[Misc] Should fireworks be BANNED for the general public?

[Ike and Tina Burner]

Anyone saying ban them needs to give this some actual thought. Most arguments against fireworks can also be made equally effectively against booze, motorbikes, football matches, many dog breeds, the celebration of Christmas, casual sex, swimming in the sea or basically anything that's fun. Finding something annoying is NOT a reason to ban it. "The public cannot be trusted" is not a strong argument either because the public regularly show that about just about everything. I am not aware of any statistics that show fireworks to cause an unacceptable level of death or injury (0.6 deaths a year, about 100 injurys per year, that's as far as I can find out). And before anyone says "fireworks are pointless so banning them for petty reasons is fine", that argument also works against most things that bring enjoyment.

 

[Anger]

The general public are too stupid

I noticed that too

 

[Silverhatch]

Lewes Bonfire tonight. Since 1606. Bonfire boys et al.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Anyone saying ban them needs to give this some actual thought. Most arguments against fireworks can also be made equally effectively against booze, motorbikes, football matches, many dog breeds, the celebration of Christmas, casual sex, swimming in the sea or basically anything that's fun. Finding something annoying is NOT a reason to ban it. "The public cannot be trusted" is not a strong argument either because the public regularly show that about just about everything. I am not aware of any statistics that show fireworks to cause an unacceptable level of death or injury (0.6 deaths a year, about 100 injurys per year, that's as far as I can find out).

What in your world is an acceptable level of death and injury?

 

[Ike and Tina Burner]

What in your world is an acceptable level of death and injury?

More than half a death a year? Again, that risk argument works better against so many other things than fireworks.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

More than half a death a year? Again, that risk argument works better against so many other things than fireworks.

How many injuries? Children getting burned is acceptable to you?

 

[birthofanorange]

Anyone saying ban them needs to give this some actual thought. Most arguments against fireworks can also be made equally effectively against booze, motorbikes, football matches, many dog breeds, the celebration of Christmas, casual sex, swimming in the sea or basically anything that's fun. Finding something annoying is NOT a reason to ban it. "The public cannot be trusted" is not a strong argument either because the public regularly show that about just about everything. I am not aware of any statistics that show fireworks to cause an unacceptable level of death or injury (0.6 deaths a year, about 100 injurys per year, that's as far as I can find out).

As an example, we had tix for the display at the cricket ground, tonight, and have gone for most of the last 20 years. It's rained on several occasions - just like today - but have always been able to use a large umbrella (along with countless others), in order to stay dry.
Today, however, there is a new regulation put in place, which states that "....only small umbrellas will be permitted, not large golfing-style, and all umbrellas must be folded when the display begins.."
Great - stand there with a tiny umbrella, keeping 'mostly' dry, then pop the umbrella down for 30-odd minutes when the fireworks start and get bloody soaked.
As I say, it's never been an issue before - just another way to piss people off.
They can keep their poxy 20 quid and we'll stay home.

 

[drew]

What in your world is an acceptable level of death and injury?

Based on your argument, what else do you think should be banned?

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Based on your argument, what else do you think should be banned?

What argument, I was asking what level he thought was acceptable as he stated the level of injuries is acceptable?

 

[drew]

What argument, I was asking what level he thought was acceptable as he stated the level of injuries is acceptable?

You seem to be suggesting that the level of injuries/deaths warrants fireworks being banned for sale to the public.

 

[Ike and Tina Burner]

How many injuries? Children getting burned is acceptable to you?

Many children drown in the sea each year. Should we ban swimming? Or is Children dying horribly acceptable to you?

 

[WATFORD zero]

Given who the General Public want to run the country for the last 4 years and next 12 months, I'm not sure a few of them setting fire to or blowing themselves/everything who in close proximity up, is really a significant issue for the rest of us

 

[Worried Man Blues]

You seem to be suggesting that the level of injuries/deaths warrants fireworks being banned for sale to the public.

I would only have licensed displays as I said in my first post.

 

[birthofanorange]

How many injuries? Children getting burned is acceptable to you?

Aww...be fair. What kind of loaded question is that? Clearly 'none', is the answer, but banning all potentially dangerous activities is the only other answer to your question.

 

[drew]

I would only have licensed displays as I said in my first post.

Ok, so your argument is that they aren't safe in the hands of the general public so, based on the statistics for injuries or deaths, which seems to be the basis of your argument for banning them, what else would you like to see banned from sale to the public?

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Aww...be fair. What kind of loaded question is that? Clearly 'none', is the answer, but banning all potentially dangerous activities is the only other answer to your question.

At the moment I am trying to persuade my dog to come out and have a crap but he's shivering in the corner of the kitchen. Unfortunately, there is nowhere you can get away from the bangs.

 

[birthofanorange]

At the moment I am trying to persuade my dog to come out and have a crap but he's shivering in the corner of the kitchen. Unfortunately, there is nowhere you can get away from the bangs.

I get that, but we can't close down everything because of your (and others') dogs. What about a ban on taking your dog out in public, except for a few times a year, to cater for those people who have a fear of dogs? Would that sit okay with you?

 

[Worried Man Blues]

I get that, but we can't close down everything because of your (and others') dogs. What about a ban on taking your dog out in public, except for a few times a year, to cater for those people who have a fear of dogs? Would that sit okay with you?

I am not asking for everything to be closed down, just have licensed events which would be safer. I am happy for dogs to be banned from areas, as they are already. I am now off to get him to poop, good night.

 

[birthofanorange]

I am not asking for everything to be closed down, just have licensed events which would be safer. I am happy for dogs to be banned from areas, as they are already. I am now off to get him to poop, good night.

Don't forget your poo-bag.....night night.
(And I genuinely hope your doggo is okay, tonight.)

 

[Zeberdi]

I don’t like anything being banned generally (unless it’s mint oreos and people eating chinese takeaway on a packed train) - I do think there is an argument for limiting the disruption of noise for people with pets though - and reducing disturbance to wildlife. (When I lived in Brighton, kids/adults even would deliberately target gull roosts around October/November and you know fireworks have just gone on sale - even if you can’t stand gulls, that’s insanely cruel.)

I could support a smaller window in which fireworks should be allowed to be let off and when they are on sale - does it really need to be from 15 October to 10 November - fair enough keeping pets indoors for 2 or 3 nights but 27 days?

During which time, kids, anyone lets off fireworks any day or evening but it’s anyone’s guess when and where they will exactly - years ago, our cat bolted at fireworks going off and landing at the bottom of our garden - she ran straight onto a railway line and was killed by an oncoming train - I had a dog, that ran across a busy A road after some kids let off a rocket in the local park one evening - it was around 5.30 (after I’d finished work) and if I recall at least 8-10 days before bonfire night - it took me over an hour to catch her and could see her meandering through traffic way ahead of me - Ive never felt so scared in my life.

Conversely, a few years of going to the Lewes firework display, never again! Let people have their own garden parties but ffs not for the duration of a 3 week period - let others plan sensibly around it if they need to,