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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

86 replies

annabel85 · 08/11/2020 11:21

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.

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 08/11/2020 13:03

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

No way comparable. Theoretically you could ban dogs (won’t happen but theoretically possible). You will never be able to have rights over people’s reproductive systems though so deadshit parents will always exist and society has an obligation to assist in protecting their kids. Sometimes that may mean personally inconveniencing you.

Steamfan · 08/11/2020 13:03

Those of you who hate fireworks go the the FAB campaign on FB. Write to your MP - DO something, just don't post on Mumsnet. This has been a dreadful year for fireworks - horse blinded, rabbits frightened to death, kitten killed by having a firework tied to it's tail - and more. And what about people who rely on service dogs? It's not OK for them to be frightened?

PolarBearStrength · 08/11/2020 13:09

I love fireworks. But they are shit for wildlife, pets, people with certain mental or physical health conditions, the environment... and they are bloody dangerous in the wrong hands. So yes, I think restricting them is a good idea.

Pearl97 · 08/11/2020 13:12

They are litter too. I’ve been out today and picked up about 30. Why are people allowed to blast litter into the sky?!

Goldenbear · 08/11/2020 13:12

I don't know really, I think at some point you have to accept the right of people to express and enjoy themselves obviously only on legitimate days. Triggers for people with PTSD can vary massively, PTSD can be a result of a rape or attack, things that trigger that event cannot be banned outright. Not all PTSD is from a war zone. I remember lots of people having private fireworks as a child in 80's and 90's, getting the bonfire ready, checking for hedgehogs. We didn't live rurally, this was taking place in London gardens, admittedly fairly big ones.

I suppose I am a liberal and I'm not comfortable with laws and instructions for every aspect of our lives.

OhhCarolina · 08/11/2020 13:16

If you're banning them on the basis of noise, environmental impact and deleterious effects on public health and safety then fine, as long as you ban dogs as well. And anything else that I personally dislike.

Goldenbear · 08/11/2020 13:16

That said, we can't have fireworks as we are next to a train track and it would be dangerous but this is common sense.

Lostinacloud · 08/11/2020 13:25

NO.

Shall we ban theatre, cinema, music, dancing, celebrations and pub going as well?

What is actually wrong with people? Nobody can tolerate anything anymore and so many people seem to want to restrict or ban all fun. It’s scary!

rawlikesushi · 08/11/2020 13:27

There are plenty of things that other people enjoy that I find annoying and inconvenient, and damaging to something or other, but part of living in a society is accepting their right to do it.

I hate the fact that people keep cats as pets - I'm fed up of picking up cat poo, get woken by them trying to get into my bins, and in the past one got into my rabbit's hutch and killed him. But they're allowed to have them so it's just something that I have to put up with.

It feels like there's so much outrage lately, no give and take - I don't like it, ban it, start a petition.

rawlikesushi · 08/11/2020 13:30

A minority of neglectful dog-owners doesn't make us ban dogs for everyone.

A minority of drunken idiots doesn't make us ban alcohol.

And irresponsible parents allowing their kids access to fireworks at inappropriate times shouldn't lead to a ban for all of the families who let them off safely, on 5th November (or nearest weekend) imo.

Original poster
annabel85 · 08/11/2020 13:31

@Lostinacloud

NO.

Shall we ban theatre, cinema, music, dancing, celebrations and pub going as well?

What is actually wrong with people? Nobody can tolerate anything anymore and so many people seem to want to restrict or ban all fun. It’s scary!

It's about restricting fireworks to public events, rather than the general public setting them off all winter in back gardens of residential neighbourhoods and idiot kids in the street. That's not what they're supposed to be there for. It's for special occasions like midnight at new year or on November 5th, but people have to take it way too far and so every winter is like the blitz.

There's always a backlash in this country over calls for anything to be banned or restricted, but it's not always a bad thing. Would people like smoking in offices and pubs to return? It wasn't that long ago, you were exposed to smoking wherever you went and your clothes reeked of the stuff.

OP posts:
Goldenbear · 08/11/2020 13:41

I think that is different as on balance the effects of passive smoking were far reaching. Surely, you have to be a rationalist about this and look at things proportionally before you start banning and policing people's lives.

PeonyandDahlia · 08/11/2020 13:43

YABU. Fireworks are fun for people.

slipperywhensparticus · 08/11/2020 13:43

@Lostinacloud

NO.

Shall we ban theatre, cinema, music, dancing, celebrations and pub going as well?

What is actually wrong with people? Nobody can tolerate anything anymore and so many people seem to want to restrict or ban all fun. It’s scary!

They are indoor activities that have very little impact on everyone else they might effect you if you choose to live near a pub or a theatre but for the most part you have control over your experience of these things

With fireworks you get them like it or not

HettySunshine · 08/11/2020 13:45

You say that there is no reason to set off fireworks other than bonfire night and New Year's Eve. But what about Eid? Or 4th July? Or the anniversary of a family member's death or to celebrate a family member recovering for cancer? Or a wedding?

These are all reasons I can think of that might be cause to set off fireworks. Should they not be allowed?

OhhCarolina · 08/11/2020 13:50

every winter is like the blitz.

It really, really isn't.

Goldenbear · 08/11/2020 13:50

Many people are afraid of people in masks and disguises like you see on Halloween. There are probably quite a few people that experience PTSD from seeing that or experiencing it. Where I live there is a lot of trick or treating and adults dress up etc. Last year my 9 year old was being followed by a couple of adults that kept prodding her and her friend on the arm from behind. At one house a man dressed up at his doorway kept hitting them on the hand when they tried to grab a sweet from the bucket. My husband was around but only to make sure they were ok trick or treating. That behaviour is quite sinister but It would be silly to ban Halloween.

cologne4711 · 08/11/2020 13:50

Yes definitely. Public displays only, and only on 5th November and/or nearest Saturday. No exceptions.

No fireworks on New Years' Eve except organised ones.

Same for Diwali - organised displays only.

MrsClatterbuck · 08/11/2020 13:52

I love fireworks but we haven't had them for a number of years. Here they are let of for Halloween and you have to have a licence to let them off also the person selling them has to have a licence. The police have put on their FB page photos of fireworks that they have confiscated from people without a licence. I really missed the public display that is usually put on by the council for Halloween. We also had an incident where someone threw a firework into someone's garden and hit a child on the face leaving a permanent scar.

WitsEnding · 08/11/2020 13:59

Not everyone has a public display close enough to get to, even in a normal year.

There are lots of things I dislike or find frightening - yes dogs are on that list, as are Halloween and air displays - but I’m not calling for them to be banned.

The vast majority of cats and dogs cope with firework night. Those that don’t ... I blame the owners.

TwoZeroTwoZero · 08/11/2020 14:00

No, I don't think fireworks for private use should be banned. I like watching them, either alone or with my dc, and trying to photograph them. For lots of reasons I can't always get out to an organised display so often we just stand on our doorstep and watch them from neighbouring gardens and if that was banned then we'd miss out. I do think that there should be harsher punishments for those who sick about with them, there should be more public information about using them safely and there should be a noise limit on them.

flaviaritt · 08/11/2020 14:01

No, but I think there should be laws about when you can set them off. Major festivals and Bonfire Night only, and not after 8pm, for example.

Original poster
annabel85 · 08/11/2020 14:03

@Goldenbear

Many people are afraid of people in masks and disguises like you see on Halloween. There are probably quite a few people that experience PTSD from seeing that or experiencing it. Where I live there is a lot of trick or treating and adults dress up etc. Last year my 9 year old was being followed by a couple of adults that kept prodding her and her friend on the arm from behind. At one house a man dressed up at his doorway kept hitting them on the hand when they tried to grab a sweet from the bucket. My husband was around but only to make sure they were ok trick or treating. That behaviour is quite sinister but It would be silly to ban Halloween.
But Halloween actually is one night (not that i'm a fan but it's one night for kids to enjoy).

I've never had kids knock on my door through November.

OP posts:
Crankley · 08/11/2020 14:03

No.

nosswith · 08/11/2020 14:06

I think designated days is the most important bit as then you can keep animals protected as much as possible. I cannot see that being achieved by other than organised displays only.