Can We Ban Fireworks Please
I know it's not often I put a serious post on this site, so make the most of it, but can we please please ban the general sale of fireworks?I don't really understand the arguments for keeping fireworks on sale to the public when you look at the nuisance, injuries and disruption they cause.
I welcome the Government clamp down on sales, but two instances over the last few days have convinced me we need to ban the general sale of these devices - they should only be used by trained professionals at properly organised events.
Anyway, back to those two instances:
Over the weekend, someone threw/aimed a firework at me while I was parking my car in Ruislip. I heard the whizz of the rocket and had to duck to avoid it hitting me. The firework exploded a few feet above my head. Had I not ducked I could have been seriously injured. Now I'm not saying the act was deliberate (I mean I don't think anyone hates this blog enough to take retribution - not even John McDonnell supporters!) but it was still extremely dangerous.
And tonight, I came home to find my cat scared out of her mind. Now that's not unusual when there are fireworks going off all around, but this time not only was my cat distressed her whiskers and fur were burnt and singed by a firework. It is just unacceptable - and I am very angry about it. Again, I'm not daying people deliberately to terrorise and injure our pets, but it's just not on - and I really believe the Government should do something about it. Urgently.
posted by Kerron @ 11:22 PM
42 Comments:
"Over the weekend, someone threw/aimed a firework at me while I was parking my car in Ruislip"
I pledge my innocence...I swear over Clare Short's new scarf that I didn't attemp to get rid of Councillor Kerron Cross with a firework :wink:
You have my 100% support in this.
I wasn't too happy when some scrote threw one through our letter box when I was a stude back in 1988, but I became vehemently against fireworks when a horrible child scored a direct hit on me three years ago
Ban fireworks and How it happened
Yeah, ban the lot of them. I made a speech about fireworks before switching them on in Enfield the other day. I got booed because I said they should be banned.
Well no, that's a lie, I didn't get booed.
Anyway, hope your cat is ok.
So you want to ban the sale of fireworks because you had a spot of bother in Ruislip and your cat was singed?
Sorry, but my Nanny State instincts are not that great. I wonder what society would look like if every Tom, Dick or Harry got a law passed because they had a mishap?
It's jungle out there, Kerron, even, apparently in Hertfordshire.
Bah Humbug.
On the other hand, when year after year, when hundreds of people are injured and intimidated, and there is massive damage to property, isn't it time to have a rethink.
The laws about sales to under-18s are not working; the laws relating to throwing fireworks in public spaces are not working.
I rang the police a couple of weeks ago about children throwing fireworks at pedestrian and vehicular passers-by and the operator said if a patrol sees them 'they'll have a word'.
That isn't anything about Nanny State, that is about the criminal law not working because it is not practical to police it fully.
The freedom of people to play with explosives only extends as far as it doesn't impose upon other people's freedom to live a quiet peaceful life free from trauma and disturbance.
I sympathise Kerron, but am not sure if banning will solve anything much!That said Gert is right the issue does need to be policed more and more people should come forward when they are on the receving end of these problems!
If councils organised proper diplays then fair enough, but many don't. And they certainly don't cover events like Diwali, Eid etc. So enforce the current law properly, yes, but I don't think a total ban is the way to go.
Can we also ban the general sale of pets?
I can see the benefits of not allowing anyone to wander around carrying explosives. I for one would be in favour of a special test designed to weed out idiots.
speaking as a retired firefighter of 25 years, I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I've seen some horrible injuries and houses gutted by fire due to some prat with a firework.
Firefighters are regularly targeted by yobs with fireworks, and it's not just this time of year...they seem to be on sale year-round.
I would like to see a total ban on the sale of fireworks to the public. failing that, There should be a scheme of training and licensing for people who want to buy fireworks...and strictly enforce it.
Ok, but only if we can keep bonfires and keep celebrating the downfall of extremist Catholic terrorism? George Bush & al-Qaeda, take note. Britain has been fighting Religious Terrorism Since 1605. Fireworks or not.
If you want to keep bonfires, all I can say is don't vote Lib Dem.
http://kerroncross.blogspot.com/2006/09/whats-bonfire-night-without-bonfire.html
i like them. whizz. bang. pop. crackle.
I am not big on banning firework, it seems it would be a pity and a sad capitulation to a small minority spoiling it for the rest of us.
ps Kerron have you seen this article?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2444142,00.html
Ya I did. Ouchee!!!
Sorry to hear about your rather unpleasant experiences, but what about meeting you half way? Ban them above a much smaller size, like the 'Traffic Lights' and 'Jack in a Boxes' of old, set up a chartermark (which you can tax to fund the extra Fire Service provision), with high fines for unmarked fireworks, and you eliminate both the dangerous mega fireworks and any less safe cheapo imports.
I agree with you 100%
In fact I blogged on it myself back in October so I wont continue my rant again here.
http://ontheknocker.blogspot.com/2006/10/fireworks-ban-them-now.html
People hurt themselves and others using fireworks. They should be more careful. But the notion that you just pass laws to deal with these types of problems cannot always be right, because (after a period of time using such an approach) freedom is restricted too greatly.
I agree with Benjamin's comment. Kerron you are trying to apply a cure without even trying to understand
a) if it will work
b) what the opposing arguments might be
c) if there are other more effective ways to deal with your (undoubted) problem
In this respect, you have a lot in common with many in the Parliamentary Labour party. Banning fireworks sounds a lot like banning handguns, but
a) has the incidence of gun crime gone up or down since 1997?
b) some groups of Olympic sportsmen now find their hobby is banned in Britain, why?
c) loutish/reckless behaviour seems to be at the root of your two incidents, but will banning fireworks tackle this?
What will you ban next, sticks and stones?
sticks in my opinion should be banned.
They are a menace. Only yesterday , My wife Doris told me that she saw a stick outside woolworths. What on earth is happening to this once great country.
Is letting off fireworks an Olympic sport now??? God help us. :-/
I think the nuances of 'freedom' debate should be treated sensitively. There are certain behaviours I find disgusting, such as spitting in the street or eating Kentucky Fried Rat on a bus, and I could even construct an argument to demonstrate that banning these would enhance the public good. That doesn't mean I want them banned, far from it, although I think such incidents would decline if people understood better how to behave in public (airy fairy imprecise utopia).
But 'thin end of the wedge' fears are not a reason for not taking action. Over the years and centuries various activities have been banned or made compulsory, often with opposition on freedom grounds eg children up chimneys and compulsory seatbelts.
Simultaneously, other activities have become unbanned or made easier, such as gay sex, women working, taking money on holiday. It would be ludicrous to suggest a 'one-in, one-out' system for freedom, it is nevertheless important to distinguish between areas where government has no business (consenting adult sex); where government has a duty to remove artificial barriers (employment rights); areas where the Government has a duty because society has to pick up the bill for a freedom that in itself has no compensating benefits (not wearing seatbelts); and areas where the elected and accountable government and its agencies take on the role of protecting individuals who lack the means to do so themselves, which is why we have an extensive criminal law code largely about protecting people and property.
On the whole, we don't resent laws against assault nor do we resent laws against unreasonable noise. These laws could be applied successfully to Fireworks Nuisance, but they're not.
If you were parking your car why did you have to duck to avoid the firework? Very odd
When I was getting out of my car after parking it.
"God help us."
An appeal to your invisible friend isn't going to help you with your lack of debating skills Kerron. No wonder it's not often you do serious posts.
PS In practice Gert it takes three complainants to get Environmental Health to take action about a noise nuisance. Hard to see this applied successfully when someone launches a rocket at the wrong moment.
Gov should of kept the age to 21 and not introducted 16/18 pet owners should keep their animals inside they know the date for the fireworks so if an animal is injured its the owners fault! parents should bring up their children with more respect for others so until we live in the ideal world suppose we have to put up with some of the idiots!!but the majority of sensible law abiding citizens have their fireworks in the garden with no problems so lighen up so to speak !!!
Hope you and your cat are okay.
And for what it's worth I think fireworks shouldn't be sold to the general public, at last not without an in advance licence. They're explosives! Why not try to control their distribution?!
If you ban fireworks you are a control freak politician who is more than prepared to back the new lab and tory fusspots who have nothing better to do becase they are all tolls of the rich and thus real useful reform is beyond them- hence the need to do posture politics and non politics such as this.
I have another problem that a complete ban would take care of, as people could not even make them at home (as they will with the more dangerous fireworks), that is ban automobiles. In my country they kill and maim thousands of people every year...very dangerous indeed!
i am an american. i was born here, i was raised here, i will die here. and part of my herritage, my connection to this great country of ours is celebrating our nations independance day with bonfires and illuminations. this is a long lived and much celebrated tradition set forth by our founding fathers, and your actions threaten to strip me of this annual event.
all my life i've respected and enjoyed pyrotechnics. as an aspiring professional pyrotecnician i pride myself on the artistry and complexity of my craft. but more than anything it's saftey. each year all my friends and family plan an elaborate disply to delight our families. last years show was an hour long, and included thousands of dollars worth of pyrotechnic devices, and man hours to make it all happen. not one injury.
the joy and pride one feels after a safe and sucessfull fireworks production is undescribable. as one pyrotechnic device after another fills the sky entertaining my spectators we play every patriotic score imaginable. the entire evening is centered around celebrating the country we love, and the good men and women who fight and sacrafice thier lives to preserve it.
your groups actions threaten to rob me of this. for this i have but one option and that is to consider this an assult on my rights as a citizen of this country. it's incredibly inconsiderate and quite frankly, down right un-american.
each and every legal consumer grade pyro device includes in it's labeling the proper way to use it. the statistics you tout around regaurding injuries and house fires are un-representative of safe and propper use. as long as consumers follow the directions that are clearly printed on the packaging and the device itself, the chance for misshap is near nothing. in fact in comparison you are much more likely to be injured riding a bike, roller blading, jogging, riding in a car, or just about any other normal mundane day to day activity than you are by the proper use of fireworks.
i sincerly hope you stop this misleading, unnecessary, and unamerican assault on such a long time cherished tradition. i was shocked and appaled to see this concept (consumer fireworks ban) being tossed around, and horrified to find that there are actually people who support this facist nonsense. there are a large population of good hard working americans who would be damaged by this ban and i hope you can re-direct your efforts in these matters to the education of consumers twords the propper use of pyrotechnics rather than the restriction of thier access to them. i'm sure me and all my fellow pyrotechnicians (novice and professional) would not only agree with it, but support thoes efforts of encouraging propper use rather than stripping everyone of something they love and cherrish.
Anon - I almost can't believe you're serioues. No wonder US public opinion is held in such low esteem around the world when you assume that everything written in English refers to your country! You make your President look intelligent.
Fireworks are the most fun thing that some people have ever done. They have fun with the stuff we have. I believe that people who want to ban this is an idiot.
I find your logic seriously flawed. One of your reasons for banning fireworks is because of the harm they cause pets. Now it seems that motor vehicles cause a significant loss in the lives of pets each year…so would you please ban the driving of motorized vehicles for the sake of our pets? Here are a few more…
~My neighbor firing up his Harley at 5 AM wakes me up every morning…lets make that illegal per excessive noise.
~My neighbor’s dog barks too loud and scares my cat. Lets make owning loud dogs illegal.
~Me neighbor smokes and caused a brush fire. Let’s make smoking illegal.
I have a better idea…lets bubble wrap everything and live in big plastic bubbles! Let’s never do anything with an element of risk.
Banning fireworks doesn’t solve the perceived problem. There will always be Indian Reservations to sell them and millions more spent on them than cops a city employs.
Fireworks don’t hurt people, people hurt people.
My guess is that it is firecrackers and bottle rockets that cause the most damage, which are illegal to light off, but legal to import. Yes, it is the Indian reservations that sell them, but they are still imported into our US Ports. Kind of ironic if you ask me.
Jason is right, there will always be stupid people out there, but that doesn’t mean we are going to completely ban alcohol, cigarettes, and driving motorized vehicles.
Jason,
Your argument that objects do not hurt people, people hurt people, I note is the same flawed logic people use to defend gun ownership in the US. I probably disagree with you on that issue too! ;-)
Unlike vehicles, fireworks do not really serve a valid purpose. For example, they do not get you to work. All they do is blow up and explode. Stopping public ownership is no great loss, and people would still be able to go to organised public displays.
You will know in the UK that we are already limiting the size of firework you can purchase and limiting when you can let them off.
Turning to your other points:
"~My neighbor firing up his Harley at 5 AM wakes me up every morning…lets make that illegal per excessive noise.
Actually, excessive noise is illegal. What's more it's anti-social and unnecessary. The word "excessive" gives it away.
~My neighbor’s dog barks too loud and scares my cat. Lets make owning loud dogs illegal. Again, I think you'll find excessive noise from dogs and other pets is also covered under anti-social behaviour legislation in the UK. Dog ownership is not and should not be illegal, but owners have a responsibility to be...well, responsible! If you live in a residential area it is actually fairly reasonable to not want to be woken up at 3am by barking dogs. Perhaps you disagree?
~Me neighbor smokes and caused a brush fire. Let’s make smoking illegal. Surely even in the US people who discard cigarettes and create brush fires can be prosecuted? You may also be aware that in the UK we have banned (or are in the process of banning) smoking in public places. Given the health implications, I would have thought most people would welcome a smoking ban?
Banning fireworks doesn’t solve the perceived problem. There will always be Indian Reservations to sell them and millions more spent on them than cops a city employs. No I guess banning fireworks wouldn't make much difference in a society where everyone is allowed to own a gun. But then I would ban gun ownership as well. BTW nice use of the word "perceived".
Clearly we are not going to agree on anything here, but you can count yourself lucky you do not live in the UK - and I can feel likewise about not living in your country.
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well, i've just stumbled into a right odd bag of fools, knaves, cat lovers, apostrophe misusers and general idiots. i posed the question to my computer thingy -'can we have a UK revolution please?' and you bunch of southerners, christofascists and cat lovers is what turns up. right, you american bloke/lass who wants to be able to celebrate his /her country's revolution or as you put it -your nations independance' -assuming you mean your 'nation's independence' -well fine, invite me to the party but we may have a few words about patriotism (as i guess you know, it is the last refuge of scoundrels.) and you americans (and blair lovers)should be hanging your heads in shame aboot your country just now (as usual -chile, vietnam, grenada, iraq, diego garcia, el salvador, cuba, cambodia, venezuela and, no doubt with distressing inevitability, iran.....etc. ..etc) oh and christians -well you lot are just weird, could we have the discussion about lot, his wife and him offering his daughter (and the priest's concubine) to all the guys in town as long as they didn't come to 'know ' them angel guys who were staying. weird, weird, weird. hey, god -you just turned my wife into salt -what the **** is that aboot?) 'forget aboot her, Lot, go and stone that old bloke to death for gathering wood on a sunday.. vicious, cruel immoral nonsense. And cats -they don't give a damn aboot you, you know -they just want a bit of warmth and fod and don't care where it comes from. while fools are prepared to feed them they don't need to eat birds, but do.. incidentally birds are far too cool to get distressed aboot fireworks. fireworks are just great and i look forward to the day that smoke is again rising from central london and the firework display is there to celebrate the socialist revolution and the end of this nasty,greedy, corrupt, violent capitalist period in the world's history is over.
peace and love
tom paine
I have had a week of fireworks up to 1.30am in the morning going off.I also have had to keep my two dogs sedated,and its not even 5th November,it is getting worse each year.Im not saying stop fireworks,what I feel they should be in organised events,then everyone would be happy and safe.
Jenny
Erm, which is EXACTLY what I advocated in this post.
These fireworks should be removed from general sale and only available for trained professionals to use at properly supervised public displays.
I totally agree fireworks should be only used in public displays by professionals
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