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

catkins

ilikewatch wrote: »

But people choose to keep domestic animals despite (mostly) being well aware that there will be fireworks set off throughout the year and that these will frighten and distress their animals.

I would love to have a dog, but I accept that in the area where I live fireworks are frequently used and it would be extremely unfair of me to keep an animal which might be upset by this.

Personally I have far more of an issue with someone who lives in an area where there are frequent fireworks, then chooses to get a pet which they know is likely to be terrified by them.

I have had dogs and cats for almost 40 years. It used to be that fireworks were only really heard on 5th November or, if that date fell on a weekday, the weekend closest.

Then people started letting them off for New Year's Eve, then Halloween, then Diwali, then birthdays, weddings etc. The list goes on.

I have had over 14 dogs over the years and none of them have ever been the slightest bit worried about fireworks. The one I have now was fine until I was walking him one day around 4pm. It was getting dark and someone let a firework off. It went off over our heads (one of the loud banging ones) and he nearly jumped out of his skin. He then pulled to go home and ever since has been worried by them.

I would say I can't remember the exact date that happened but it definitely wasn't near Halloween, bonfire night or New Year's Eve.

I have also had around 20 cats, none of which were bothered by fireworks, but my cat now is. She is elderly and doesn't deserve to be so upset night after night.

Also in the 13 years I have lived in my house each year there seems to be more fireworks and louder ones.

It is ridiculous to say people shouldn't get a dog because they live somewhere fireworks are let off. Where would be ok for someone to live if they want a pet? I doubt there are many areas in this country where there are few fireworks heard.

Lots of pets are not bothered by fireworks but how could you know before getting one whether you are going to have one that is scared or not?

Also what about wild animals and farm animals?

AylesburyDuck wrote: »

No i shant be signing.
Familys that are sensible and responsible should not be penlised because of the minority that are not.

What do you call a responsible when it comes to fireworks? Not letting them off on any old date? Not having the ones that sound like bombs and shake the windows of other people's houses? Not letting them off after 10pm or before 6pm?

Last night there were fireworks yet again where I live. WHY???? Today is firework night, 5th November. Are people that moronic they don't know the date. Usually the excuse is that because the 5th falls on a week day people have to let them off at the weekend so what's the excuse this year?

It was not 1 or 2 houses having fireworks but many and they lasted around 3 hours. Again my cat was really distressed and I was sick and tired of turning the tv up to drown out the increasingly loud bangs.

So there definitely will be fireworks tonight (the right night) but will there be any tomorrow? I can guarantee there will be.

I spoke to my neighbour this morning who is in her 90's and she said she has found this past week quite upsetting with loud fireworks every night.

Smodlet

Catkins, I wish I could hit the thanks button more than once. The reasons you list are exactly why these vile, horrible things should not be on sale to the general public. If only licenced display organisers could buy them, we would have to put up with them only on certain dates and never in our own streets (except for the unfortunate few who live near the kind of places they put these things on)

For those who disagree, that is your prerogative. Say what you like, fireworks do nothing other than mimic the conditions in a war zone. Thankfully, we in the UK do not live in one (yet) but maybe you could spare a thought for all those who have come here to escape one, or who have returned from working in one, possibly damaged for life.

Why should those who wish to inflict on others their transitory pleasure in letting off fireworks take precedence over those who wish to keep pets? Or over those who just want to be left in peace?

Where should we be allowed to have pets, then? There are very few areas so remote that fireworks will never be heard. What is your minor inconvenience in having to attend a display compared to the suffering of those who are terrified/traumatised by blinding lights and the sound of percussion grenades going off in your gardens? Why should those who wish for nothing more than peace and quiet in their own homes always be in the wrong and those who inflict noise and all other forms of anti-social behaviour be in the right?

janE1956

it is men of 20/30 buying today, want to walk out with a BIG box mine is bigger than yours!:rotfl:

theoretica

I would like to see a change in which fireworks are available. Last year I tried (though not very hard) to find some of those fountains which go fffttt and send lots of sparks out, but what was easily available was mostly in sets with all the rockets and noise makers I didn't want. I think lots of the negative points mentioned here could be addressed without a ban on everything.

catkins

Smodlet wrote: »

Catkins, I wish I could hit the thanks button more than once. The reasons you list are exactly why these vile, horrible things should not be on sale to the general public. If only licenced display organisers could buy them, we would have to put up with them only on certain dates and never in our own streets (except for the unfortunate few who live near the kind of places they put these things on)

For those who disagree, that is your prerogative. Say what you like, fireworks do nothing other than mimic the conditions in a war zone. Thankfully, we in the UK do not live in one (yet) but maybe you could spare a thought for all those who have come here to escape one, or who have returned from working in one, possibly damaged for life.

Why should those who wish to inflict on others their transitory pleasure in letting off fireworks take precedence over those who wish to keep pets? Or over those who just want to be left in peace?

Where should we be allowed to have pets, then? There are very few areas so remote that fireworks will never be heard. What is your minor inconvenience in having to attend a display compared to the suffering of those who are terrified/traumatised by blinding lights and the sound of percussion grenades going off in your gardens? Why should those who wish for nothing more than peace and quiet in their own homes always be in the wrong and those who inflict noise and all other forms of anti-social behaviour be in the right?

Totally agree with your post. As I said, I used to like fireworks but yet again, thanks to the selfish attitude so rife today, they have become louder and louder and people think it is their right to have them whenever they feel like it.

My elderly neighbour said she felt like she was back in the war. I have invited her into our house tonight as why should she have to be scared because of idiots

theoretica wrote: »

I would like to see a change in which fireworks are available. Last year I tried (though not very hard) to find some of those fountains which go fffttt and send lots of sparks out, but what was easily available was mostly in sets with all the rockets and noise makers I didn't want. I think lots of the negative points mentioned here could be addressed without a ban on everything.

I do tend to agree. If the loud fireworks could only be set off at displays that would make a great difference.

Each year I think how loud some of the fireworks neighbours are setting off are but then the next year they are even louder. Personally I just don't see the point in them and, on the whole, they are the ones that scare animals, children, elderly etc

Smodlet

I've always loathed them. Even as a child, I had to beg to be allowed to stay indoors to get away from them. I remember being forced to hold a sparkler, year after year and holding it at arm's length. Why do people inflict this on their children?

The only time I ever see fireworks is on the TV, on fast forward with the mute on, you better believe, waiting for the next programme to start.

If I wanted to be surrounded by loud bangs and explosions, I would have joined the army.

catkins

Last night there were almost continuous fireworks from 5pm to 10.45pm. Loud bangs sounding like bombs and, new to me, ones that sounded like machine gun fire!

My cat was a nervous wreck and I got more and more annoyed at them drowning out my tv. I kept turning it up but the fireworks were always going to be louder.

I bet we hear them again tonight

SuzieSue

We've reached 100,000 signatures, so thank you to everyone who signed.

catkins

Fireworks again tonight. I am surprised, as this is the 10th night in a row, that my cat has not had a heart attack to be honest.

They cannot be banned soon enough

Smodlet

120,000 now.