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??

If you ban fireworks then there will be areas where kids never get a chance to see them, as many local councils don’t do them. I was so lucky to grow up in a predominately Hindu area because the local community identified this and paid for their own display specifically for kids who wouldn’t get a chance to experience fireworks otherwise. Local council then took it on, and now it’s become the biggest single Diwali festival on Earth.

Fireworks sales should be restricted. I love to watch them but at organised displays only.

It’s fine if you live in an area where people are generally sensible with them but I live in an area where there are persistent issues with people letting off fireworks at random times all through the year, sometimes during the day, other time in the middle of the night, not just the odd firework these are really loud and extravagant ones and can go on for ages. it is antisocial behaviour and we have to put up with being woken up and dealing with scared children in the night, some local people and animals end up absolutely terrified.
Then of course you get the people thinking it is fine to let them off in unsafe areas, last year some people on our road set a bonfire in their front garden and let off fireowkrs, the garden is tiny so the fire was right by the house(and the attached house) and they were letting their small children go right upto the fire while they were doing it. The fire brigade came out thank goodness.

Then you get people who happily throw them at others, not gving a shit about the damage they could cause. That poor blind lady in Leeds who has had them thrown at her and her dog, thank goodness she was physically unharmed but I bet she has been left terrified about going out.

Yanbu, they should only be sold to professionals whether they're for public displays or private events like weddings.

Not including sparklers of course.

I hate them, I don’t understand why it’s seen by some as a right to have them or watch them, no child is being deprived if they don’t see fireworks.

I have had to move my horses and pay for a vet appt to get sedation for one of my rescue dogs.
My autistic daughter ends up shaking under her covers.

I would love it if they were banned completely but I know this will never happen so if it could at least be kept to two or three days a year that would suit me.

I have been thinking about the blind lady and her dog, I really hope it hasn't ended the guide dogs career now because of this, not only the poor animal but it takes years to train a guide dog and that lady probably waited a while for one too.

They are illegal in Ireland

And to the posters who saying about de sensitising animals, it is not always possible, particularly with traumatised rescue animals.

We were on our way to an organised display few years ago when group of youths with no warning threw a firework at us - our children and another couple with a dog - pure luck their aim was off but it was terrifying.

I sign the petition that year – got response government thought our laws were fine and got impression it wasn't going to change view any time soon.

I enjoy fireworks but do feel that restricting sales to professionals and encouraging more organised displays is the way forward.

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'd welcome more restrictions on dogs as well - not been attacked but had so many owners who think it fine for their animals to jump up me or kids or be off lead and out of control in public places. There’s apparently a huge issue locally with sheep worrying that causing farmers massive problems.

Let’s shoehorn some dog hating in if we can It’s been about five minutes on here I think.

I agree with the OP about organised displays only. I would have designated days so that people can protect animals or anyone who is unable to view fireworks because of a disability or other condition.

It is commemorating a group of people failing to injure and kill, after all.

They need to be quiet there is no need to have the big bangs I like the pretty lights it's just too loud for me

Never gonna please all the ppl all the time. Some ppl hate ddogs, and shouldn't have to have ddogs running at them or jumping up but equally, going out in the country or a park, ddog are enjoyed and give hugely to a massive part of the pop'n.
Same with fireworks, they are a massive form of entertainment, family time, socialising, religious events. Huge part of my childhood, and DCs.

I feel deeply for traumatised ddogs, and horses are normally pretty rubbish with loud bangs, and flashing lights, spooky creatures.
It's the control of them, controlling the risk isn't it?
Or a complete ban?

YANBU. Not far from here two young lads were walking along holding fireworks and letting them go off. In another area groups of kids were throwing fireworks at cars. Now I don't really care if the little shits blow their hands or any other parts of their anatomy off (other than the cost to the NHS) but I care about the innocent people and animals who might get hurt. I also care about the emergency services who have had fireworks thrown at them

I like dogs it's a small minoirity of owners who don't have them under control that cause problems or who fail to look after the dogs properly.

I agree it's same issue with fireworks most people are responsible but ones that aren't cause the problems. I think restrictions to sell to people with some form of licence or restricting to organise displays rather than outright bans would be way forward – but it’s not happening any time soon.

Absolutely, yes. Having a set of strict rules where they can and can't be set off wouldn't work - by the time you've said not near agricultural land and not in housing estates etc there would be hardly anywhere where individuals could safely set them off.

They should be licensed displays only which are inspected for safety by relevant officials - the cost of which has to be paid by the organisers.

I completely completely agree. Should only organised displays. Where we are it's just all winter and I hate it.

Organised firework displays - no problem. Allowing the louts of today to buy fireworks - big problem for everyone.

Everyone can choose whether or not to go to an organised display. Nobody has a choice when the lunatic youths of today let off big bang fireworks at all times of the day or night, in the weeks leading up to, and after, bonfire night.

The poor wildlife who have to be scared witless, the frightened and confused OAPS who lie shaking in their beds, the poor animals who have fireworks tied to them, shoved up their noses, taped to their mouths...simply for the vile youths of today to get their kicks as they stand by and laugh at the suffering of others. Don't get me started on the bunch of imbeciles who thought it was a great laugh to throw fireworks at a blind lady and her guide dog 🤬

Many years ago when I was growing up Bonfire night was a celebration, with all the villagers coming together and having a fantastic night. The community made the bonfire, we baked potatoes in the embers, the fireworks were let off by trusted village members, with everyone stepping back providing space. The run up to bonfire night was kids making replicas of Guy Fawkes and spending many an hour asking for "penny for the guy", before burning him on the bonfire. The farmers and smallholders knew to lock their livestock up for the night.

WTF happened?? When did people decide setting off fireworks means nothing unless some human/animal suffers?

Bonfire night sure is not what it used to be..

I’m not sure if I will attend our local fireworks event this year. Might take the kids bowling at night instead of attending a fireworks display.

Another case of destroying fun for the masses, because of the very few, really nasty, cruel FWs.

I wouldn't be anywhere near mass thronging crowds, and neither would many.

But fireworks should never be on the street, that's a rule, and should have to spend a night in the cells for that! Like carring a loaded gun almost!

In gardens a safe distance from houses another good rule.
Whats the sale age? Is it 21s and over, or 18? Should be 25. How are the nasty FWs getting hold of them?

Sparklers, lighters, knives, well all the risky things, bottles, cars, can all be lethal weapons in the wrong hands, we can't ban all these things.
The noise of big displays is like machine gun fire, and bombs going off. They are sold to licensed fire trained operatives for big displays.
Slamming of wheelie bin lids and bumping along the road is extremely disruptive, and jarring, and fireworks, the home garden variety, are not louder than this.

Like ddogs, they bring such enjoyment to so many.

Everyone can choose whether or not to go to an organised display. Nobody has a choice when the lunatic youths of today let off big bang fireworks at all times of the day or night, in the weeks leading up to, and after, bonfire night
This exactly. Have organised displays so people know when they're going to happen and can go if they want or make plans if they don't want to be anywhere near but it should not be acceptable for people to have to put up with it every night or weekend that it's dark every year. It's just anti social.

I got stopped by a local radio station asking my views on selling fireworks to individuals.
I said they should totally be banned. A friend of mine, who is now sadly deceased totally unrelated to this, had a firework intentionally put up his coat jacket when he was 8. His arm survived but was horrifically scared.
In my opinion fireworks belong in organised displays only,

YANBU.

100% agree.