[turbulentfurball]

For those who don't know the reference, it's from a song that commemorates the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot by Guy Fawkes et al to blow up the English Parliament and therefore assassinate King James I/VI (He was the first King of England to be named James, and the sixth King of Scotland to be called James, hence two numbers. James was the first King of both England and Scotland. At this time, England and Scotland were still independent nations, but linked by a common monarch)

Four hundred years later, and Britons everywhere commemorate the failure of Fawkes by having bonfires and spectacular firework displays. And now to the point of this thread. Every year at this time, scores of people are injured by irresponsible and careless use of fireworks, generally by idiotic teenagers. The Government run advertisements every year to promote firework safety, but inevitably accidents still do happen. The current legislation surrounding fireworks prohibits their sale to those under the age of 18, but that doesn't stop suspect retailers from selling them to kids.

I think firework displays can look spectacular. I try to be in Edinburgh city centre every Hogmanay to witness the fireworks over the castle:



However, I don't think that fireworks should be sold to the general public. Not only can tragic accidents happen, butmalicious ass-wipe degenerates can cause some serious intentional harm

For those who don't want to click on the links, these are five separate incidents in the last week involving intentional damage by fireworks, including a lit firework being thrown on to a bus, into a restaurant and being taped to a cat before being lit.

Furthermore, pets across the country are petrified of them. My dog ran upstairs earlier this afternoon when one exploded outside our house and trembled before vomiting. I could actually feel him shaking.

Moreover, professional firework displays look infinitely better than the crap that seems to be available in stores. The most popular (I would guess) seems to be a banger which does nothing other than make a loud noise anyway, which is completely pointless.

Now to the poll: Do you think that Fireworks should be available to the general public, or subject to stricter controls, or banned altogether.

I apologise for the lengthy post and large number of links, but I feel strongly about this and wanted to back up my case with lots of current examples!

[thegeriatric]

Banned to the public. Professional run displays only. Don't spoil peoples fun. But make it safe for everyone.

[Windowsrookie]

Beer?

[billybobsky]

Ban ban ban ban ban!

I have witnessed several people's roofs on fire due to the drunken incompentance of their neighbors. This is one of those cases where the lack of professional training could cause death or injury to others (I don't fucking care if my neighbor blows his hand off, but if he kills my dog...)...

[drewprops]

dammit!
I voted wrong.
Takesies Backsies.

[Dave]

Where's the option for relaxing the current laws? I voted for keeping them the way they are cause that's the closest to my opinion on the topic.

[Kickaha]

I voted for leave them as is. I really don't mind if some idiot blows his own hand off (other than the assumption that I'll help pay for his idiocy through the health care system, but that's another topic). If an idiot causes a damaging or fatal fire, charge them with gross negligence as appropriate, and slap their asses in jail and fine them until they bleed pennies, same as any other type of negligence.

As for pets, that's a problem, but since you know that certain days there are going to be noise issues, have you considered taking your pet elsewhere, or perhaps giving them a calming agent such as valerian? Works wonders on my cat, and my aunt's seeing eye dog. Since it's able to be planned *for*, it only seems responsible to me as a fellow pet owner to do so.

[turbulentfurball]

Originally Posted by Dave Where's the option for relaxing the current laws? I voted for keeping them the way they are cause that's the closest to my opinion on the topic.

Any particular reason that you think the current laws should be relaxed? And what parts of the law?

Originally Posted by Kickaha As for pets, that's a problem, but since you know that certain days there are going to be noise issues, have you considered taking your pet elsewhere, or perhaps giving them a calming agent such as valerian? Works wonders on my cat, and my aunt's seeing eye dog. Since it's able to be planned *for*, it only seems responsible to me as a fellow pet owner to do so.

I've never thought about giving him a sedative, but I guess it's something that I should look into considering the effect it has on him. As for taking him elsewhere, there really is no escape at this time of year, bar taking him to the middle of the countryside for a week. Besides. He gets car-sick too.

[Bryson]

If they were only hurting themselves, I'd say: that gene pool could use some chlorine anyway. But, as you say, they do these things to other people.

Once, when I was a student, I used to live on a very dodgy council estate in Yorkshire. (So dodgy, that local cab drivers refused to enter it, and would only pick you up from the edges.) Anyway, the local kids would send their oldest looking member into the corner shop to buy rockets. They would then bombard the same shop (which had entirely metal-mesh-covered windows) with these rockets until they ran out, at which point they would go back in and buy more. The best part was, the guy would sell them more! Insanity.

[ast3r3x]

Originally Posted by Dave Where's the option for relaxing the current laws? I voted for keeping them the way they are cause that's the closest to my opinion on the topic.

I know, same here.

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball Any particular reason that you think the current laws should be relaxed? And what parts of the law?

Well here in pennsylvania you aren't supposed to have any exploding or fireworks that shoot in the air. I don't know how much they enforce that other than arresting this guy who sells things at our local farmers market every year. I've never seen them go out after people.

My dog is afraid of fireworks, but he is also afraid of thunder, and low flying air craft, and unnecessarily loud motorcycles. Should we ban all of those? You brits are all the same, if something causes a problem take it away. You lost your guns, and now your going after fireworks? If you took away alcohol, you'd literally be an anti-american state

[Windswept]

Fireworks are banned where I live because of the extremely high danger for wildfires in the parched conditions of summer; so the various cities in the area all put on big fireworks displays for the 4th of July.

This year's in my city was okay, kind of humdrum; but last year's was fantastic! Really an artistic choice in the types and colors of fireworks. I was extremely impressed with last year's display.

The problem we have around here is that idiots go out and fire off guns into the air, mostly to celebrate the New Year. This has been made a felony now, due to a fatal bullet landing in someone's head while they were in their own backyard.

Gunfire still happens, but maybe not so much.

Wrt fireworks, people often drive to a neighboring state to buy them, if their own area has banned them.

In a country with national health care, I'd say fireworks should be banned; because otherwise all of you taxpayers are paying huge amounts for medical care for those fools who just can't seem to follow the rules.

This is one of those issues where 'learning the hard way' is just not a viable option. Being maimed and disfigured for life should not be a lesson any teenager should have to learn.

[Kickaha]

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball I've never thought about giving him a sedative, but I guess it's something that I should look into considering the effect it has on him. As for taking him elsewhere, there really is no escape at this time of year, bar taking him to the middle of the countryside for a week. Besides. He gets car-sick too.

D'oh! You can ask the vet for a tranquilizer, but my cat had a HORRIBLE reaction to 'Ace' (acepromazine(sp?)), and went psychotic. The valerian doesn't have the same brick-to-the-head effect, but it does seem to take the edge of the anxiety off, and they can at least deal. There's a liquid concoction called "Calm Down!" (which I think is hilarious with the exclamation point), that you can get at a lot of pet stores. It seems to work well for my cat at least.

[Robo]

Whoo! Guy Fawkes Night. I got my first iMac on the 5th of November, and I named it "Fawkes."

I'm not sure how I feel about the fireworks laws. I'm sorta afraid that if fireworks were banned, people would stop celebrating - that's what happened in Austrailia in the '80s. But at the same time, no holiday is worth someone's life...

[rollercoaster375]

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball Any particular reason that you think the current laws should be relaxed? And what parts of the law?

I'm in the same camp. Kick explained it well. It's their fault if they blow off their own hand, or catch their pants on fire.

[DMBand0026]

I agree. Relax the laws. Those who want to take the risks are more than welcome to, those who don't, don't have to. Be strict and harsh with those who misuse them, but allow those who want to use them to use them responsibly.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball Any particular reason that you think the current laws should be relaxed? And what parts of the law?

I think they should be relaxed because I wish to purchase and use fireworks in a completely legal and safe fashion to celebrate the founding of my nation, as well as other holidays, such as Tuesday. Or Friday.

[hiltond]

/off-topic but fun
Just an interesting point of Pennsylvania law since ast3r3x mentions it; one may not purchase mortars in Pennsylvania if he or she resided in that state. If one resides in another state they may pay a membership fee for a group and purchase all manner of cool rockets and mortars. One shop I know in Easton has a back-room that can only be entered after the client shows proof they reside in another state. Always thought this was interesting.

[Crusader]

I'm fine with the laws the way they are now. Here in MD pretty much anything that isn't a sparkler is banned... but a quick hop in the car to PA and all of those nice 1.4G fireworks can be had. Now quite frankly if I'm stupid enough to say burn down a house, I should be 100% liable for the damage I do... but I should still be able to do it damn it. Just because I have a car doesn't mean I'm gonna go driving thru the center of campus mowing down pedestrians (Yes it's a stupid analogy, but it gave me a funny mental image).

[Barto]

If there was a "relax the laws" option I'd have voted for that. Fireworks are cool.

[Hassan i Sabbah]

I donøt know anymore. Where I live, in the part of London known to the very poor as 'Hackney', Bonfire Night's 'celebrated' for days before the event with random rockets from about mid+day until 3:00 am. It's annoying. The day itself is like a war, the air is opaque with powdersmoke. It's fun.

These days more kids round here do Hallow'een instead, with the trick and treating, which they never used to do...

But i like fireworks.

[Yonzie]

Originally Posted by turbulentfurball For those who don't want to click on the links, these are five separate incidents in the last week involving intentional damage by fireworks, including a lit firework being thrown on to a bus, into a restaurant and being taped to a cat before being lit.

Yeah, some people are stupid and should be put away. If fireworks wasn't available, they'd just make pipe bombs out of fertilizer and diesel instead.

[Moogs]

V for Vendetta. Kill the oppressors... kill, KILL I say!

[turbulentfurball]

Man shoots rocket up ass, ends up in hospital

Duh.

I wonder what a scorched colon feels like!

[Dave]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!

Dumbass (no pun intended)

[turbulentfurball]

Maybe he needs an ass vibrator to make it feel better.

windowsrookie?

[Moogs]

Watched too many re-runs of Jackass the movie. When I was in England they actually had the uncut version of that on TV... it was kind of surreal. Heheh.

[World Leader Pretend]

Ha, my grandpa tells me stories about his fireworks out in his small town. When he was a careless teenager, some of his friends and him built all sorts of crazy "fireworks". They bought some magnesium and gunpowder and other explosive compounds from the general store (why the clerk sold it to them is beyond me) and built some pretty dangerous stuff. One was a mortar launcher that shot a beer can filled with concrete clear over their town of 1200 people. The one that got them caught was a pipe-bomb made of real PVC that broke windows over a mile away. The police weren't too happy about that

[scratt]

If there is any history of incest in your familly you should not be allowed fireworks without taking a government administered exam..

But then I would have that rule for owning dogs, breeding, driving, voting and being allowed out in public...