Should fireworks be banned for sale to the public for private use and restricted to licensed public events?

[annabel85]

Fireworks for licensed public events only on specific days/weeks of the year - YANBU

Allow adults to buy fireworks for personal use within the current laws YABU

I think it's long since time to ban them because it gets worse and worse every year and goes on all winter. I'd add the caveat that this year you could allow an exception ON BONFIRE NIGHT ONLY due to the ban of the public events this year due to the virus.

This is more about in the future. Away from the anomaly of Covid restrictions, there is no need for the public to set them off. It's kids getting hold of them and causing mischief with bangers and rockets for weeks on end. Or bored people with nothing better to do because the pubs are shut.

Fireworks are essentially for kids to enjoy, it's like trick or treating. But trick or treating is one night, you don't get people banging on your door for months on end. Kids and even adults are firing them at police and ambulances, so the common sense argument has been lost.

Not to mention all of the traumatised pets out there and PTSD sufferers. I thought we were a nation of animal lovers. Why is this cruelty to animals (because that's what it is) allowed to continue unabated?

Time to end animal cruelty and introduce a blanket ban on fireworks, outside of licensed public events over specific days in the calendar such as new years eve and bonfire night.

There is no need for our animals to be terrified all winter in a civilised society. It's barbaric.

There has been so many threads on this subject.

Have a look at advanced search and you'll get a pretty clear idea of how most MNetters feel about this.

YANBU but I am not sure a ban is the answer.

Low noise/ quiet ones are probably the way forward.

@felineflutter

Low noise/ quiet ones are probably the way forward.

Low decibel is one thing, yes. The loud bangs have got no place in residential areas in particular. Why do we have to relive the Blitz all winter? It's nonsensical.

Can we also ban mass littering and wildlife endangermemt oh, wait I think the selfish call them "balloon releases"?

I think its the noise that is the main issue saying that I've just cleared some out my garden that have embedded themselves in my lawn good job we weren't outside at the time that would have left a mark

My neighbours set off fireworks they live in the road behind me to see these fireworks you needed to be stood across the road from my house because they were "proper display fireworks" not the backyard type ones 😑

I love an organised display. What I don't love is my idiot neighbours setting them off past midnight.

So unfortunately, due to the idiot minority, yes, I believe the sale of domestic fireworks should be prohibited.

Are you one of the people who have posted on our village Facebook group?? Apparently we are all going to be told which days and at what time we are allowed to set off fireworks next year. That's it we don't buy the silent ones.

I don't actually set any off but love watching them. The people who are setting them off are getting a proper roasting for inflicting such cruelty outside of November 5th.

I'm somewhere in the middle so haven't voted.

I do think their sale should be restricted, but don't think they should be limited to public events.

I'm perfectly happy with them at private events as long as they are safely used and the location is appropriate for the type of fireworks used.

I'd happily see a restriction on private use in residential areas.

I really love watching fireworks and I'm lucky that my pet isn't scared of them. There have been lots going off in my area for the past couple of weeks and generally speaking, I'm not bothered.

That said, having seen the injuries they can cause when people are irresponsible and inconsiderate, I agree they should be removed from public sale.

In any other year there are plenty of organised displays and no need to be providing all and sundry with explosives they don't know how to use safely.

I have always loved fireworks but it is getting out of hand. Our village has been a bit like a war zone the last few nights with fireworks designed for big displays being let off in small gardens. The noise has been horrendous and debris flying a long way from the gardens they came from. There is no thought for any of their neighbours Animals have repeatedly been terrified as have people. It must be stopped

@Twinkie01

Are you one of the people who have posted on our village Facebook group?? Apparently we are all going to be told which days and at what time we are allowed to set off fireworks next year. That's it we don't buy the silent ones.

I don't actually set any off but love watching them. The people who are setting them off are getting a proper roasting for inflicting such cruelty outside of November 5th.

It's a fair compromise to have set times and dates you're allowed to set them off, IF people can be relied on to stick to them and work with their community. Maybe in the local village they will, less so in a larger town or city.

There really is no good reason to be setting off loud fireworks and rockets outside of November 5th (or New Years Eve and other special occasions maybe).

It's Saturday night, i'm bored and the pubs are shut is not a fair reason to terrify animals by setting off loud bangs. Time to pack it in now.

There is no thought for any of their neighbours Animals have repeatedly been terrified as have people.

These people don't give a shit.

Our family enjoy them, and it's been a family tradition for decades.

Heavy handed to ban them because a minority of idiots don't use them safely or sensibly imo.

Can we ban barking dogs and dog shit too?

@rawlikesushi

Our family enjoy them, and it's been a family tradition for decades.

Heavy handed to ban them because a minority of idiots don't use them safely or sensibly imo.

On bonfire night though, presumably? People don't go out trick or treating through November, it's a one day thing, why are fireworks any different? The tradition is Guy Fawkes night.

You're not setting them off all winter. Unfortunately the minority of idiots do ruin it for everyone else.

@omega3

Can we ban barking dogs and dog shit too?

Hoe does that work? Pet owners picking up dog shit is an offence that carries a fine (as is littering).

*not

People don't take any notice of the existing laws. You're not supposed to set them off between 11pm and 7am in the UK (apart from Bonfire Night, Diwali, NYE and Chinese New Year). Where I live, there are dickheads who regularly set them off after 11pm on random week nights. Just what you need when you're trying to get a decent night's sleep before getting up for work the next morning.

No I think yabu.

Next we'll ban stopping suddenly on the pavement...

We have to endure barking dogs and dog shit on the pavements and grassy areas where kids play, all year.

Let's ban dogs. It's a comparable reaction to yours over fireworks.

Yes they should be banned, a horse round here got badly hurt by one, the person lightin them clearly didn’t realise how far they could go. And many animals are terrified and become highly distressed. It needs to stop. People here have been setting them off all week, prolonging it, it’s appalling.

I agree wholeheartedly. They have been banned here for decades which is great because it meant I stopped seeing children with horrendous injuries. It won’t work to ban them from minors because you have deadshit parents who think it’s funny to give their kids fireworks or kids snivel them and light one while sticking their face over it. If you’re a great responsible adult and parent, kudos to you but many many are not and if banning them means that these at-risk kids don’t lose an eye or fingers I believe it’s worth it. Just go to a safely run n public event and watch it there or worse case on tv.

Think at least be a time restriction. There's been ones going off this week at 12...11...no need and no reason other to to probably annoy people