Should fireworks be banned?

[Bryn]

Here in the UK and all countries as part of the Commonwealth, it's Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night, after some nutjob that tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament). Obviously, to commemorate what the namesake tried to do, fireworks go off filling the sky with light, and noxious gas from the gunpowder contained (and also noise, lots of it).

Because of the many problems they cause such as injuries mostly, and other nasty things, I personally think they should be banned outright, from public sale that is. Although, there is a thought of them to come with "shock images" to discourage anyone from buying them, much like how packets of cigarettes show this already. It's quite sad that a form of explosive is packaged and advertised like a plaything. Not only that, they cause too much of a disturbance all around even to animals.

So, what are your thoughts on this?

 

[Jerlene]

Bonfire Night? That's amazing. Bonfires are illegal where I'm from, so are fireworks. It makes no difference though. We still order online and set them off during New Years.

 

[Bryn]

We still order online and set them off during New Years.

What about for 4th July?

 

[Jerlene]

That's not a big deal in the state that I'm from. It's really just another day.

 

[Page]

In Australia you aren't allowed to buy it, As long as you have some kind of licence to set them off. In the UK it's normal but there are so much crazy people around that they do not use them the right way to the point that it's overkill

 

[Bryn]

In Australia you aren't allowed to buy it

I knew of this before, actually. I guess fireworks had been a much bigger problem than it is here

 

[Jason76]

No, that's some wacko PC crap for sure - even a moderate liberal would have to protest that!

But I don't think little kids should handle fireworks at all and bigger kids should not throw them out of their hand - as I did as a kid, LOL.

 

[VirusZero]

Banning something because a person uses it incorrectly is not the answer. It takes us down a very slippery slope where we have to keep restricting and banning things because people keep doing foolish things.

Instead I just say if people do stupid things (like putting a firework in their crotch) and get hurt... too bad for them. Should have thought about that before engaging in the risky action.

That being said, if someone were using them in a safe and responsible manner (following instructions and burying them halfway down in sand or using a stand of some kind) and they got hurt then that's a different matter.

 

[Jason76]

Instead I just say if people do stupid things (like putting a firework in their crotch) and get hurt... too bad for them. Should have thought about that before engaging in the risky action.

in the case of adults - but with children it's a different matter.

 

[VirusZero]

Then we ask ourselves why children had them in the first place? I mean where I live you have to be 18 and show ID to buy fireworks. So then... who let those kids have them unsupervised? That's who we hold responsible.

But even then if the person in question is over the age of 14... they're old enough by then to read and follow directions. So my sympathy kinda drops off a lot there. At 16 it's gone because by this point they're deemed responsible enough to drive a car.

 

[Jason76]

Then we ask ourselves why children had them in the first place? I mean where I live you have to be 18 and show ID to buy fireworks. So then... who let those kids have them unsupervised? That's who we hold responsible.

But even then if the person in question is over the age of 14... they're old enough by then to read and follow directions. So my sympathy kinda drops off a lot there. At 16 it's gone because by this point they're deemed responsible enough to drive a car.

Life is full of so much danger I'm surprised I made it past 10 years old!

 

[Bryn]

Well, as far as I know, some things had been outlawed or whatever due to people being stupid with things and of it becoming widespread. I can't say what things exactly but you know what I mean. I'd rather live through 2019 without people setting off explosives in their back yard or more casualties to happen.

However though, people seem more responsible with fireworks for New Year's

 

[Jason76]

Well, as far as I know, some things had been outlawed or whatever due to people being stupid with things and of it becoming widespread. I can't say what things exactly but you know what I mean. I'd rather live through 2019 without people setting off explosives in their back yard or more casualties to happen.

However though, people seem more responsible with fireworks for New Year's

I think people need an outlet for aggression. Does anyone feel certain nations oppress those urges?

 

[skyler jones]

absolutely. I completely believe in banning fireworks. There is nothing more than pollution it creates.

 

[Bryn]

There is nothing more than pollution it creates.

I agree with this. The sky has had enough chemicals to it anyway.

 

[VirusZero]

The amount of pollution in a firework display, even a pretty large one like the US fourth of July level display, is not that much compared to the normal daily pollution.
If you're that worried about pollution then I suggest you:
- get rid of your own vehicle (if you own one), take up biking or using public transit instead.
- don't use taxis or uber/lyft if you can avoid it. (If you must take a taxi try to get multiple people to go with you so it's more worthwhile. Plus they can split the cost with you.)
- stop buying as much plastics as can be helped (since they're really hard on the environment and can last many years before degrading).
- Switch to renewable resources for heating homes (wood stoves) instead of gas based methods (EX- propane or oil).
- Limit use of electricity as much as possible (since in the USA ~60% of electricity is generated by gas or coal burning... and no this means electric cars aren't a really good viable solution either).
- Give up the electronics since they consume power (see above) and are often made with harmful elements like lithium, lead, sulfur or mercury. Plus when they are no longer useful they often end up in landfills.

All of these things will have a much more immediate and beneficial effect than stopping firework displays. (Firework displays happen only a few times a year whereas the other things I mentioned are WAY more common and produce a lot more pollution.)

Additionally in countries like US or Canada where there are large areas with forests any pollution by fireworks is rather quickly dealt with by trees (who absorb the CO2 to use in photosynthesis). The other elements in fireworks that give fireworks their colour (titaniums, coppers, etc...) are a bit harder on the environment. Some of them (like aluminum used in white fireworks) need extremely high levels to cause an effect to begin with. However they're trace levels to begin with so the amount getting added to the environment is pretty low. It would take an absolutely massive number of fireworks to cause problems.

In places like China or India where there may be more people and less forest it may take longer to clean up the aftereffects of fireworks (when coupled with the daily normal pollution from traffic). So I could see some restrictions maybe. But for most other places? There are many other things which are higher on the risk scale and need to be dealt with before fireworks.

 

[Azareal]

Fireworks are a huge cultural sensation. If people are having fun, then let them be.
You can't even buy a pressure cooker or a backpack these days without running the risk of the police busting down your door because they think you might be a terrorist.

If someone abuses it or causes property damage, then arrest them. And don't sell them to nutjobs. What's next, are we going to ban Christmas, because it might be offensive?

 

[Bryn]

What's next, are we going to ban Christmas, because it might be offensive?

That actually happened, by the crazy Puritans centuries ago

 

[Azareal]

That actually happened, by the crazy Puritans centuries ago

The ones who were overthrown? lol

I followed the link you posted.

If a parent lets a child handle fireworks, then they should lose custody of their children.
If someone tries to buy one, then they should go through the same strenuous drama that is buying alcohol.

 

[Jason76]

I think some opponents of fireworks have never played with fireworks as kids. If they did, they'd know what fun they are!

But I live way out in the country in the Appalachian mountains.