Ban Fireworks!

Oh and the boats in the harbour used to sound their horns.

Fireworks (outwith organised events) will be banned in The Netherlands this year.
Many years ago when living in Amsterdam l wasn't expecting to experience such a random spectacle, crowds of people on every street, the sky ablaze with thousands of fireworks being fired from every street and balcony. The stench and smoke covered the city. The noise was deafening.
This new year's eve in The Netherlands the Vongel Kirk has been burnt down, at least two deaths, numerous injuries, riots and police officers abused and injured.
It will be an interesting to see how the authorities police the fireworks ban this new year's eve. I don't think they have a hope of successfully banning them.

I like seeing fireworks, although we don't often get to see a display.

I have great memories of lads hauling wood and anything else combustible that they could find, and also pulling a cart around asking for a 'penny for the guy.' They would then buy fireworks with the proceeds.

When I was a child we had back garden fireworks. Later I took my children to public displays and private fireworks seemed to be disappearing. Fireworks were only on 5th November.
Nowadays fireworks seem to randomly go off at all times of the year, especially in November and December. The noise is annoying. This New Year the fireworks were incredibly loud and quite scary.
After fireworks, the air can be noticeably polluted. Around 2000 people annually are injured by fireworks. Surely this is a good enough reason to ban private fireworks?

Bah humbug…when did we all get so fun averse

OldFrill

Fireworks (outwith organised events) will be banned in The Netherlands this year.
Many years ago when living in Amsterdam l wasn't expecting to experience such a random spectacle, crowds of people on every street, the sky ablaze with thousands of fireworks being fired from every street and balcony. The stench and smoke covered the city. The noise was deafening.
This new year's eve in The Netherlands the Vongel Kirk has been burnt down, at least two deaths, numerous injuries, riots and police officers abused and injured.
It will be an interesting to see how the authorities police the fireworks ban this new year's eve. I don't think they have a hope of successfully banning them.

But it is a start Oldfrill. The city of Amsterdam have a light show with lasers for the children - with music not bangs that terrify and traumatise many animals and birds and pets and people.

Angelafeet, it's not fun anymore. They are often basically explosives and often used violently towards ambulances and fire engines. There are many whizz pretty ones too but the damage is done by the sale and violent use of the 'bombs'.

Elusivebutterfly After fireworks, the air can be noticeably polluted. Do public displays like that in London on NYE not cause pollution, only private garden events like the ones you enjoyed as a child?

Colls There are many whizz pretty ones too but the damage is done by the sale and violent use of the 'bombs'. so why not address the specific problem rather than going for a ban? Regulate the size and noise levels of fireworks available for private use, and while we're at it also regulate the noise levels permitted for public displays.

Fireworks need to be legal only on certain dates if we are to care for our animals and each other.

We had lots of loud fireworks going off all evening on the 31st. DD and SiL were staying overnight. Their dog couldn’t settle, and was constantly growling. In the morning, my SiL returned from walking the dog saying that the fireworks were lying all over the ground. We’ve had heavy snow, and I haven’t been out, but I’m hoping that they will be gone when the snow disappears.

shysal My two cats and I are all deaf so no issue but I feel for the animals who have inconsiderate owners and neighbours

It's mot what kind of person but what kind of government allows the sale of them. I wondered why London had such a massive display considering Sadiq Khan's view on pollution. Of course money will be involved, how much did a ticket near the venue cost? On fireworks I still cannot figure why we continue to celebrate 05th November. Attempted murder of a King. Perhaps we should start celebrating the Brighton Bombing in the same way.

The sort of thing that young idiot male teenagers love Makes them feek big and inportant

Should defintitely be banned

On fireworks I still cannot figure why we continue to celebrate 05th November. Attempted murder of a King.

I think we're celebrating the fact that the plot was discovered and foiled and the plotters received their punishment.

Not sure if Catholics celebrate it and I'm sure most of the story has been lost in the mists of time.
It used to be Guy Fawkes Night when I was young but now seems to be known as Bonfire Night.

Should I ask for cats to be banned because they use my garden as a toilet and I worry about visiting children.

We were nicely tucked up in bed after seeing the new year in and jumped a mile when at 00:40 someone near us let off their fireworks. They went on for 30+ mins. I feel sorry for those with animals and young children.

I bet Switzerland wishes Fireworks were banned.

Those thunderclap ones are awful; even from a distance and indoors with everything shut! People standing near them/ setting them off must be risking longterm damage to their hearing.

Our poor dog was petrified and inconsolable for hours. Started at 10 pm on NYE here and went on till past 1 am.

Perhaps we should start celebrating the Brighton Bombing in the same way. I realise this is probably not meant seriously but I really don't think the Brighton bombing should be mentioned in such a context even for a cheap reaction. It's most offensive and not at all comparable to the foiled Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up parliament.

Thx M0nica, not the first ill-informed or thoughtless comment you've posted, so I suppose this one is no surprise?

Church bell sounds are nothing to do with the argument - and very few such bells over many centuries have killed or maimed anyone?

There is however a massive list of injuries and deaths caused by fireworks (do check). I've also not seen (or heard about) any panic attacks caused to pets or children from church bells, whereas such problems from fireworks are legion.

Go and ask anyone with a thatched roof - or a farmer with hay bales -- if they'd sooner have church bells going off, or nearby fireworks? Come back and let us know how they feel on the topic??!

Oh, and for Lathyrus, the question is not to ban fireworks, but restrict them to more professional use. Some irony that the Swiss tragedy seems to have been caused by SPARKLERS (they're fireworks) used by nitwits. Some 40 or so deaths you're voting for, nice? If you have issues with cats and dogs, that's an unfortunate mental health issue for you to address, not part of a fireworks debate?

Nearly90

I bet Switzerland wishes Fireworks were banned.

😥
I wondered if someone would start a thread.

Nearly90

I bet Switzerland wishes Fireworks were banned.

This is an insensitive comment. Fireworks indoors are never a good idea- this is about outdoor ones.

DrWatson Some 40 or so deaths you're voting for, nice? If you have issues with cats and dogs, that's an unfortunate mental health issue for you to address, not part of a fireworks debate? Tell that to the families and friends of the 16 fatalities in 2023 and 10 fatalities in 2024 caused by dogs. And that's just fatalities, count in the number of injuries and permanently disfigured from dog attacks and the numbers would be huge, yet nobody is campaigning to ban dogs. Perhaps you're happy with those outcomes?

Telling people that because they hold a different view to you that they have a mental health issue is lovely isn't it.

Galaxy

Telling people that because they hold a different view to you that they have a mental health issue is lovely isn't it.

The whole of Dr Watson's post is unpleasant.

I actually have checked the stats in terms of fireworks, which is why I said earlier that dogs cause more deaths than fireworks.