To ask your views on fireworks?

[LlynTegid]

I am sure there will be many on MN who have views, if threads in previous years are an indication. So I'll start the discussion here.

My opinion is that there should be designated days only, and organised displays. Probably no more than five or six such days a year. Allows for celebration, reduces possibility of injury, and warning so you can be indoors when they happen and protect any person or animal.

I live in an area where, in previous years, fireworks would go off all year round, at all times of the day and night (like why set them off in broad daylight?), and usually being set off by anti social teenagers with lots of reports of them being aimed at cars, houses, etc.

The past couple of years, I assume because of the cost of living, the numbers have been markedly reduced and that has been no bad thing (edit: only in relation to fireworks of course)

I’d completely support banning apart from licensed events, and would suggest that silent fireworks should be the only ones made available to the public if banning is not possible.

The impact on animals is bad. As a kid we used to move them to be away from fireworks as much as possible. Fine when you knew there was a risk of fireworks but every so often they would be let off randomly and would land in the field with the animals in and so we would go out late at night to feed them as far away as possible from the landing zone.

Pets would hide behind the sofa. Our cat was scared stiff of them until she became deaf and could no longer hear.

A number of people get injured each year, so would be keen to restrict them to specific days of the year.

I dislike the noise and problems they cause for pet owners so am in favour of public displays only. I remember when I lived in the suburbs it was like a war zone every evening for a couple of weeks prior to the 5th and afterwards as well.

Personally I like them but I think it’s madness to sell explosives to the general public. My rescue dogs and horses are terrified of them so it would be better for us if they were limited to public displays on advertised dates so we could plan accordingly.

Same here. Our closest organised display in a big park is notorious for being dangerously overcrowded. We stick to a few at home for now with our small children.

I don’t know what has changed but there was a run of fireworks being set off during the day round here, including at traffic.
I think buying restrictions should be in place and tightened up.

Theres a huge one near me in a sports club. DD and I used to walk down and stand outside and watch when she was younger (not interested in going in for the crap food/rides). I always thought it was hilarious how many houses right next door were setting off their small ones next to massive display ones, seemed like a waste of money to me.

I love them. I go into #sadchemistryteacher mode and think about all the different metals used to make the different colours!

I love fireworks.

Designated days, organised displays and licences for special occasions are fine with me.

Its sport clubs, Scout groups, pubs etc running the small displays, just a few hundred people, fiver entry fees. Not the massive ones with funfairs etc!

I used to love them but we have rabbits & need to bring them indoors nightly for about 2 weeks every year & then again on NYE. Definitely organised displays only & maybe more silent fireworks.

Where I live in edinburgh, weve had them going off every day several times a day for the last 2 weeks. I am exhausted already and Diwali and Guy Fawkes is still to happen.
It should be designated days only. Full stop.

I like fireworks and enjoy going to displays but I think people buying them and setting them off themselves is dangerous. I also think it’s better to just stick to November 5th and not let them off weeks before like some people do around here. I do feel bad for animals that are scared of them, though my dog has never been bothered so it’s not an issue for me personally.

Interesting responses and more broadly in agreement with my opinion than I thought there would be. I hadn't really thought much about silent or low noise fireworks to be honest.

That has been my experience with the ones I have attended, don't see why they could not come under the umbrella of an organised display.

I've never really liked them that much, but I do love the idea of a bonfire and toffee apples and chatting to your local community

Fireworks should not be on sale to the general public.

Like firearms if you've got a license to buy them then fine.

Animals? Why did I put that.

@sharpclawedkitten This year yes, but it varies, last year it was mid November, next year it is mid October.

I love fireworks and having seen alternatives like drone displays, although they can be amazing it's not the same. But I do think they should be restricted to organised licenced events. This would also make it more predictable for people who worry about their pets etc.

Whilst they are momentarily beautiful, I hate them.
They're dangerous. They cause all kinds of issues for people with ptsd, noise sensitivity, and terrify loads of animals.
They're also messy- the debris travels a good distance from the launch site and causes pollution (and more issues for wildlife).

Silent fireworks should be the norm now, for a start, and they could be replaced by drones or light shows.

Not a fan, they scare animals and pets and are used as weapons (loads were set off at police during the riots) and cause harm and distress. If made silent they'd be even more dangerous as there'd be no warning.

They're not needed full stop in my opinion but if must be I think it should be just organised displays by licenced safety people who have to renew the licences and if found selling them on the side or allowing others to set them off then the licence removed. Bonfire night, new years eve and religious ceremonies only.

I'm not a killjoy despite how it sounds, I just hate the misuse of what is supposed to be 'fun item'. I've seen the harm of what has happened when fireworks are thrown at people or used in other ways to hurt animals up close to find them fun in the same way.

When I was young the bangers were louder, some of the farm kids had really loud crow scarer bangers. These were great fun for us, maybe they did need toning down.
I do wish so many here on MN were not such kill-joys, We really cannot dictate that we adjust all our lives to the sensitivity of the hyper nervous kittens.
We all should develop more resilience and tolerance.

Personally, I hate them. But then, I'm pyrophobic at the best of times.

But, I hate the horrific injuries to animals, both intentional and not, ditto with humans, and also to property.

However, I know that for others, they love the display, and drama. I'd love it if they were made for public displays only.

We had them going off last night to well after midnight, and myself and the cat, who are normally fully placid about them, were getting into a bit of a state!

I love fireworks and a bonfire. We are lucky enough to have a community display so it’s not too big, bonfire supervised by local volunteer firefighters. Fireworks sponsored by big local business and a chuck it in the bucket donation for next year. I don’t think they should be publicly sold though and reduced noise ones are better. I think if you needed an event licence and a professional to set up / let off. It’d be better overall.

They should be for organised displays only and definitely NOT on sale to the general public.

I really hope public sale of them is banned soon, but doubt it will happen. They are dangerous, especially in the hands of twats like groups of teenagers.