!? there is a lot of exaggeration on these threads

[silkpyjamasallday]

This time of year in (certain parts of) south London is horrendous, from mid October teenage boys somehow get hold of millions of the things and amuse themselves setting them off in the street at all hours and throwing them at cars Groups of young men are intimidating enough without having access to explosives.

[Drivemecrazy1974]

Totally disagree, sorry! I have many happy memories of bonfire parties in my nan and gramp's garden with shop-bought fireworks and home-made toffee apples!
What I do get annoyed about is people who have pets moaning about fireworks from the beginning of bloody September on wards.
I think pet-owners forget that it's not obligatory to have a pet, it's something they've chosen to do. As such, it's up to them to make sure their pet is sufficiently shielded from the fireworks, not for people who wish to have a little fun to have to think about every Tom, Dick and Harry's bloody pet dog.

[Creepyexgirlfriend]

Agree. So bizarre they are sold without a license.
Agree with Judas about dogs too.

[BeardedMum]

Totally agree.

[DaphneDiligaf]

I have always disagreed with the banning of fireworks because we have had lovely safe family get togethers in our gardens (and dogs that used to watch with us strangely) BUT after Halloween this year I have totally changed my mind. Unless the sales can be licenced in some way and until we have sufficient policing we cannot continue to "arm" these little shits!

[AnnabelleLecter]

Agree 100% only for organised events, which there are plenty over the weekend. Can't imagine anyone bothering to DIY you'd need to spend a fortune for a decent display.
So far we've heard only 3 random ones. Seemed to cut back last year. Previous years it has been a month either side of bonfire night.
One of our dogs is petrified of them, has to hide under a blanket.

[puzzledlady]

Did someone on this thread actually say there was a correlation of people buying fireworks being absolute scum?!

[Brazenhussy0]

Every year we have this thread, and every year I say the same thing.
YANBU, OP.

It always comes down to peoples’ enjoyment vs the safety of others.
The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable people, the elderly and animals will always come first in my eyes.

[CherryPavlova]

I love fireworks. I love bonfire night particularly small, community based events and well organised private events.
I don’t think they should be on general sale but there should be restrictions above those currently in place. Not necessarily commercial events only but a licence maybe.

[Chocolateismyvice]

Completely and utterly agree with you. I work with the elderly and we have one client that gets terrified as it gives flashbacks to the war :(

Also, wasn't there a thread on here last year about a horse who miscarried her foal due to the stress of fireworks?

[MrsStrowman]

So a few idiots spoil it for everyone again? Shall we ban anything that plays music (the odd noisy neighbour) , jiff lemons (used by gang members to squirt acid at people), anything with a blade? The advert isn't to ban everything is to deal effectively with people who use them dangerously or anti socially. It's all well and good saying organised displays only by they don't stop people/pets being scared. I live near a seaside town that had fireworks every Saturday from the start of October to Christmas. There's a street homeless problem but don't worry let's just blow up thousands and thousands of pounds of fireworks every week instead, if people want fireworks they can buy them themselves.

[Gaspodethetalkingdog]

I agree, I have already heard some around here, our dog gets really frightened. They are dangerous as well as upsetting for many people, I can’t understand why they have not been banned. Despite some sort of age limit the thugs manage to get hold of them and use the fireworks to frighten animals and humans.

Well organised public displays only please

[TenForward82]

I agree.

[nottakingthisanymore]

If we are talking about public safety how many people have been killed or injured by animals?

The law is not being enforced. People setting them off in public is illegal.

[Thesearmsofmine]

I totally agree.

[OftenHangry]

I would just limit the days when they can be used. Agree that random fireworks on random days at night are not ok, but I wouldn't want to lose the bonfire night display one family on our estate does. More impressive than the council's one

[Hollycatberry]

Google “police fireworks” and click News at the top.

10 articles on the first page alone since 30 October. Each news article confirming fireworks have been used to attacked the police, animals and members of the public. Not just a few bad apples spoiling the fun, it’s rife. The police are stretched enough without dealing with this. God help if you actually really needed the police around this time of year.

Here’s one of those incidents:

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/leeds-fireworks-attack-police-release-details-after-blind-woman-and-guide-dog-attacked-by-youths-in-hyde-park-leeds-1-9421181

[AamdC]

I wouldnt mind so much if it was a one night only thing, but its beeen going on for weeks here even during rhe day so yanbu

[CartwheelCath]

I'm in the orgnised displays only camp.
Not a big fan tbh. The twat brigade set fireworks off all year round around here., although Sept to Dec are the worst months.

There is a huge number of ex / service men and women of the younger generation that struggle to cope with it too. Not justbolder people. Butbsociety forgets we were fighting war recently.
My dh is ok but I remember watching him flinch one Oct/Nov a few years ago (he returned home end half of October) every time one of the local twats let off a random firework here and there. By the time NYE came he was fine but not all get better. That heightened state of nerves never leaves some. It's actually a shockingly high number of people that are affected like this.
Then I think of animals pets, farm and wild animals.
I'm not a fan of fireworks much and few live in properties with big gardens these days for it to be safe. Twats lwt them.off where and whenever they see fit with no regard for any one or anything else. Display only fireworks is the way forward I think.

[WhoWants2Know]

I think it's a matter of time before a big incident leads to them being further restricted. There will be someone stupid or bad enough that it's taken too far.

[LostontheWestway]

Drivemecrazy yes it's up to pet owners to shield their animals from them but when they're going off indiscriminately for the best part of two months how are we meant to do that?
I change my routine at this time of year to walk the dog before work and put her crate up with her bed in it and blankets over the top so she has a "safe" den to hide in.
But they randomly get let off in the day time when I'm out with her and she freaks out. I still have to let her into the garden at night before we go to bed and if one goes off while she's out there she tries to bolt.
No one is saying ban the things but we all have to live together and some restrictions on who can buy them (with a licence perhaps) or a set day to hold displays makes things safer and less stressful for everyone.

[MaisyPops]

Caprisunorange
I didn't say they were as dangerous as guns
I said the 'but because I'm sensible I should an allowed one and me wanting something is more important than other safety concerns / punishing the majority' rhetoric is the same sort of argument given when people want to protect their right to firearms.

We used to go to a friend's house and theu did back garden fireworks. Was it good? Yes. Were they sensible? Yes. Did they have a large garden? Yes.
Do I think 'I want to see sparkly things go boom in my garden' trumps the effect on animals, the weeks of fireworks being let off, the injuries etc? No.

[nottakingthisanymore]

How does the licence thing work in NI? Sounds like a good solution to the problem.