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.

such fun - www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fireworks-attack-house-fire-dog-hull-motherwell-london-hackney-b1637775.html

Like I said, rationalist approach needed, above is a reactionary one because the argument is one based upon the recklessness of some individuals. How many articles would I find on Dog attacks of children where they had been killed or seriously harmed? This is not an argument to ban all dogs even though I would actually be able to find many more than the above on firework attacks.

I would ban them for public sale. Love an organised display but explosives shouldn't be sold to general public.

This year in our village, fireworks caused a fire, and hit several people's windows. It's only sheer luck that no one was injured.

And then there are the people who think that it's a great idea to light them in a kids play park and not bother to clean up, so lots of discarded fireworks just left where kids play.

My daughter was playing table tennis in the park with her friend yesterday and when the ball went in the air a dog jumped up and squashed it in his teeth. We didn't have a spare one so that was the end of the game. Animals are unpredictable and reckless sometimes but we let them wonder around in public spaces near small children as some people are allowed to keep dogs.

This year in our village, fireworks caused a fire, and hit several people's windows. It's only sheer luck that no one was injured.
This is one reason I am scared of fireworks and have spent most evenings for the last week or so in an anxious panicky mess.

Those who say back garden displays are fine and should not be banned - how would you feel if one of your fireworks set fire to a neighbour's house? Would you feel bad? Would you be at all bothered? Would you offer to pay for rhe damage? Or would tell them they are spoilsports and killjoys and that their house was only on fire for one night?

Who decided that fireworks are essentially for kids to enjoy? So Disney should stop having firework displays because they are not for adults?

My nephew lost two of his fingers last week because of a faulty banger. He is left with horrific life long injuries, they don't know yet how much use of his hand he will recover. I have never liked bangers and fireworks, now i absolutely hate them. Also my friends much loved dog died in her arms of cardiac arrest a few days ago after a particularly loud firework went off near her home. It is sickening.

@WitsEnding

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.

My cat is 10. Their first 5 years they were never ever bothered by fireworks. They turned 5 and it fireworks are very traumatic for them. How is that my fault? We have always kept them in round bonfire night so they have never been caught outside during a display.

"Those who say back garden displays are fine and should not be banned - how would you feel if one of your fireworks set fire to a neighbour's house? Would you feel bad? Would you be at all bothered? Would you offer to pay for rhe damage? Or would tell them they are spoilsports and killjoys and that their house was only on fire for one night?"

Has that happened somewhere? Could you link please?

@WitsEnding

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.

It’s not just cats and dogs though is it?

I guess it depends on where you live but every years there’s at least as many reports of cattle, sheep, horses that are injured by fireworks as reports of domestic animals.

I can keep my dog indoors and soothe him as I’m at home with him.

What I can’t do is spend every night in November at the stables to ensure my horses are ok, neither can I sedate them every night for a month so people can have “fun”, why do so many people find animal torture fun ?

If the fireworks were limited to licensed displays you would know when and where it was happening and be able to plan how to keep your animals safe.

@Deadringer

My nephew lost two of his fingers last week because of a faulty banger. He is left with horrific life long injuries, they don't know yet how much use of his hand he will recover. I have never liked bangers and fireworks, now i absolutely hate them. Also my friends much loved dog died in her arms of cardiac arrest a few days ago after a particularly loud firework went off near her home. It is sickening.

Why was he holding a lit banger? Or did it fire at him rather than upwards? You're right though, potentially very serious implications of not handling them safely, like swimming in the ocean or so many other things, there is always a risk.

A horse near me was hit by a firework. At best, he’ll lose his eye, worst case he’ll need to be put to sleep. Horse owner confronted the idiot letting them off and he couldn’t have given a shit. Disgusting.

@rawlikesushi

"Those who say back garden displays are fine and should not be banned - how would you feel if one of your fireworks set fire to a neighbour's house? Would you feel bad? Would you be at all bothered? Would you offer to pay for rhe damage? Or would tell them they are spoilsports and killjoys and that their house was only on fire for one night?"

Has that happened somewhere? Could you link please?

It wouldn't happen. Daft notion altogether. Making up a scenario is not debate.

"why do so many people find animal torture fun ?"

Well I don't set out to specifically torture animals, but we do enjoy fireworks in the garden on bonfire night and have been doing it safely for decades. I don't feel that is my responsibility to look after other peoples animals really, any more than cat owners worry about the birds, mice, hens, rabbits that their cats might kill.

@rawlikesushi

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fireworks-attack-house-fire-dog-hull-motherwell-london-hackney-b1637775.html

And this one

www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/2020/11/04/cash-raised-to-help-telford-family-who-lost-everything-in-stray-firework-blaze/

And this one

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-54837040

That’s barely halfway down the first page of google results.

@rawlikesushi

"why do so many people find animal torture fun ?"

Well I don't set out to specifically torture animals, but we do enjoy fireworks in the garden on bonfire night and have been doing it safely for decades. I don't feel that is my responsibility to look after other peoples animals really, any more than cat owners worry about the birds, mice, hens, rabbits that their cats might kill.

No, that really is the problem isn’t, so many people don’t think it’s their responsibility to care about anything but themselves.

Well the first story is about a firework being put through a letterbox.

I'm not defending idiots, just saying that we don't usually ban things because of a minority who are dickheads - let existing laws take care of them.

Banjo - what came first, people setting off fireworks on 5th November or your pet?

Rather heavy-handed to expect anyone to care about your horse as much as you do.

I think, as others have said, that it isn't my responsibility to look after other people's pets. Should I drive at 5mph in case a dog or cat runs under my wheels?

I agree that the very loud ones should be banned but there will never be a total ban on garden fireworks, they are so much a tradition.

@rawlikesushi

Horses have been domesticated far longer than we’ve celebrated a failed terrorist attack on the Houses of Parliament have they not ? So yes, horses came first .

I’m not asking anyone to care about my pet more than I do, what a ridiculous statement.

I’m asking people to consider attending a public fireworks display rather than creating their own in their back garden and displaying a startling lack of empathy towards their neighbours, pets, wildlife and live stock - I mean if that’s what you want to do, crack on, but don’t pretend it’s anything other than a preference for placing your own wants and enjoyment above anything else.

And re the first link, do try reading more than the first two lines on a page, you might learn something.

Rather than ban something that is fun and harmless for the vast majority, I’d rather have a police force and justice system that properly dealt with those who misuse fireworks.

It’s not fair to limit fireworks to organised displays only because the only time they’re ever organised anywhere near here is for bonfire night, and that would mean they couldn’t be enjoyed on other occasions like Diwali where they feature with equal importance.

I accept there are real issues, I just think they can be addressed without a heavy-handed ban. A lot of antisocial use is already illegal. A total or near total ban will just have people buying black market ones anyway.

A lower noise limit can be looked at. And restrictions on the Cat 3 fireworks, I think most people don't have enough space for them and use them anyway.

Fireworks are quite common where I live and with the windows shut I'd say most aren't all that loud, but I understand a person or animal can become sensitised to noise.

"Horses have been domesticated far longer than we’ve celebrated a failed terrorist attack on the Houses of Parliament have they not ? So yes, horses came first."

Don't be daft. My point was that, when acquiring a pet, you know that this is something you will have to contend with. I acclimatised my dogs with a CD of loud noises when they were puppies. The sound of a banger is not dissimilar to a car backfiring, or a farmer shooting at vermin, for example, so sensible to do what you can to protect them.

"I’m not asking anyone to care about my pet more than I do, what a ridiculous statement."

Well you are asking people to change their behaviour out of consideration for your pet.

"I mean if that’s what you want to do, crack on, but don’t pretend it’s anything other than a preference for placing your own wants and enjoyment above anything else."

I have never pretended anything otherwise. So much of what we do is about prioritising our own needs isn't it?

"And re the first link, do try reading more than the first two lines on a page, you might learn something."

OK well the second one says that the cause of the fire was inconclusive so yes I am giving up now.

@rawlikesushi

How do you suggest acclimatising horses to this:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/owners-distraught-as-horse-loses-an-eye-after-being-hit-by-a-firework-on-bonfire-night/amp/

Which was the result of a back garden display, at least Scotland has plans in place to limit the purchase of fireworks in future.

Like I said in my original post, it’s one thing dealing with a dog, cat or other house pet, livestock is entirely different.

Of course the second link is inconclusive, it happened in the last couple days, but if you’d read past the first two lines on the first link you might have seen details of other house fires caused by fireworks (amongst other antisocial behaviour that’s a result of people/idiots being able to buy explosives)

Anyway, you can’t argue with stupid, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience, I’m done.

@rawlikesushi

Banjo - what came first, people setting off fireworks on 5th November or your pet?

Rather heavy-handed to expect anyone to care about your horse as much as you do.

It's not really about November 5th though, which, yes, is an important tradition. It's the fact it goes on for weeks and weeks before and after.

Official licensed public displays I don't have a problem with (as long as it's over a restricted number of days). People having fireworks displays in residential neighbourhoods, on random days, or setting off bangers and rockets at all hours I do have a problem with.