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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 12:48:25 GMT
I'm curious to hear thoughts on this. I personally think Fireworks should be banned from sale to the general public, and licenced displays should be legally required to promote heavily and inform those in neighboring areas of the displays so they can prepare accordingly. To bring this back to theatre, all shows that have things like flashes, smoke, haze, fire etc do display these issues for audience members prior to a performance. The reason I think this is simple. There are tonnes of injuries and deaths every year. Also, there are elderly and disabled less people who, with the level of sound and flashes have fear and shock to contend with. Beinf someone who personally suffers with epilepsy (whilst not directly affected by flashing lights with my diagnosis), I understand the issues this can cause for epileptic people. Alongside this issue it has on animals. My dog lives in constant fear for a week because of the loud bangs and flashes. There are animals outside that must be terrified. It's not fair at all. So what are your guys thoughts? Do your think they should be banned or not? If so, why do you think this? I'd also like to note, if you agree with me, there are several petitions that are able to be signed on the web, so please feel free.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 3, 2018 14:10:43 GMT
I think it is ridiculous that such dangerous items are so easily sold to morons who let them off in the most inappropriate places. Yes, I agree they should be banned.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 14:44:34 GMT
People in my area, normally a quiet, friendly estate, have had fireworks posted through their letterboxes by irresponsible, immature young people who have been allowed to get their hands on them. Luckily, my house was not targeted, but an elderly woman's across the street from me was, and she has been afraid to leave her house in case of someone coming to get her.
There definitely needs to be laws introduced to make it more difficult to obtain fireworks, or introduce licensing where you need to have a license to own them or light them. I think licensing does exist but it isn't enforced.
It definitely does not help showing a firework through the letterbox on EastEnders. It was similar to the egg-throwing situation last year, but on a much worse level.
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Post by crowblack on Nov 3, 2018 14:45:35 GMT
Yes, I do, especially as they are getting bigger and noisier - domestic back garden 'displays' are now rivalling the sort of municipal displays we had as kids, and they're being let off at all times of the day from October onwards. The cartridges are getting really big and we often find them in the garden coming from houses several doors away, and the air becomes thick with smoke, even where I live, near the river. Those Chinese fire lantern things are even worse, and have been banned in some countries after fatal house fires and for killing livestock and wildlife (and, in some cases, the strings on them are found to be asbestos). And helium balloons! A danger to aircraft, killing ocean wildlife, and using up a finite and useful gas. Sorry to sound joyless about this but when I was a kid we were quite happy with sparklers and Catherine wheels.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 14:50:34 GMT
Very much in the camp of fireworks should not be on general sale to the public. Been thinking about it quite a bit lately as where I live currently youngsters have been setting them off in the streets for the past fortnight or so and it will continue now until new year. I do have strong doubts and concerns with a general ban though as it would move to black market bangers and unlicensed products - people will get their hands on them if they want them enough - and that can of worms has to potential to be a lot more dangerous.
In this period of enlightened 'eco-friendlieness' and carbon off-setting I've really begun to question the necessity of celebrating Bonfire Night. Its such an idiotic 'festival'. We all know the story of Guy Faulkes, but really whats the lesson to be learnt here? Nothing salient except that a man tried to blow up Parliament and got rumbled. We're literally burning sh*t, killing wildlife and the atmosphere, to celebrate someones failure. "Lets all stand near this big ominous fire and set off fireworks" - it's so pointless.
If there was one calendar day I'd like to see removed it's Bonfire Night. Burn it.
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Post by kimbahorel on Nov 3, 2018 15:30:14 GMT
They should be banned from public sale!!
I live on an housing estate in South East London. Kids (I say kids a lot are young adults) it doesn't matter day or night they get set off from the estates landing/balconies, down pavements, at people and buildings. There is a garage that has a risen deck they stand on it's on the main road. Once saw them aim fireworks at the buses and cars going past as well as throwing one onto a bus. At a number hit my building one VERY close to my bedroom window. A Halloween a few years ago they were shooting them everywhere and I had to run from the end of the road to my block of flats. It's a nightmare!
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Post by lynette on Nov 3, 2018 15:32:12 GMT
It is a difficult 'celebration' to explain to youngsters: the saving of Parliament and the King and his family, the persecution of Roman Catholics, the reasons for this and the consequences. Not easy. But worth doing I think. As for the fireworks, well, I’m sorry but I am a back garden show person. In the supermarkets by me they don’t sell to children and everything is under lock and key til paid for so the kids can’t lift 'em. But I suppose when sold there is no restriction on them. We do a show for the kids, and health and safety always on guard! We warn the neighbours with animals and we clear up as much as possible.
If the incidents of misuse of fireworks is bad, then I would support a ban on sale to general public. So I suppose a ban will happen.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 16:09:26 GMT
The actual accidents might be minimal (compared with other injuries etc) but I'd imagine if you took the trauma of people sensitive to such things (so PTSD, Epilepsy, Autistic Spectrum disorders and probably others I'm not aware of) there would be a much higher percentage affected. If you are affected and you know where and when displays will be you can plan. Added to that, honestly injuries from fireworks are preventable, why wouldn't we want to protect people (particularly children who I imagine are large amounts of injuries) from that.
More so however the damage they do to animals. Just this morning I read an article about a horse in Swansea that died because it panicked after a family had a large firework display essentially next door to its field. This was well in advance of bonfire night, earlier this week so the poor owners were caught utterly unawares. Likewise my own dog, and many that I've looked after are terrified. I happen to have a professional display across the road- I can plan for that, have music on or even take the dog to a friend's. What I can't plan for is a full month or more (which is what it is now) of random fireworks going off. And it all starts again in December.
Not trying to kill anyone's fun, cheap professional displays are easy to attend (the one across the road from me is free for example, paid for by the social club that hosts it) and most places have a big one as well. Save a lot of people hassle and injury and keep it to displays.
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Post by indis on Nov 3, 2018 16:15:45 GMT
i love firework what i hate with a passion are firecrackers or bangers (hope google translated it right for me) from beginning of december until new years eve every kid in our town think they have to make the most of noise with them - never get whats so great about them - one "boom" and that was it also some idiots always throw them into a crowd of people and there are always injuries
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 16:29:52 GMT
i love firework what i hate with a passion are firecrackers or bangers (hope google translated it right for me) from beginning of december until new years eve every kid in our town think they have to make the most of noise with them - never get whats so great about them - one "boom" and that was it also some idiots always throw them into a crowd of people and there are always injuries Yes google translate did it right! I agree, and every kid around here thinks the louder the better too. Argh!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 3, 2018 17:26:57 GMT
There is something very exciting about being in a crowd celebrating a religious festival in a country such as Spain (where, let’s face it, they’ll have a procession for some obscure saint at the drop of a castanet) where fireworks are part of the celebrations and little kids are setting off firecrackers and trying to scare eachother and everyone else. It’s that sort of thing, with the noise of the crowd, and the lights, the music and yes, a slight element of risk that makes you feel alive.
However you’re not going to take your dog on a lead to that sort of event, and someone who hates bangs isn’t going to go at all. I also don’t think I’ve heard of Spanish people setting off the old “fuegos artificales” in their back gardens getting pissed, huddled round a pan of paella. No. It’s dear old Blighty and the stupid, chav element (kids and adults) who gets a kick out of showing off at inappropriate times and in inappropriate places with fireworks. I don’t like banning things that most normal people are capable of being responsible with, and I don’t want to live in a world where you can’t make a loud noise in case you alarm a person or an animal. But they should be very heavily controlled and it should be an offence to misuse them, just as it is to misuse a firearm.
I tried to buy some last year, I just wanted to have a little display for my apartment building in the communal garden. I couldn’t actually buy what I’d describe as ‘normal’ small scale fireworks. No Roman Candles, no Catherine Wheels, not a rocket on a stick in sight. What I COULD have bought were lots of what looked like display standard bombs and missiles and god only knows what else, all bragging in the ads about how huge they were. Got to be something wrong there.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 3, 2018 18:00:37 GMT
Yes, agree completely will all the calls to ban them from public sale.
Particularly now people buy the loudest ones they can, just to put you on edge for a month either side of November 5 when you're walking about and they're waiting to set them off.
And that's not even commenting on all the idiots who think it's perfectly acceptable to set them off at 1am, with bangs loud enough to pierce through double glazing. Just because the time is good for them and they're back from the pub.
I can hear a load going off somewhere nearby as we speak. The perils, no doubt, of being in a built up area.
They should be restricted to organised and licenced displays.
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Post by learfan on Nov 3, 2018 18:04:52 GMT
They have tightened up a lot since i were a lad and they were freely available. Also dont think there are "tonnes" of deaths and injuries nowadays. Don't get me wrong im no fan and never have been but cant see it ever being banned outright.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 18:13:32 GMT
Yes, I think fireworks should be banned. I've always found Katy Perry to be vastly overrated.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 18:42:17 GMT
I've always found Katy Perry to be vastly overrated. Katy Cider is better. I'm surprised by all the people complaining about fireworks a month either side of 5th November. Where I live fireworks are a year-round thing. There's a rugby club not far away from me and there's a display there once or twice a month.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 18:54:22 GMT
Many people I see
Are awful parents
Shall we ban them from having children?
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Post by dontdreamit on Nov 3, 2018 18:57:38 GMT
30 years of watching Casualty means that I’ll never have fireworks at home!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 20:47:36 GMT
Largely I agree and if a ban on sales to the public were implemented, I’d support it.
Alternatively I think fireworks should only be sold on 5th November and 31st December to members of the public - via pre-order - and must be used the same day (effectly banning fireworks any other day of the year). This way anyone sensitive to them (or has pets) can prepare accordingly.
The issue though is that not everyone has access to a local display, and council budgets I believe mean some displays are every two years and half the length they were a decade ago.
Personally I love a firework display, but I’m aware that drone light shows could replace them as they’re just as nice to watch, has a higher level of creativity involved and are suitable for those sensitive to the nose:
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Post by raider80 on Nov 3, 2018 20:48:30 GMT
In my hometown in America Fireworks are banned, get caught, that's a $2500 fine. Funny thing is, when they got banned it was because of a drought and not stupid people being stupid.
It's nice not worrying about firework.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 20:54:09 GMT
Many people I see Are awful parents Shall we ban them from having children? Yes.
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Post by jaqs on Nov 3, 2018 21:12:26 GMT
I’m lying on my sofa watching half a dozen lots of fireworks go off. I love living high up this time of year.
When I was a student in Manchester it felt like Beirut with all the kids throwing fireworks and back then I’d have supported a ban.
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Post by christya on Nov 3, 2018 21:47:59 GMT
I wouldn't ban them outright, but I do think they should be more difficult to get. Restrict where they can be bought, up the age limit to 21 minimum, maybe even require people to be licensed - enough restriction to stop idiots from getting their hands on them. And availability no more than the day before - none of this making them available for weeks.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2018 22:12:35 GMT
Related to this I have to applaud all the people stood in big Tesco car park watching the big fireworks display here...but without paying £12 for the privilege. Meanwhile given its a rugby international day, half of Cardiff is too pissed to notice.
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Post by Stephen on Nov 3, 2018 22:17:52 GMT
They're keeping me from me post pub football watching nap. If I don't get this nap I won't be able to go to the pub tonight!
Ban them all.
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Post by lynette on Nov 4, 2018 22:33:28 GMT
Our little party went well. All over by 7.30 so kids going to bed not too much disturbed. We did have a few very noisy fireworks which I would have preferred not to have. Need to check noise levels in future if poss.
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