Fireworks

@blondiescot

I would ban the sale of them to the public completely. Every year they cause untold misery to countless animals, not to mention the distress they cause to many people too, such as PTSD sufferers and many who are on the autistic spectrum. Complete and utter waste of money, bad for the environment etc too - I could go on and on. I find it ludicrous that we have so many health and safety laws in place for so many things now, but still some people seem to find it acceptable to sell explosives to any old Tom, Dick or Harry. If it was just one night, it would almost be tolerable, but it goes on for weeks.

I'm here with you on this. My dog runs around the house barking his head off because he's distressed but there's nothing I can do about the people in the next street setting these bombs off at all hours of the day and night.
Where I live (in Birmingham, UK), in my local area the fireworks usually start around Halloween but this year it was Diwali and they've been going off every night since and if recent years are anything to go by, we'll be hearing these disgusting things scaring our pets etc until at least new year. Sometimes they are set off as early as 3 in the afternoon, like someone did here a few days ago (I was confused at their logic because it was still broad daylight) and regularly go on until the early hours of the morning, for example, there were still loud bangs going off at 2.27am this morning.
Several years ago my partner and I had an aviary with about 25 expensive parrots in it, at the bottom of the garden and a neighbour on the street that backed onto us had a fireworks party which woke our birds who naturally shot up into the air in an attempt to escape the scary noise but many didn't realise they were in the aviary because they'd just been woken up and they were terrified of all the bangs, unfortunately they hit the roof at speed which broke their necks. Needless to say, we walked into a terrible sight the following morning when we went to feed them. We found at least a dozen of our precious (both emotionally and financially) birds dead on the floor with broken necks.
Having experienced this, all because someone thinks it's good to set of what today seem more like small bombs than fireworks, with absolutely no regard for people's pets, wildlife, people with anxiety and other health issues that could be exacerbated by the noise of these dangerous things, I'm all for banning them.
A couple of days ago I received something from the rspca asking me to contact my local MP supporting their request for the government to change the law on the sale of fireworks, reducing the volume of them and possibly introducing licensing in order to be legally allowed to buy them. I don't normally have anything to do with the rspca because I disagree with their practices and ethics but on this case, and this case alone, I agree with what they're asking the government to do. I've looked for the link that was in the email but I've completely deleted the email and it's gone from my history otherwise I'd have posted it here for others to use if they agree with lobbying government for these restrictions.

I'm so sorry to read your post Stargazerlily that is just awful.

I'm so sorry to hear that stargazerlily. I don't think many people realise what the death toll is amongst animals, particularly birds, every single year.

And then there are those killed by the stupidity of others.
www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/breaking-boy-killed-after-fireworks-28422045?utm_source=daily_star_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Personally I’ve never liked fireworks even as a child.
I believe there should only be organised displays so we don’t have to put up with them every night up to November 5th and beyond.!
I’m very concerned about the effects they have on animals.

I’ve seen boxes of fireworks called ‘Nuclear War Crate’ what happened to ‘silver rain’ and ‘Roman candles’?
I loathe fireworks these days and the empty vessels making all the noise.

I hate the loud bangs of fireworks as does my daughter. We have a dog who isn't overly nervous- yet our next door neighbours chose to let off 45 minutes of fireworks with no warning. That's why I hate fireworks

I think the horrific stories in this thread about the suffering of animals is enough to justify the banning of all fireworks for sale to the public.

Saying 'I love them' because they bring back cosy memories of your childhood is not a good enough reason for countless animals to die painfully or fearfully.

just for interest the comment earlier about putting ashes in a firework John Noakes of Blue Peter fame had his ashes, or half of them sent up in a rocket over his old Yorkshire school playing fields. His widow and family members were there along with many others. The other half of the ashes remained in Spain where he died. Typical of him wasn't it?

I loved fireworks as a child. Only ever set off on 5th November and only ‘bangers’ made a loudish noise.
These days it’s like the blitz from October until December. Many sounding like distress maroons.
Why can’t they only use silent fireworks like in some countries, then everyone would be happy.
I have just potty trained my puppy and she was doing really well, then along comes bonfire night and she was terrified of the explosive noises outside so wouldn’t go out and reverted to going on the carpet. I was cleaning carpet and muttering through clenched teeth BAN FIREWORKS.

I have no problems with fireworks and enjoy a good display. However, I have no patience with those very loud bomb-like bangers. I cannot see the point in them. They frighten vulnerable people, wildlife and household pets.

It would not be so bad were the fireworks confined to a couple of nights a year, Guy Fawkes and New Year's Eve perhaps? Around here, they have been going off every evening for the last three weeks, and other evenings during the year to celebrate weddings and religious festivals.

midgey

In previous years fireworks lasted for weeks, this year I feel that the cost of living has really had an impact. There have been significantly fewer so far so fingers crossed that tonight will be the last night!

The cost-of-living crisis seems to have had the opposite effect around here. There have been more fireworks than ever, particularly the really noisy ones. I had put it down to the restrictions during the worst of Covid and people making up for lost opportunities.

I see someone was killed by fireworks in Halifax.

I think the boy in Halifax was killed when he crashed through a greenhouse roof. There had been some trouble with youths throwing fireworks and police were called.

More fireworks last night - so loud and close together it sounded like a gun fight! Hopefully it is now finished (until New Year!)

nanna8

They are banned here unless run by large organisations because we are a nanny state and some ickle person might get hurt. We are not grown up enough to be trusted yet.

I was one of those "ickle people" many years ago. The firework set fire to my clothes and my Dad's hair (he was holding me up at the time). With disregard to his own plight he rolled me on the ground and threw his coat over me. I had badly burned hands and neck, but his injuries were far more significant. Suffering from what we now know as PTSD, and now bald to one side of his head and scarred for life at age 26, his recovery was severely affected.

Some of us "ickle people" will remember that image forever.

My stepmum let off some fireworks for me when my dad was working late. She put rockets in a milk bottle. The wind sent one sideways and it went up through her flared dress. Burned a hole in it but she wasn't burned just v shaken. When I moved back to my DM I used to do the fireworks in the garden but my younger siblings were made watch through the window. Didn't allow them in the garden.
I've seen the best fireworks display in Hong Kong Harbour on New Year's Eve while working abroad but feel its the biggest waste of money. I think we should have licensed displays with training in safety for those working there. None should be on sale to the general public.

MissAdventure

You can get your ashes made into a firework.

One last way of annoying the neighbours.

You can also have your ashes made into a diamond! There was a great programme about what people did with ashes - one lady had some of her husband's ashes fired in shotgun cartridges by the shooting club he had belonged to!

nanna8

"some ickle person" might get hurt

The debate on fireworks is in fact about more than that.

As for the "nanny state" pejorative, when governments make decisions to ban or restrict the use or sale of something - anything - it should be based on evidence that it is damaging or harming either the environment or people.

Whilst I'm on the fence somewhat, there is evidence that fireworks are doing both. So there's a debate to be had, but I don't think sneering at the ickle people who do in fact get hurt contributes much towards it.

To be honest Fireworks are stressing me out. They have been going off for at least 3 weeks now where I live often in the early hours. Some people just don't care or think of others nowadays. Loved them as a child but when I was younger they would just be let off on Nov 5th and that would be it till the following year. Bonfire night was a great family event when we were growing up too. Dad would be outside lighting the fireworks and Mum would always make delicious treacle toffee.

Someone started their fireworks night at 3am this morning, and it went on until 4am.

There is so much evidence here as to why they should not be sold to the public!

So sorry to hear that terrible story Unigran4 🌹

My cat sits on the step outside watching, refused to come in

Cats... I love cats.

Who on earth are "ickle" people. Ah I see a comment from nanna8, understandable.

Banned in Australia, good, that makes sense.