Fireworks survey

[snowbunny]

The Petitions Committee has opened an investigation into the use of fireworks. You can have your say here: Fireworks - Petitions Committee

I answered it as a family member experiencing fear and anxiety due to fireworks - which is very true!

@JES72 - I think you'll be especially interested.

 

[Hollysdad]

Done.

 

[Atemas]

Done

 

[FayRose]

Done

 

[Naya]

Done. Thanks Fiona

 

[chrisc831]

The current law bit was interesting. It is so totally not enforced. Survey completed anyway.

 

[Selina27]

Done

 

[NicW]

Done

 

[Stacia]

Done

 

[Granca]

Done.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Me too

 

[HAH]

Done

 

[JES72]

Thanks Fiona, I'm doing it at the moment but have too much to say...

 

[Jennifer]

Did it yesterday and forwarded to other family members with dogs. I pointed out that something so dangerous which could cause severe injury shouldn't be available to buy over the counter. Obviously unless there's a complete ban, which won't happen, it would be impossible to stop people buying online etc but it could be made more difficult to get hold of fireworks than just picking them up with your weekly shop. I wouldn't necessarily object to organised displays just the two weeks of random explosions every November.

In China, where I think fireworks began, they are banned in cities.

 

[snowbunny]

I'm not normally one for legislating and taking away people's fun, and maybe it's because I don't really see the fun in fireworks myself, but when something so meaningless has the potential for so much psychological and physical pain, for humans, animals, and the environment, I don't think it would be over the top to ban them. I think the general population would get over it really, really quickly. At least restricting their use to a few predefined days, and penalising people for using them outside of those days, would be a positive first step.

 

[Cath]

Done

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

In China, where I think fireworks began, they are banned in cities.

Fireworks are illegal in most places in California due to the very high fire risk in the summer when they are most likely to be used (4th of July). You can get them illegally and people still set off firecrackers and the occasional rocket, but making fireworks illegal to both buy and use and enforcing the law with stiff penalties means it's much better than when I was a kid. We would never go out on the 4th of July holiday because my dad insisted on staying home and watering down our wood shingle roof and then watching it like a hawk!

 

[Jennifer]

Fireworks are illegal in most places in California due to the very high fire risk in the summer when they are most likely to be used (4th of July). You can get them illegally and people still set off firecrackers and the occasional rocket, but making fireworks illegal to both buy and use and enforcing the law with stiff penalties means it's much better than when I was a kid. We would never go out on the 4th of July holiday because my dad insisted on staying home and watering down our wood shingle roof and then watching it like a hawk!

Very sensible Emily. With all the ridiculous health and safety laws we have now it's quite unbelievable that you can still buy fireworks in supermarkets and local shops. Until doing the survey I didn't know there were laws on the use of fireworks in the UK apart from having to be 18 to buy them. I'm guessing a lot of people don't know the laws and I doubt those laws are enforced very often.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Very sensible Emily.

They really have to enforce it in California. The fire risk is really horrible as it normally doesn't rain during 9 months of the year.

I've already talked about the wacky pyro-addicted Germans on New Year's Eve. It amazes me, the arsenal you can buy there!