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??

YES, YES, 100%, YES!! l have no problem with organised displays. But having had two dogs in the past who were terrified for weeks on end every year, l'd ban them from public sale in a heartbeat.
lt isn't just animals, either, there's no consideration given to people who may be upset or traumatised by the noise. lt startles me sometimes, and l have no difficulties with noise at all.
l've signed and shared the petition link above, we really need to get proactive about this.

I LOVE fireworks. But selling bombs to joe public has never sat well with me.

I now live in a large Canadian city and fireworks are prohibited from sale or use within city limits other than professional displays. It's a good thing.

I miss Bonfire Night though

I live near an industrial estate which seems to regularly be used by people setting off loads of them. Makes me a bit nervous at times.

I could see a compromise of allowing the public to buy sparklers-types and those quiet sometimes called silent fireworks (not sure if they're really silent or just quieter as I've found them harder to get hold of compared to several pop-up shops around here of the usual kind but I've heard from others that they're quite good) with the loud and bigger ones for displays. I don't think it's unreasonable at all to think there has to be a better way of handling this than what's going on now.

To the people complaining that banning them is a step too far, nobody ever died or got hurt by not being able to go to an organised display. Plenty of people are hurt every single year letting them off irresponsibly though. And it’s not just a case of the occasional idiot doing it, it’s the norm now to have them night after night after night after night. And not the pretty coloured ones, but massive explosive ones which just go boom and that’s it. And the point of those would be.... given most of them are too big to be let off in the average back garden anyway, anyone who buys them is being irresponsible even if you only let them off on bonfire night.

But as things stand at the moment, the fire brigade and emergency services will be stretched to capacity over this weekend

And to the people saying that if you make them illegal people will just buy them from abroad, you could take that view of any laws surely? So let’s just not bother having laws because people will always break them. .

I absolutely love fireworks but I still don’t think they should be on sale to the general public! At the very least you should have to pass some kind of short course on their safe use and the laws and restrictions on when and where they can be used and be issued a licence.

I love fireworks but I totally agree, don't think they should be on sale to the public. Too dangerous if they fall into irresponsible hands aswell.

A lot more people in the uk are injured or killed by dogs than fireworks, there for we should be banning public ownership of dogs before banning fireworks.

I agree with you OP. i have signed the petition mentioned above. I enjoy fireworks but only at public displays where things are regulated and safer.

Totally 100% agree. I’ve lived in inner city areas where local kids spend two weeks having firework battles and every year people get seriously injured (I’m a health professional). Ban them!

Greatorb, and by your logic we should be banning cars because far far far far more people are killed or injured by those than dogs or fireworks.

People that think letting off fireworks for weeks if not months at a time is ok obviously don't have pets that are bothered by it or know anyone with young children or babies that can't sleep through the row, or elderly people who are scared by the loud bangs. They obviously don't care about wildlife either.

As a responsible dog owner I would never go out on 5th November or the day before or after and, if it falls in the week, the weekend before or after. I really do not see why I should not be able to go out after dark for at least 2 weeks but usually much longer because so many morons have more money than sense.

Last year me and DH made sure one of us at least was home every night from around 28th October until 12th November. Bonfire night fell on a Sunday so we allowed until after the following weekend which should have been more than ample. On the 18th we dared to go out thinking it would be safe. A friend that lived nearby posted on facebook that there were fireworks going off so we had to race home for our dog who was stressed because of the fireworks and even more stressed that we weren't home with him.

I am sick of selfish idiots and unless people are going to use their brains and only have fireworks on the RIGHT date then yes they should be banned

I agree with your family OP, you sound like a sourpuss.

I have grown up being absolutely entranced and thrilled by fireworks, and always been to huge awesome displays. Always felt I'd missed out that we never has our own display, we did have sparklers.
Move on years, and I love doing them. Bought some stonkers for a big birthday occasion. All my animals not bothered, but apart from the ddogs who will go out walking through a massive display not in the least bothered, I will keep them in and safe. If I had a ddog that suffered this way I would be doing everything to desensitive. In the way that recently, after moving, they were going nuts at the door bell. Barking, chaos and things going flying, in desperate dash to the door. I've been playing doorbells, whilst treating and playing with them. I would definitely put a lot of effort into a similar exercise if they suffered this way to bangs. I suffer more than them, a loud bang will reduce me to tears. I have bought the fountain type this year lovely bright stream of colours and quiet, checked with neighbours who have pets, that could see the colour s lighting the garden, beforehand.
Trouble is, anything can be used like a weapon. Some sick arsehole bloke was cutting the heads off dcats in their area recently. Wtf is up with some ppl?!! Hope the desensitising goes well for all needing that.
Horses suffer a lot out in fields, or stabled, trembling, sweating, again tho, desensitising is possible.

mydogisthebest

Greatorb, and by your logic we should be banning cars because far far far far more people are killed or injured by those than dogs or fireworks.

That's your logic not mine.

I grew up absolutely loving fireworks and even splashed out on them for our wedding. Now due to life experiences I can tolerate organised displays just about because I know they're going to happen but random fireworks going off can affect me really badly (my dog is fine!).

I absolutely do not agree with banning organised displays as many people enjoy them and my distress is inconsequential to anyone but me but would like to see much stricter control of sale to the public, mostly to prevent malicious misuse and injuries.

Fireworks are dangerous! When I was 12 we were invited to a party at a family friend's house. Their garden was no more than 20x14 ft and they lit fireworks. One exploded without firing into the air and all of us children were showered in sparks and had minor burns. My mum was hit in the face by part of the firework and could have lost the sight in one eye. Luckily she recovered, but I remember attending appointments with her in the weeks following at the emergency eye clinics and there were several people all being treated for injury caused by fireworks.

They should just be banned, other than at organised and controlled displays.

Horses suffer a lot out in fields, or stabled, trembling, sweating, again tho, desensitising is possible.

Ours are in on bonfire night, mine is pretty calm as he was foaled in an area that had regular shoots, because he ignores them the others in his barn seem to cope ok. So he's desensitised. Doesn't stop us being around and on hand with hose pipes for those stray ones that land on barn rooves and the sparks falling onto the hay/straw or rugs and horses beneath and setting fire to them. Not happened to me luckily, but it has happened, and the results were devastating. And from reports that was someone 'responsible' in their garden, firework went the wrong way and you have a fire with animals killed and property destroyed. Somehow 'fun' doesn't spring to mind there. And then there's the cows, sheep, pigs, poultry etc that are owned by farms. Rescue centres, vets.... The list goes on. Of course that's just round me.
I don't want them banned completely, but something needs to be done to prevent them falling into the wrong hands. Incidents like the blind lady and some described on here show that they do, and regularly at this time of year . The simplest answer is to restrict who they can be sold to, and stop supermarkets and pop up shops selling them, because obviously the current restrictions aren't working and they are falling into the wrong hands. Even in the 'right' hands they're unpredictable and can be dangerous.
And yes, people are killed and injured by dogs, cars but things have been put in place to monitor this - dangerous dogs act, seat belts, speed restrictions, these have all been increased over time following incidents or statistics. Same needs to happen with fireworks.

Over the last few days round here a fire engine has been attacked by youths firing fireworks and a blind woman and her guide dog were also attacked.
Its just wrong that kids and idiots are allowed to buy fireworks and basically use them to intimidate and threaten the community. It should be organized displays only and you have to have a license.

I have always lived watching fire work displays, although I don't like those that have too loud. 'Bang'. Now owning a dog I see how frightened he is by them. We've had him a couple of years and previously he was OK apart from bonfire night itself but this year they've been going off every night for the last week and a half and ddog is terrified

A celebration of the history of our country? What other sectarian events (i.e. events that only exist because of historical and ongoing religious prejudices) in history do we celebrate?

They weren’t sold to anyone with trout a lisence/permit where I grew up (bush fire risk). I was very surprised that the British government is happy to sell explosives at the supermarket.

My boys don't like organised displays because there is a lot of waiting around and loads of loud bangs. DS21 and 2 are autistic. The one quiet display locally went on sale weeks ago before I'd even thought about it and sold out very fast. So we either miss out or do a few quiet fountains in someone's garden. Short as in 15 minutes display, familiar food and in where it's warm 👍🏻

Should say DS's 1 and 2, I don't have 21 kids!

Organised displays only would be my preference.

I enjoy fireworks as much as the next person, but they can be dangerous and upsetting to a lot of people and animals. And also home displays are invariably shite anyway.

DrCoconut your post illustrates my point better than I could; your garden display would possibly affect me badly whereas I can just about cope with organised displays so long as I know beforehand that they are taking place. A big organised display would distress your boys whereas they enjoy their garden fireworks. I think when you are in the minority you cannot expect the majority to change to suit your needs but just have to cope as best you can.