Your thoughts on fireworks?

[turbo33]

Ok, I don't want to sound like Victor Meldrew.......but its that time of year again. Some years ago I let my springer out at midnight into the garden for the usual before bed. There was a ground shattering boom as nearby neighbours indulged their "my bomb is bigger than yours" assault. Roscoe just bolted through the fence and to cut a long story, posters, police, etc, i didn't ever find him. He was the most perfect gundog and my best friend of 8 years, it broke my heart.

Here we are again, the annual groundhog day. The smallest dog in the house shivers with fear at the ground rumbling "bombs" going off. I've had clients horses smashing themselves to bits in the stables, and equally in the field. Last night as the flurry of fireworks started, birds of every description were flying everywhere in a blind panic. It was obviously completely dark, so thier chances of re roosting I would think were at best slim. I've no idea how many would have fatally injured themselves.

How is it you need a shotgun licence and all that goes with it to buy cartridges, but anyone over 18yrs can buy enough explosive to blow up a house, or infact half the street No doubt, there will be many cases over the country of people maimed and worse by fireworks over the coming few days, and the effect on the wildlife extreme.

Rant over.

Edited November 5, 2012 by turbo33

[al4x]

In urban areas they can be a complete nuisance, we had a house where it was like living in a war zone for about a fortnight before and the same after Nov 5th so I know where you are coming from. Fortunately my dog at the moment couldn't care less about them so that is easy but plenty of people have to sedate their dogs and it wouldn't be too bad for a night but moving to numerous ones gets excessive. Its almost at the point where it would be easier if the sale of fireworks was banned and restricted to organised events only

[karpman]

Sorry but ya do sound like victor meldrew lol. My lurcher don't give a toss about em and me kids love em. Off to a display tonight.

 

Big night and weekend for some places great earner for some struggling pubs.

 

Karpman

[Vince Green]

Just a waste of money IMO

[la bala]

i think the problem is, what we now buy as fireworks are display pyrotechnics, a bit different ball game in the wrong hands. That said, i wouldnt like to see them banned.

[Fatcatsplat]

I love fireworks, but not the elongated period of time when they are on sale - They have been going off for the last 3 weeks and there's always one clever chap that seems to set them off just as i'm dozing off to sleep!!!

 

I reckon the should be on sale (other than through specialist stores) for 3 days before and 1 day after 5/11 and that's it!

[al4x]

Alex, could the same not be said about banning guns? And I'm sure duck flighting upsets roosting birds - its all about using them at the right time and place.

 

Indeed but the main question is how do you keep them from children guns are licensed so controls are in place, if you look at the number of injuries each year and the number being a bloody nuisance in towns setting them off for weeks on end you do have to wonder if keeping them to organised displays wouldn't be a better idea.

[bridges]

Love bonfire night! One of the best nights of the year. Even better when it's nice and cold out.

[Reece]

It is a shame about losing your dog.

 

Responsible firework use I have no problem with, but I do have a problem when you have ridiculously big fireworks. How big do they need to be for a good firework display?

 

People should use them, but use them considerately. It seems that in your case, this has not happened.

[guest1957]

I think they're great and I certainly don't think there needs to be any further restrictions on the availability. There are lots of things I hate about organised displays that don't happen in my garden e.g. waiting around, overpriced food, crammed next to someone else's armpit etc etc.

[mossy835]

nothing wrong with fireworks, just the idiots that use them.

[tigger]

I think they should be displays only, because they are not used when they should be misused and damn dangerous in the wrong hands they are on sale weeks before the 5th I've seen and heard them everyday during the daytime and all through the night just a damn nuisance like everything though the minority spoil it for the rest I suppose.....

[feaks]

Displays only for me, then you dont get some t1t letting them off in the street at 12.30.

[paddywack12]

Complete waste of money IMO.

 

Once you have seen one display you have seen them all.

[Bluebarrels]

I think they're great and I certainly don't think there needs to be any further restrictions on the availability. There are lots of things I hate about organised displays that don't happen in my garden e.g. waiting around, overpriced food, crammed next to someone else's armpit etc etc.

 

Sounds more like a day out in London BB

[castletyne]

I really do miss being a kid in the 80s we had great fun firing screamers at the miserable old ******* house who used to chase us and putting bangers in dog ****

 

 

[Thelongwayup]

Normally love them but not tonight. Gas board are frantically digging loads of holes on our road trying to shut down a huge gas leak. We've all had leaflets asking us not to let fireworks off tonight or smoke outside. The whole area stinks of gas. The guys think they will be digging and trying to stop it until at least 4am. :unsure:

[Scully]

If we start banning things because of the mindless acts of a mindless minority,where do we stop?Football due to hooliganism;shooting due to killing sprees;alcohol due to alcohol induced violence;alcohol due to drink driving,or driving due to hit and runs;fast cars due to deaths by reckless driving,etc etc etc.

Edited November 5, 2012 by Scully

[showe]

I had sum for my lil lass but they can ban them all together for me or just ban the big ones and sell the **** ones that dont make a bang

[Gizza22196]

Great night for poaching

[zx10mike]

you think you have problems,in leicester as soon as bonfire night is over diwali starts for a week.

[Amazed]

Get them off the open market. License holders only. With propper training. Then at least fire works will be in safer hands and maybe would mean something again rather than the local drug dealer letting a barrage off when he has new stock in.

[Bloke]

I am not personally fond of the things, nor are my pets, but I don't want to be a killjoy. Smaller fireworks for home bonfires - not so bad. However, the huge, display-standard fireworks that go off like small cannons and produce large amounts of flames/sparks - no. Leave those for the organised displays, by licenced and insured operators.

When this craze for the huge fire cannons started about 20 years ago, my old Mum had some neighbour letting the REALLY big things off in their garden, next morning she had three 6-inch holes in the conservatory roof and the bodies of two huge rockets melted into the plastic roof panels! Of course they denied it, but it is only a small village, and the nearest fireworks of that size were a couple of miles away. She was a widow/pensioner, so guess who had to pay up £200 quid to have the roof repaired - a lot of money then!

Edited November 8, 2012 by Bloke