Should Events Go With a Bang?

[The Free Joy State]

Fireworks!

Sainsbury's, one of the largest supermarkets in the UK, have announced their decision to not sell fireworks this year, in any of its 2,300 stores. Animal lovers have praised the move, with owners citing the distress fireworks cause. Other supermarkets do not seem to have any plans to follow suit.

The tide of popularity seems to be turning for fireworks. Last year in the UK, a petition to ban the sale of fireworks to unlicensed venues gained 307,897 signatures. More recently a public consultation in Scotland found that (of 16,000 respondents) 94% wanted tighter controls of the sale of fireworks (of course, it is possible that the people who were more concerned were the people who responded to the consultation).

So, wise denizens of NSG, is the tide turning for fireworks? Are Sainsbury's vanguards or party-poopers?

Should the future of events such as New Years' and Bonfire night be glow sticks for public sale and only carefully regulated, licensed public displays? Or would such restrictions symbolise rejecting old traditions of 'gunpowder, treason and plot' for new notions such as health and safety? Is even a regulated display too risky for humans and traumatising for pets -- should fireworks be banned outright?

I'd support fireworks only been sold to individuals running licensed, professional displays; ideally displays away from largely residential areas (balancing some people's wish to see fireworks and the comfort of others). With sales to unlicensed people, there's a risk that children may get hold of them, or that they may be operated -- with devastating effect -- irresponsibly, and the number of days they're let off (at least in the UK) is very distressing for animals.

[Alvecia]

I don’t believe I’ve ever bought fireworks myself, and most relevant parties I go to don’t bother these days.
That combined with how often they cause injuries, I guess I wouldn’t be too fussed if they were limited to licensed events.

[The Free Joy State]

I don’t believe I’ve ever bought fireworks myself, and most relevant parties I go to don’t bother these days.

Actually, I'm really not keen on fireworks personally. I wouldn't want them outright banned, because of my own personal dislike of them, but I've certainly never bought them.

It was the Sainsbury's thing that made me think of it.

[Ifreann]

Fireworks should only be available to duly licensed event organisers and, in accordance with ancient Halloween traditions, delinquent teens. It just wouldn't be the same without little shits setting off Black Cats and Screamers all night.

[Nuclear Wastelands]

My State banned them, but when the weather's good, you'll always at least have one guy setting them off a week.

So yeah, I don't think prohibition's been working in the States either.

So I say age restrictions, like those on alcohol, would work.

[Ethel mermania]

Being that I believe I should be able to purchase nuclear weapons, I think people should be able to purchase fireworks.

[Senkaku]

Fireworks are fuckin great. Let me buy more fireworks and channel my pyro urges into something harmless

[Valentine Z]

Oh no, this is awful!

Now where am I supposed to find videos of drunk people firing Roman Candles at each other?

/s, of course.

[Sovereign Wilderness]

People should be allowed, but I really wish they wouldn't...

My state here in the US recently legalized the sale of fireworks, and now I get to play the fun game of laying in bed at night trying to guess whether it's gunshots or fireworks exploding in my neighborhood.

[Agarntrop]

My State banned them, but when the weather's good, you'll always at least have one guy setting them off a week.

So yeah, I don't think prohibition's been working in the States either.

So I say age restrictions, like those on alcohol, would work.

Well, actually, in my country, the UK, it is illegal for under 18s to buy fireworks. The most powerful fireworks can also be only sold to professionals. It is also illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am except on certain celebratory days. Breaking these rules can result in massive fines and even short prison time.

[Agarntrop]

People should be allowed, but I really wish they wouldn't...

My state here in the US recently legalized the sale of fireworks, and now I get to play the fun game of laying in bed at night trying to guess whether it's gunshots or fireworks exploding in my neighborhood.

Bizzare how the US bans fireworks but not guns.

[Ifreann]

Being that I believe I should be able to purchase nuclear weapons, I think people should be able to purchase fireworks.

Remember those news stories, I think it was last year, about how America's stock of MOABs were going out of date? Like, some component in them was degrading and eventually they wouldn't be usable. I maintain that they should use them as giant fireworks. Set up some bleachers, drop them on an empty patch of desert outside Vegas, charge people to watch the big splodey.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Registered events with proper loicenses only.

Antisocial twats last year were trying to let off fireworks in the street nearby where I live and the Peak period can go on for nearly a month now, it's a menace to pet owners and people are taking the piss.

[Agarntrop]

Being that I believe I should be able to purchase nuclear weapons, I think people should be able to purchase fireworks.

Remember those news stories, I think it was last year, about how America's stock of MOABs were going out of date? Like, some component in them was degrading and eventually they wouldn't be usable. I maintain that they should use them as giant fireworks. Set up some bleachers, drop them on an empty patch of desert outside Vegas, charge people to watch the big splodey.

nice

[Chan Island]

Fireworks are the best. So much fun every new years loading up on a bunch and watching them go boom in the sky.

Though I think Sainsbury is going to be a bit of a trailblazer here....

[USS Monitor]

The libertarian in me says everyone should be able to buy fireworks, but I have mixed feelings about it because I personally don't like the noise.

I used to be really into fireworks when I was younger, and even though I grew up in a state where they were illegal, we'd buy them in other states and bring them home to set off. I still think fireworks can be pretty, but there are a few experiences that made me less patient with the noise from people setting off fireworks in the streets:

After a couple years of being in China on Chinese New Year, I got tired of the number of fireworks going off everywhere, especially after having an 11th floor apartment in Shanghai that was right around the same altitude where someone else's rockets were going off and dropping sparks on our balcony. When I could see fireworks in the distance on the far side of the river, I liked watching those. The first couple days of Chinese New Year fireworks, I thought it was cool. But it just went on too long and the crowded spaces in a very urban environment meant the fireworks were often going off too damn close.

And then there was being in downtown Boston on the day of the Marathon Bombing. When I hear fireworks going off around the corner or in the next block, and I can't see what is making the noise, it's a bit of a PTSD trigger.

[USS Monitor]

People should be allowed, but I really wish they wouldn't...

My state here in the US recently legalized the sale of fireworks, and now I get to play the fun game of laying in bed at night trying to guess whether it's gunshots or fireworks exploding in my neighborhood.

Bizzare how the US bans fireworks but not guns.

As far as I'm aware, the states that ban fireworks are usually the same ones that have more restrictive gun laws. There's some variation, but that's the way to bet it.

[Agarntrop]

Bizzare how the US bans fireworks but not guns.

As far as I'm aware, the states that ban fireworks are usually the same ones that have more restrictive gun laws. There's some variation, but that's the way to bet it.

Actually, couldn't fireworks be argued as potential 'arms' therefore making banning them unconstitutional? Also, yes but my point still stands.

[USS Monitor]

As far as I'm aware, the states that ban fireworks are usually the same ones that have more restrictive gun laws. There's some variation, but that's the way to bet it.

Actually, couldn't fireworks be argued as potential 'arms' therefore making banning them unconstitutional?

That wouldn't hold up in court at all. "Arms" means things that are intended to be used as weapons, not anything that can be misused to improvise a weapon.

[Sovaal]

I really don’t support restrictions on fireworks beyond an age limit for certain types and possibly restricting them during day a drought to cut back on starting fires with them. Maybe restrict where those big fire in the sky display ones are allowed to go off.

As for health and safety, idiot endanger their lives in plenty of ways, such as drinking while driving. Make negligent use of fireworks a crime, not the fireworks themselves.

[Sovaal]

As far as I'm aware, the states that ban fireworks are usually the same ones that have more restrictive gun laws. There's some variation, but that's the way to bet it.

Actually, couldn't fireworks be argued as potential 'arms' therefore making banning them unconstitutional? Also, yes but my point still stands.

No. Fireworks aren’t arms.

[Sovaal]

People should be allowed, but I really wish they wouldn't...

My state here in the US recently legalized the sale of fireworks, and now I get to play the fun game of laying in bed at night trying to guess whether it's gunshots or fireworks exploding in my neighborhood.

Bizzare how the US bans fireworks but not guns.

Gun laws vary on a state by state basis, and most fireworks bans are also on a st at e by state basis.

[State of Turelisa]

I've never understood why something that can maim and kill and cause major destruction has been quite easy to obtain here in the UK, where we have banned handguns and licenced shotguns. Something that's a 'brief candle...full of sound and fury' which is such an expensive waste of money. I'll never forget the lecture I and other pupils were given at school in which we were shown photographs of disfigurements due to fireworks.
They should be banned.

[Agarntrop]

I've never understood why something that can maim and kill and cause major destruction has been quite easy to obtain here in the UK, where we have banned handguns and licenced shotguns. Something that's a 'brief candle...full of sound and fury' which is such an expensive waste of money. I'll never forget the lecture I and other pupils were given at school in which we were shown photographs of disfigurements due to fireworks.
They should be banned.

Fireworks are a tradition here, I suppose. Like guns in the USA.

[Grenartia]

There's something to be said for being able to put on your own, personalized fireworks display with family and friends, especially for non-standard days of the year (such as celebrating a birthday party or something).