From distressed pets and neighbours to environmental damage, fireworks set off by private persons cause a significant number of problems each year – but should they be banned from public sale?
According to the results of our recent poll, run across Reach Plc’s regional and national brands, as well as TeamDogs, nine in 10 of you believe they should be.
With an overwhelming response of nearly 7,000 responses, it’s clear that you feel strongly about the subject.
In addition, you also gave a decisive verdict on whether or not fireworks should be sold to the general public.
Of the 6,990 who voiced their opinions, 6,243 people (89 per cent) voted that fireworks should be banned from public sale.
And for many participants, this choice was linked to the impact that the unexpected bangs and flashes, have on domestic pets.
In fact, 74 per cent added that their dog is afraid of fireworks, with many sharing heart-breaking stories about the impact Bonfire Night festivities have on them.
One said: “I have a dog who spends the weeks before and after fireworks night quivering with fear.
“I think no fireworks should be sold to the public, they are weapons.”
Another added: “So many pets are scared stiff of them.
“My vet has now prescribed diazepam for one of my dogs because she gets in such a state.”
A third person also said: “They are terrifying to dogs and our Labrador literally shakes and digs at the floor because she is so scared.
“She goes in kennels in the middle of nowhere on Bonfire Night and New Year so she is away from them, but we can't put her in kennels for the full few weeks that people set them off for.”
Another recurring reason for banning fireworks included the stressful impact the noise has on individual who are more vulnerable, such as the elderly.
Others also highlighted that they were ‘dangerous in the wrong hands’, and can be ‘misused to terrorise people’, particularly by ‘kids’, ‘teenagers’ or other ‘youths’.
One participant added: “Some people with autism and learning disabilities find fireworks frightening due to sensory overload.
“Also, for people with dementia and PTSD fireworks can provoke flashbacks.”
A second also said: “Too many idiots let off fireworks at random hours with complete disregard for who it affects – other people, domesticated animals, wildlife, pollution.”
As for solutions to keeping up Bonfire Night celebrations, respondents were more divided, putting forward various ideas.
Some respondents, for example, suggested that standard fireworks should be licenced and only used for public Guy Fawkes Night displays, which would only be on ‘specific firework nights’.
Others suggested that even public Bonfire Night celebrations should use low level noise fireworks.
And while 42 per cent of people agreed with low noise fireworks only being sold to the public, some felt that this type should not be available for sale to private individuals either.
Find out more about the TeamDogs fireworks campaign, Toffee’s Appeal (#BeMoreToffee), here.
