I have always felt that fireworks should not be on sale to the general public

Pollycat

molerat wrote: »

I do hope you are going to sign my petitions to ban :
Cars
Bikes
Dogs
Peanuts
Kitchen Knives
Banana Skins
Fish with Bones
All of which used irresponsibly can lead to death or serious injury

Let us have the links and we'll see. :cool:

The OP does not have to justify the reason behind the petition.
It's not even a petition she created personally.
She's just brought it to people's attention to sign if they agree.
If you don't agree, don't sign.
There's no big deal here.

catkins

I used to love fireworks. We always had them on bonfire night when I was young - my favourite was the katherine wheel. Oh and no matter what day the 5th November fell that was the day we had fireworks.

Now I am in my early 60's. Fireworks have changed, on the whole, from being pretty and making little noise to just louder and louder bangs which sound like explosions and, if fairly close, make windows rattle.

The sound of them drives me mad and I now have an elderly cat who is terrified of them and a dog who is not keen on them.

If people let off fireworks on 5th November and 31st December I would not really mind but no they let them off whenever they feel like it.

This year round by me there were fireworks on Friday 28th October which I assume were for Halloween although when did people start having fireworks for Halloween? Then on Saturday 29th October we had to sit through 2 hours of continuous loud bangs which sounded like bombs going off. My poor cat was shaking, drooling and she messed on the floor which is something she has never done before.

Sunday 30th yet more fireworks. Again cat terrified and dog running round the house trying to find somewhere quiet. Monday 31st more fireworks although, obviously, if they were for Halloween that was actually the correct day to let them off.

All quiet Tuesday 1st which was great but then last night (2nd) fireworks yet again. So what where they meant to be for?

Of course this coming Saturday is bonfire night so we are guaranteed to hear lots of fireworks but I can guarantee we will also hear them the Friday before, the Sunday and, quite possibly, the Monday.

Throughout the year people near me let off loud fireworks and I am sick and tired of it. My animals suffer, lots of my friends' animals suffer - a friend's dog died of a heart attack due to fright over fireworks. Wild animals must be terrified and what about the elderly? I am sure a lot of them are taken back to being in the blitz.

No, sorry, if people cannot only have fireworks on the relevant date(s) then firework sales should be banned

Tammykitty

My local council had its Halloween firework display on Friday 28th October


The only way for me to see fireworks on Halloween was therefore to set off my own (I didn't as it happens) - but it would have been the only way.


I live in Northern Ireland, and as firework sales are "restricted" to organized groups only, I think the onus should be on councils to have the displays on the right day!


When I was young, we always had a bonfire and fireworks on Halloween night, and loved it, so I don't see why the next generation should be denied it.

tea_lover

Tammykitty wrote: »

My local council had its Halloween firework display on Friday 28th October


The only way for me to see fireworks on Halloween was therefore to set off my own (I didn't as it happens) - but it would have been the only way.


I live in Northern Ireland, and as firework sales are "restricted" to organized groups only, I think the onus should be on councils to have the displays on the right day!


When I was young, we always had a bonfire and fireworks on Halloween night, and loved it, so I don't see why the next generation should be denied it.

Since when have fireworks been anything to do with Halloween??

mai_taylor

Fireworks by us go on nearly all year, not just bonfire night / new years. They started regularly at the beginning of September and were going off before it even got dark? Last night they were going off from 5.30 pm when I got home from work until past 11 pm. If not ban them then at least restrict their usage to certain times.

swingaloo

tea_lover wrote: »

Since when have fireworks been anything to do with Halloween??

At one time fireworks were for November 5th with the odd bonfire the weekend before or after. Now they are for Bonfire night, Halloween, Birthdays, New Years Eve, Weddings etc.


As they have become more frequently used they have become more impressive to look at, louder and more powerful which makes them more dangerous in the wrong hands.

Im all for keeping the tradition of bonfire night with organised displays but dont see why there is a need for the idiots that think its a good idea to set some off at 2am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning as happened in our road last weekend. Not everyone likes them, its just flaming inconsiderate and not just to those with small children and pets. A lot of elderly people do not like them but expect them on bonfire night.

I could understand if they were necessary but whats great about paying £15 for something thats going to shoot into the air and be gone less than 20 seconds later.

DomRavioli

SuzieSue wrote: »

A small scar on your hand? What if it was a big scar on your face?

The petition said that they should be sold to reputable organisations.

I'd still be perfectly fine with it. I do have extensive scarring, that doesn't entitle you or anyone else to stop people having fun because of a few idiots.

You can't ban things because bad things happen. Thousands die every year because of cars, and nobody is screaming for them being banned.

tea_lover

DomRavioli wrote: »

You can't ban things because bad things happen. Thousands die every year because of cars, and nobody is screaming for them being banned.

No, but we do put sensible precautions in place like not selling them to children and expecting people to have a licence and training before driving one, ie - their use is restricted.

The petition talks about restricted sale and use of fireworks, not banning them altogether.

DomRavioli

Pollycat wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that you feel any oik should be able to buy fireworks if you have been on the recieving end of one.

Well you keep on finding that hard to believe. If you wish to come to my house to inspect my hand or my medical records, do feel free to let me know when you're arriving; banning things only leads to a black market, and makes things more dangerous.

Maybe engage brain next time.

Pollycat

DomRavioli wrote: »

You can't ban things because bad things happen. Thousands die every year because of cars, and nobody is screaming for them being banned.

Actually, anyone can start a petition about anything.
If it reaches 100k signatures, it will be considered for debate.

It would be up to the Government to consider banning the sale of fireworks to the general public, not up to the OP (or the creator of the petition).
A petition is just asking like-minded people to support the petition.
If you don't agree, don't sign.