Would you be in favour of banning fireworks (other than scheduled displays?)

[FlippidyFlop]

YABU - people should be allowed to let them off any time of the year in their own gardens etc...

YANBU - there is no need to let fireworks off at random times of the year and they should be kept to scheduled displays so people know when to expect them.

@twobrews

Yes we should ban everything that's unnecessary, potentially dangerous, potentially annoying for neighbours or bad for the environment. Fireworks, trampolines, skiing, going to beaches, flying, pets, log burners, wrapping paper, alcohol, hot drinks, vapes, smoking, sex, driving to a theme park, theme parks, fast food, toys, scented candles, fabric softener, playing music at home without headphones, swimming for fun, hot tubs, barbecuing, cycling unless your going to work or school, parties at home... Ban the lot.

I can't wait to hear how going skiing or to the beach is impacting you in any way and tell us all about cycling....

Or having sex? Unless you mean sex in a hot tub in a theme park...

Bonfire should be banned too.

Absolutely.
I don't have nervous pets and everyone in our house sleeps through them but I appreciate and sympathise with the issues they cause other people as well as their potential danger.
I think you should have to apply for a license for them and they should only be granted for events.

Normally I would say an outright yes.

We won't be able to have organised displays this year though.

I fully agree that they shouldn’t be generally available. Last year teenagers around here were throwing them at cars and into shops. It’s an unnecessary danger, not to mention the effect on pets and wildlife. I think if people want to have them for a party or wedding then they should be able to pay a professional to put on a small display, but no way should they be for sale in supermarkets.

Ban all but low noise fireworks for general sale (probably will need the develop a standard for "low noise). No need to ban them outright, we can't live in a joyless world.

Actualy the home parties i have been to have been safer. Last organised one we all kept been asked to move as the wind blew the fire too near the crowd. Very crowded so easy to loose children. GReat for pickpocets. And the fireworks generally louder then if at home.

I think there should be tight regulations regarding what can be sold/set off in gardens etc.

I personally would prefer only professional displays to be allowed and only on certain dates: the weekends either side of bonfire night, bonfire night and maybe New Year’s Eve. But I don’t see any real harm in people having Roman-candle type fireworks and sparklers in their gardens.

We need just organised displays so you and your pets have a choice whether to hear them. I hate fireworks in gardens and we are find them upsetting. They are also so expensive. The organised ones here are only £5 per person. But of course it's not going ahead this year

Ban them poor animals hate them.

I'm all for fireworks either being heavily regulated or banned for anyone but professional use. Why Joe Public can use them, especially the really loud ones, in built-up residential areas, is beyond me when you consider how anti-social and dangerous they can be.

As a PP said, the government are missing a trick by not regulating them; they could insist on licences which are only issued after undertaking a safe handling course and passing a test (extra revenue), and it would reduce the costs to the NHS and local authorities from the aftermath of incorrect use.

And to those PPs saying if fireworks are banned then so should dogs, its not just dogs that suffer. Wildlife, farm animals, other pets, and people with PTSD. Last time I saw fireworks they scared a whole flock of sleeping birds out of the trees. Just awful Yeah, but fuck all them, fireworks are fun and pretty right?

100% they should be banned, why anyone would think it’s a good idea for any Tom, Dick or Harry to be able to wander around messing with explosives is beyond me!

I hate them. Gardens on our estate are quite small so dangerous but there is always some idiot that lets off the really loud ones. I find them terrifying.

I'd support the strict regulation of fireworks but not banning. I'd happily support the strict regulation of cats too - also v bad for the environment.

@TeamLucille
Skiing- potentially dangerous and unnecessary travel is bad for the environment, annoying if people bore you with holiday details
Beach- see skiing
Cycling- potentially dangerous and annoying as leisure cyclists often use footpaths and expect pedestrians to move out their way and enthusiasts often drone on about it,
Sex- potentially dangerous, bad for the environment if you do it to procreate, annoying if it's audible, cause of many issues in relationships.

Ban them all.

Yes! Can't vote on app

@Ohtherewearethen

I think they should all be banned. There is nothing good about them at all. Neighbours and animals living near these displays don't have the choice to opt out - they impact everybody and everything around them. We worry about our pets but they have us or a safe space to comfort them. Wild animals and birds don't have any defense against the dreadful things at all. If they had to continue they should be made to be silent so they don't have such a negative impact on so many.

Agree with this too.

I love fireworks but I don't think they should be on general sale.

YANBU
There are no need for them

@VestaTilley

I disagree, it can be nice to do a few in your own garden etc with older children if you can’t get to a big display and if it’s on Bonfire Night/not upsetting neighbours.

Not everyone uses them irresponsibly, and I don’t think we should all be punished because some people behave inappropriately with them.

I disagree because we had a large rocket land in our garden and cause a lot of damage to a special ornament. It wasn't any of our neighbours as there weren't anyway fireworks on our road. You have no idea where a large rocket is going to end up.

100% my dog is a nightmare they go on for weeks not just one night you can get silent ones.

Last year one of the houses in our village was totally gutted by fire after a stray rocket from a garden display smashed through a (single glazed, beautiful stained glass) window. The homeowners were out and the people having the fireworks assumed it had dropped in the garden. By the time anybody realised, it was too late to get it quickly under control.

When I was a child, a local farmer lost his barn due to a stray firework.

My friend's horse suffered serious burns after burning firework detritus landed on his blanket. Luckily, they didn't have to put him down but it was damn close.

So yeah. The public should NOT have free access to explosives just because they look pretty.

Absolutely 100% fireworks should only be for public displays.
When my children (one who has ASD) were younger, we watched on in horror as my garden shed burned down due to a large industrial style firework. This had been set off without permission, in my small London garden by a drunken neighbour. Furthermore this drunken neighbour and their party guests climbed up on the shed in an attempt to put out the fire. Fireworks can be so dangerous in the wrong hands.

Is it save for Joe public to handle dangerous explosives?

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ban-the-sale-of-fireworks-to-the-general-public-uk
Thanks for posting this thread FlippidyFlop.

I’d be happy with a complete ban as I think they are horrific. But I would compromise on allowing organised, public displays between set times on a (very) few set dates a year.

I’ve said YANBU , but it’s a bit hypocritical of me as some of the funniest moments of my children’s early childhood was watching my husband trying to light fireworks whilst being completely useless with matches and I reckon scared of fireworks . I think the issue now is that back in the day it was small garden fireworks whereas now they are ginormous things that are totally unsuitable for the majority of gardens that they are being let off in .