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.

You only offer two extreme options in your poll.

I think it would be a terrible shame if the we're all banned from responsibly enjoying fireworks because of the behaviour of a minority of idiots. It's a long-standing tradition in this country. (And one that celebrates the thwarting of a terrorist plot after all.)

I have no problems with reasonable restrictions. Home fireworks don't need to be deafeningly loud and don't need to be allowed all year round.

Even in non-Covid times, DM's arthritis means she would not be able to attend a big display any more. It's her own garden or nothing.

I like fireworks but I think they should be used only by licensed professionals at organised displays.

Btw we are actually going to an organised display this year in Devon - it's a drive in one being held at a show ground. You can watch from your car - we're taking blankets, hot chocolate etc to have in the car & as it has a glass roof we can see really well.

I can see I’m in the minority here, but I disagree.
I love fireworks and every year I buy the low noise / no noise ones that just crackle a bit, plus a few sparklers, to use in our garden. I buy them for DC1 birthday in November and save a box for DC2 birthday in January.

I wouldn’t stop doing it because someone’s dog doesn’t like it.

Should only be allowed on bonfire night and New Year’s Eve. I’m sure there used to be a law that you were limited to when you could set them off - like a couple weeks before bonfire night.

@ CandidaAlbicans2 you said:

‘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?’

If that’s to me you’ve misunderstood - I’m not saying ban dogs so we can have fireworks I’m saying yes fireworks can cause problems - but so, as an example, can dogs - so can lots of things!

@ mangoesforever

You said to twobrews

‘Don't be so fucking ridiculous. We're talking about fireworks because they harm and scare people with autism and defenceless animals you callous cow bag‘

If you can’t make your point without resorting to names that’s not a good start - the point that poster was making was lots of things misused are bad. Doesn’t mean we ban them. I.e if you object to me saying we should ban dogs as they have mauled people to death would that make you callous or would I be using an emotive unfair argument?

Anyway - compromise is the way forward. Don’t ban but increase regulation and restrict to a few dates.

(Ps. I don’t hate dogs or want them banned, sorry dog lovers!)

I wouldn't support a total ban but I do think the strength and noise of those for sale, and the dates you can let them off, should be limited.

No-one needs a 60-megatonne 300-shot screecher rocket.

Rainbow fountains, Catherine wheels, sparklers, crackling or silent Roman candles... Lots of options that don't involve loud noise or scattered debris.

100% in favour of banning them apart from organised public displays. I really don't understand why this isn't the law yet, so many people have raised it and supported this cause over the years. High time.

100% so dangerous if not used properly and the amount of animals that are petrified is sad. X

@StuckInTheMiddleWithTwo

If someone wants to start a petition, I'll sign it.

I'll sign it too

Definitely should only be organised displays, and they should hold a license or something. I don’t understand how anyone can buy them in the supermarket etc. Not particularly bothered about the disturbance myself, just don’t feel they’re safe and do understand they bother some people.

Fireworks are incendiary devices.
They should not be sold to anyone other than to licensed display users.
That being said, I was scarred , on my face by a wayward firework at a public display, when I was six.
In the same year , my parents had a newsagents shop which sold fireworks.
A boy bought some ( not really regulated in the early 70s ) and somehow his fireworks exploded in his pocket and he died.
My mum struggled to cope with this, plus my accident for many years.

I love fireworks but every year is proof that people are bloody idiots and the vast majority shouldn't be able to buy them.

Maybe some sort of license should be needed to buy them to prove you're having a safe display. Not sure how it would work in practice.

The idiot boys firing them from their hands directly at cars last year a few streets away really cemented my idea that there needs to be far tighter regulations.

South Manchester here too and our local FB group is awash with posts about dickheads letting off fireworks, and in daylight hours. There was a post earlier saying kids were throwing them at oncoming traffic and another that they were chucking them at dog walkers in the park. They've been going off for weeks too.

Twats

The problem with only having a limit on the days / times they can be used and no other restriction is that people will ignore that and it's impossible to police.

YANBU.
Maybe sparklers would be ok but the big stuff should be reserved for organised public events.

I think they should be banned from private sale. I'm not even sure we need organised displays, tbh.

Yes. My dog is a nervous bloody wreck from October to February.

@surprisebabyshower

The problem with only having a limit on the days / times they can be used and no other restriction is that people will ignore that and it's impossible to police.

Yes but surely it would make a difference if you were unable to purchase them easily as a member of the public?

I think private sales of them should be heavily restricted to the point that, for the majority of people, it would be easier to simply go to an organised display. Any sold for private use should be low noise, low velocity/force(?), and should be limited to a maximum of number of units in the pack. They should also be licensed, only available for sale for a period of 72hrs - e.g., 3rd, 4th, and 5th November - and only allowed to be let off over a two day window subject to a curfew of 9pm unless explicit permission is gained from the licensing authority.

I have two autistic children and they don't mind the little sparkly type fireworks but they hate anything that shrieks, wooshes/fizzes, or bangs/booms. A rocket being let off is enough to have them on the floor screaming. I can pre-prepare them for bonfire night and NYE so they're aware it'll be happening and I can make sure they've got ear defenders on and we have lots of distractions ready but its much harder to pre-plan if they're being let off randomly for days and weeks in the run up to it.

Yes but surely it would make a difference if you were unable to purchase them easily as a member of the public?

Definitely, which is why in my other post I mentioned needing a license to buy them to prove you were having a safe display.

My comment about limiting days / times was because a few prior mentioned they would support them only being allowed to be set off on certain days with fines outside of that - impossible to police.

@surprisebabyshower

Yes but surely it would make a difference if you were unable to purchase them easily as a member of the public?

Definitely, which is why in my other post I mentioned needing a license to buy them to prove you were having a safe display.

My comment about limiting days / times was because a few prior mentioned they would support them only being allowed to be set off on certain days with fines outside of that - impossible to police.

Ah okay sorry I missed your other post.

YANBU.

It’s completely wrong that any idiot with a few quid can buy them and let them off randomly at all hours of the day or night.

These last few weeks have seen regular incidences of random fireworks bring let off from 7 pm til midnight. There’s just no need. It sounds like the blitz from the beginning of November until well after bonfire night too.

@surprisebabyshower it’s not as difficult as one would think. We have license requirements in NI for fireworks, and a family member had a license granted and had a police visit on the display date

@Generalblah

Fireworks on Bonfire Night and New Years Eve is acceptable. There aren’t many things for people to enjoy nowadays without someone wanting to complain.

Live and let live.

But they are not only let off on bonfire night and New Year's Eve are they? They are let off for at least 2 weeks around bonfire night which is a joke in itself. Fireworks are for BONFIRE NIGHT not nights around that night.

They are also let off for birthdays, Halloween and goodness knows what other random reasons.

They are also thrown at people including emergency services, thrown at houses, pushed through letterboxes, tied to animals' tails, thrown at animals. Add that to the injuries suffered by animals and people and the upset or even terror suffered by animals and people how on earth are they not banned?

Yes live and let live if everyone was sensible and only let them off 2 nights a year and also didn't use them as missiles etc. Also make sure they are not being let off after midnight which is against the law but people don't care.

Too many people are idiots

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