Do you think it's about time the UK government banned fireworks?

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Yes but no

Yes in that they are a damn nuisance and cause distress

No in that it's completely unenforceable, and if they were banned from shops, they'd appear on the black market which would likely be disastrous

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Animals, veterans with PTSD, those with sensory issues

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RecentTwo544@reddit

See other replies -

Most pets only panic because their owner does. People don't realise they're ingraining that fear in their pet. There are ways to train them out of it.

Veterans - sounds harsh, but we've not had conscription since WW2.

People with sensory issues - ear defenders are often used for this in a variety of situations, not just fireworks.

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Are you seriously suggesting that we've had no veterans since WW2?

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Conscripts.

Everyone since then joined the forces by choice.

And indeed of the small handful of veterans I know, including a mates brother who got PTSD when two of his friend's were killed in Afghan, they are strongly against the idea that fireworks should be banned to appease them. "I fought for my country so people have freedoms" etc.

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Oh that's fine then, because you know someone who's against it from their own experience that's it then, that was easy

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Go and ask veterans.

And of those that do complain, and I realise this sounds harsh but unfortunately it's just a fact - they chose to join the armed forces. What did they expect might happen? A field trip to Alton Towers then back home in time for tea?

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

I have done, I've worked with a few, some of whom were blown up in Afghan and nearly sunk in the Falklands, this time of year is hell for them

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drunkpostin@reddit

Yes, but they chose to join the military. They knew that PTSD was a potential risk beforehand. We shouldn’t all suffer just because some people regret their life choices lol

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Nit_not@reddit

how the hell can you compare your "suffering" from not being able to look at fireworks to the hell that vets go through at this time of year. Assuming you are the kind of hypocrite who wears a poppy while spouting that nonsense.

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drunkpostin@reddit

Lmao, calm down. First of all, obviously I’m not claiming that the “suffering” I experience from missing out on fireworks is equal to or greater than that of veteran who’s having a PTSD episode, but what I am saying is that PTSD is the responsibility of the sufferer (note that I said responsibility, not fault) and it is not the majority’s duty to accommodate for a very small minority (beyond reasonable adjustments such as not deliberately aggravating someone’s PTSD on purpose, for instance).

There are also steps one can take to reduce the disturbance of fireworks such as wearing noise cancelling headphones, for example.

My opinion on this matter is not due to ignorance or malice at all, it’s simply because I strongly believe that personal liberty shouldn’t be excessively restricted for the comfort of others. I myself have autism (obviously not comparable to PTSD, but the principle is more or less the same) and have many sensory issues - so much so that I can occasionally be brought to such overwhelming anxiety that I genuinely get tears in my eyes, so it’s not like I have absolutely zero hands-on experience with this matter. Unfortunately though, this is my cross to bear, and as long as people aren’t deliberately going out of their way to make me suffer, I don’t expect them to cater to me. Nor would I want them to, for that matter.

And if you’re still convinced that I’m some kind of uncaring psychopath who has never experienced hardship: I’ve also had issues with alcohol too, so should people avoid drinking in my presence to cater to me? If I went home and relapsed, would they be responsible? Of course not, but your logic here would suggest otherwise. After all, is the suffering of not being able to drink with your friends comparable to the suffering of an active alcoholic? No, but somebody’s alcoholism is nobody’s responsibility but their own. This applies to any other disease, disability, or illness too - physical or mental.

And lastly, no I do not wear a poppy. I have no idea why you assumed that lol. There are 70 million people in the UK. Do over 35 million of them wear poppies?

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Nit_not@reddit

This isn't about comfort of others, it is about doing actual harm. Curious how far this extends.

Do you think that restrictions on the noise of vehicles is wrong and should be repealed? How far does that go, for example if a car or motorbike produced noise so great it could perforate the eardrums of a pedestrian would you see that as wrong or would you blame the pedestrian for not wearing ear defenders?

BTW I'm not trying to draw a false equivalence here, they are different scenario's. It is to see how liberatarian your views are, as if so extreme they end up being callous then there is little point continuing discussion.

You've mentioned sensory issues, so why you don't think noise restrictions on fireworks would be a reasonable accommodation for people with sensory issues or PTSD? We can have a light show without explosive booms that can be heard for miles and which people can't escape even in their homes with noise cancelling headphones on.

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ClyroFoxfire@reddit

What a truly horridic individual you'd have to be to have this view point.

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Jesus Christ get some compassion will you, absolute cretin

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Elegant-Pie6486@reddit

No, pets don't only panic because their owners do, what a ridiculous idea.

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aezy01@reddit

I disagree that pets panic because of their owners, but dogs can be trained to tolerate and ignore loud noises. It just takes effort to do it.

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Gold_Addage@reddit

You can only train them to do it by subjecting them to it, and that is cruel and inhumane

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aezy01@reddit

Hard disagree. You can train dogs to tolerate noises and chaos in humane ways. It’s more cruel to just let them suffer in panic and fear every time they hear a firework go off for their entire lives.

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Gold_Addage@reddit

No, you can't. There is no humane way to train animals to tolerate loud noises and to suggest their is shows your ignorance. The humane thing to do is ban them or restrict their db to practically 0

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aezy01@reddit

Yes there is. Police dogs, police horses, dogs that work in war zones etc are all trained to tolerate loud and unexpected noises.

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Gold_Addage@reddit

And how do you think they do that? By subjecting them to those same sounds..... jez speak to someone to actually trains animals

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aezy01@reddit

Oh my days. Get a grip. You do it gradually, building up the volume over time, distract them and give them treats when they don’t react. That’s the humane and way of doing it. It’s your ignorance that is showing here. You’ve already agreed that it’s possible to train them, you just need to go one step further.

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Gold_Addage@reddit

So subjecting them to the very thing that harms them... you don't need to torture animals for your entertainment. Just ban the fireworks or only allow noiseless ones...

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aezy01@reddit

You aren’t listening - you don’t subject them to anything that harms them. You train them so that they don’t get harmed and you do that gradually. Don’t be selfish and let your dog live in fear, train it.

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ClyroFoxfire@reddit

This is not a blanket rule. We have put a huge amount of effort into desensitising our dog to fireworks and nothing works when it comes to the full scale bombs. Yes he's able to "tolerate" the smaller/regular ones (he's still clearly distressed) but there's no amount of training or noise cancelling techniques that can overrule the fear he has of those obnoxious massive ones.

And it is not due to us reacting. We knew from day 1 to be careful of this. We don't even look up when we hear them. In fact, literally as I'm typing this a giant bomb went off. I've continued typing while my husband continues making dinner. Our dog? Climbing over and toppling items in the cupboard where he's trying to hide.

It's naive and ignorant for people to think this problem is just "train your dog".

I'm fully in support of a ban but also understand that this comes with its own possible backlash of an unregulated black market and it's almost impossible to enforce. But the suggestion of regulating the decibel level makes sense.

I don't understand how people can continue to be oblivious and/or so insensitive to not support either of these options on the interest of reducing the awful effects fireworks have on others (animals, oet owners, veterans, people with sound sensitivity or neurodivergencies).

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Elegant-Pie6486@reddit

Yes most dogs can learn to tolerate it if you have the time and energy and ability to train them to do so.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

I think the downvotes, without response, suggest otherwise, quite conclusively at that.

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practicalgorl@reddit

Oh God I don't think 'people haven't argued with me, so I'm right,' is a great attitude to have, especially on this website.

There's lots of times I felt I could have argued a point, but just don't care enough, have other stuff to do, don't think there's any point etc.

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Elegant-Pie6486@reddit

What are you trying to say here?

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RecentTwo544@reddit

If people downvote something, without responding, you're basically saying "I don't like this, but I don't have a valid comeback because it's correct, so I'll just hide it."

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Elegant-Pie6486@reddit

No, sometimes they're doing it because somebody said something incredibly stupid.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

No because in that case they'd explain why it is stupid and/or wrong and either not up or downvote, or even upvote to make the person's idiocy stand out more.

So far I've had zero explanation as to why what I said is incorrect, and pet owners are just feeling guilty because they own a dog they haven't trained properly, or a breed so inbred it's cruel that it even exists.

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Elegant-Pie6486@reddit

No, people don't have the time or energy to correct every stupid thing they see online.

I don't think anyone feels guilty, they just think you're an ignoramus.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Then ignore it, instead of creating a narrative.

I've been unsure on multiple things on Reddit but downvoted comments have changed my mind. Not even my own, those from other people.

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Don't think they know to be honest, they come across as an uncaring individual lacking in compassion

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RecentTwo544@reddit

See my reply to him just now.

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Gold_Addage@reddit

How do train dogs out of it? By subjecting them to loud noises? That's messed up

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practicalgorl@reddit

Do most pets only panic cause their owner does?

Are most owners screaming with terror every time they get the hoover out or they see a bird in the garden? They both set dogs off :')

I can't see anything that suggests that dogs are only scares of fireworks because there owners panic, most sources are saying its because of the loud, unexpected noise.

I think humans panicking will stress out dogs, and I don't disagree with that, but it seems weird in context.Most people don't panic when there are fireworks - we know what they are so we are not scared.

Here's an interesting article that suggests a number of reasons and factors that can effect a dog's fear of fireworks. works: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/firework-fear-why-your-dog-does-or-doesnt-react-and-how-you-should-180975182/

There are defo ways to soothe them and make them used to fireworks for sure, but I think that's a different point which I wouldn't disagree with.

Plus there are lots of pets with shitty owners, they don't deserve to be scared because there owners don't put the effort in.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

Small kids, people with special needs, veterans, others with PTSD, pets, wild animals.

Full disclosure, I have PTSD. Personally I don't think fireworks should be banned, but set events would help with managing stress. I've moved to a place with predictable fireworks and it's so much easier for me now than it was when I lived in a place where people would be setting them off in the streets and in their gardens for literally four or five weeks, at all hours of the evening. The unpredictability really made things worse for me.

Now I'm chilling even with them going off because it's the 5th, I know they start at 6pm, and I know they'll stop soon. In the old place I'd have been getting jumpscared for weeks by this point and I'd already be fried.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Most small kids love fireworks.

People with special needs can wear ear defenders, and often do. We shouldn't be wrapping kids with special needs in cotton wool anyway, it is condescending and damaging.

Veterans - no one under the age of about 96 was conscripted.

Pets - you can train them out of it. Most get scared because their owners gets stressed on their behalf.

Wild animals - meh, that's a fair one, but we fuck with wild animals all the time by damaging their environment, banning fireworks wouldn't stop that.

PTSD - I'll be honest I'm not sure on this one. I don't know outside of being a veteran why PTSD would make someone scared of fireworks, but to be clear, that is 100% ignorance on my part. I'm happy to be educated on why this might be.

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Ramadeus88@reddit

The argument that people with special needs can simply wear ear defenders, and that protecting them is condescending, misses important nuance. Many neurodivergent people experience sensory sensitivities that go far beyond mild discomfort. Ear defenders help but cannot block out low-frequency vibrations or the unpredictable timing of explosions, which can cause real distress, pain, or panic attacks. Respecting those sensitivities by limiting or scheduling fireworks is not “wrapping in cotton wool.” It is a reasonable accommodation that allows everyone to feel safe and included. Inclusion is not condescension; it is compassion in action.

The idea that veterans should not be affected because no one under 96 was conscripted is irrelevant. Trauma does not depend on conscription. Many veterans who volunteered for service in more recent conflicts such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Falklands experience post-traumatic stress disorder. The sudden bangs, flashes, and smells of fireworks can vividly mimic combat conditions and trigger flashbacks or panic attacks. Age or how someone entered the military has nothing to do with their trauma response.

The suggestion that pets can simply be trained not to fear fireworks is partly true but oversimplified. Desensitization training can help some animals, but it requires time, consistency, and often professional guidance. Fear of loud, unpredictable noises is an instinctive survival mechanism for many species. Even in calm households, pets may panic, hide, or attempt to escape during fireworks, sometimes injuring themselves in the process. Animal shelters consistently report sharp increases in lost or injured pets during fireworks events, which shows that this problem is far more complex than owner anxiety.

The claim that harming wildlife with fireworks does not matter because humans damage the environment in other ways is ethically weak. It is true that we harm animals in many ways, but that does not excuse avoidable suffering. Fireworks cause real distress to wild animals, leading to disorientation, nest abandonment, and even death. Studies have documented large flocks of birds flying into buildings or trees after fireworks events. The fact that other harms exist is not a justification for ignoring this one. Moral consistency means reducing any harm that we can.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

Thank you for your reply, and I understand where you're coming from, but these arguments don't stack up -

People who are "neurodivergent" I do feel for, I myself have ADHD and went to a "bad lads" (kind of SEN) school because of it. But I was taught from that point on that the world cannot and will not bow down to meet my demands. Harsh as it might sound, banning all fireworks because some people with special needs don't like them (worth noting plenty do) is not how the world works. Again, harsh, but true. And I would argue unless you're living in a tent, there's somewhere in your house/flat where ear defenders/large headphone, a laptop/iPad, and being away from windows is an easy way to avoid it.
Veterans chose to join the armed forces. As horrible as it must be to have PTSD they knew what they were signing up for. It was a choice. And again, easy to avoid as in point 1.
Most pets can, the ones that have the most difficulty are often cruelly inbred breeds that struggle with the noises, and can even die due to weak hearts. I'd suggest if people care that much they stop buying cruel vanity-bred dogs.
It doesn't ethically excuse it, but it is an explanation. I'm not a vegan, and anyone who isn't is a hypocrite if they're complaining about fireworks distressing wildlife.

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Ramadeus88@reddit

This argument relies too much on personal experience and the idea that everyone should simply toughen up, but it overlooks some really important ethical and social realities. I get the point that the world can’t cater to everyone’s needs all the time, but fireworks aren’t a necessity. They’re just a form of entertainment, and they come with clear, well-documented downsides that are easy to prevent. Saying that people who struggle with the noise or light should just “avoid it” or hide away isn’t fair. For neurodivergent people and those with PTSD, fireworks can cause real distress, not just mild discomfort. Telling them to wear headphones or stay indoors shifts the responsibility away from the wider community, even though it would be simple to manage fireworks in a safer and more considerate way, like using quieter ones or limiting when and where they’re set off.

The idea that veterans “knew what they were signing up for” really misses the point. PTSD isn’t a guaranteed part of military service, and even when people understand the risks, that doesn’t mean society gets to ignore their struggles afterward. Saying it’s “easy to avoid” fireworks also doesn’t hold up when they’re going off unpredictably in residential areas. It’s not something people can always prepare for, and it’s a genuine trigger for some.

The point about pets also doesn’t work. It’s not just certain breeds that suffer from fireworks; all kinds of animals are affected; wildlife, farm animals, and pets alike. Dismissing that by saying people shouldn’t own certain dogs doesn’t solve the problem. The issue isn’t the animals; it’s the unnecessary distress caused by loud, explosive celebrations that could easily be replaced with quieter or more controlled alternatives in a limited and controlled capacity.

And yes, even if someone isn’t vegan, that doesn’t make them a hypocrite for caring about fireworks harming animals. Ethics isn’t all or nothing. You can still care about one kind of avoidable harm without being perfect in every other area. Fireworks don’t serve any essential purpose, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate that don’t involve frightening people or animals. The argument that “the world doesn’t bend for others” sounds tough, but it ignores that we already make countless small changes as a society to make life safer and kinder for everyone. This would just be another example of that.

Everything you’re saying is focused on your own comfort and convenience instead of showing any real empathy or understanding for others. You keep framing the issue as if the world doesn’t owe anyone anything, but living in a community means recognizing that our actions affect other people. Fireworks aren’t a basic need; they’re just entertainment. When you say people who struggle with them should just “deal with it” or “avoid it,” you’re putting all the responsibility on those who are already suffering instead of acknowledging that a little consideration from everyone else could make a big difference.

You’re also showing a lack of compassion. It’s easy for you to dismiss the distress fireworks cause because you’re not personally affected by them, but that doesn’t mean the problem isn’t real. For some people like those with PTSD or sensory sensitivities fireworks can cause panic, flashbacks, or physical pain. Suggesting they should just hide away or use headphones shows that you’d rather others adjust their lives than you make even a small change to yours. That’s not being realistic or tough; it’s being self-centered.

There’s also a contradiction in your reasoning. You say veterans “knew what they were signing up for,” that pet owners “chose” their dogs, and that non-vegans are “hypocrites,” but you don’t apply that same logic to yourself. You choose to use fireworks, even though you know they cause distress to people and animals, yet you expect everyone else to adapt around your choice. That’s not consistency; that’s double standards. Ultimately, your argument is selfish because it treats other people’s suffering as less important than your convenience. You’re defending a tradition that could easily be done differently, without thinking about how much harm it causes. It wouldn’t take much to make things fairer and kinder for everyone, but instead you’re insisting that others should just put up with pain so you don’t have to change.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

Not to mention PTSD that has nothing to do with being a veteran. I did take the time to explain it to u/RecentTwo544 after they seemed amenable to hearing further information (I myself have non-combat related PTSD and am set off by fireworks), but unfortunately I received no response and it seems he hasn't incoporated any of this new information into his arguments.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

I didn't see your reply, I wasn't ignoring it. And I can't find it. Was one of our comments deleted? Or possibly a comment we were both replying to (which deletes any replies)?

I've said this to someone else tonight - as horrific as it must be, and you have my full sympathies, society cannot change entirely based on a small number of people who might be bothered by it. If someone has PTSD or autism serious enough it causes them issues, they can pop some headphone on, settle down with an iPad or laptop, and sit in a room with no windows or heavy curtains. Someone suggested this isn't enough, so I then start to run out of sympathy.

Now I'm very left wing so I don't get offended or suggest that other things are "offensive" so I will be more careful and suggest, tentatively, that your suggestion that people with PTSD "deserve" it is extremely incorrect and a wildly misplaced understanding of what I said, or more importantly, did not say.

It is absolutely and categorically incorrect to suggest that anyone with PTSD "deserves" it. My point was quite different, that if you are making a decision to join the armed forces, or even volunteer or do journalism or the like in a warzone, you are to expect it to be living hell. I make no bones about it, I am way too weak and scared to even consider it. I have great respect for those that do it.

But you cannot then return to the UK and demand that everyone else change things because it might upset you, especially given there are plenty of ways to almost completely block out the sounds and sight of fireworks.

I have been consistently downvoted on this, without response, which is a good thing. No one has a retort to an arguement I initially wasn't sure on, but am now solidly behind. If my argument has no valid comeback or correction, and people instead just want to hide it, then it is obviously correct. I cannot dictate human psychology.

And I say all this as someone who thinks store bought fireworks are a pile of shit, there's zero reason to sell them and no one would miss out if they were banned.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

I understand that, but nobody you're debating with is saying they should be banned. All of us are stating that more predictable and controlled times would be preferable.

I cannot wear headphones for weeks. Where I was living before, fireworks went off unpredictably from Halloween until a week after New Year. I'm talking some nights it would be one or two bangs right outside the house, hours apart. Am I supposed to wear headphones for that entire time, just in case? And what about the boom, and the flash? Even if I could confine myself away for weeks, every room of my house has a window. You can feel these explosions in your chest. There is no escape.

If you don't have PTSD, I can't make you understand how "popping some headphones on" and "settling down" does not work. I don't believe you're being malicious here -- it's frustrating when you suggest things you see as obvious and reasonable, and someone says it won't work. I know it must feel like we're deliberately martyring ourselves. But PTSD is not rational. It does not make sense, and it does not respond to rational logic. The traumatised brain lives in a dual reality where the trauma is always occurring in real time. Brain scans back this up. You can't just watch an iPad and ignore this response. It is a fully immersive response to a trauma that the sufferer truly believes is occurring in that moment. Please, understand that you really cannot speak here. You do not know, you cannot know, and your suggestions and frustrations are making you seem devoid of empathy and even cruel. I know this isn't your intention.

I take responsibility for my issues, to a reasonable extent. I understand that I cannot expect everyone to accomodate me personally, so I make an effort to meet people halfway. But how can I do this if I don't know when to be prepared? I now live in an area where the fireworks are from 6pm on the 5th. After that evening, no more. Yes, I'm still distressed. But I know it's one night, so I avoid it in advance. This is a perfectly reasonable compromise. I just don't understand why you're so against predictable times. There's no reason for fireworks to be going on for weeks, and you cannot be serious in suggesting that locking ourselves away in windowless rooms with permanent noise jammed in our ears for weeks is a reasonable solution. If someone was put through that by someone else, we'd call it torture. And you're suggesting we do it ourselves so people can randomly let off the occasional firework in the street?

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Ramadeus88@reddit

Totally agree with you. PTSD isn’t just a veteran thing and people can have trauma from any number of events they never volunteered for, and being triggered by fireworks is real no matter the cause. It can be autism or combat.

The idea that someone deserve to deal with PTSD for joining the military is also just gross. Some 18 year old fresh out of school deserves a debilitating condition because of a choice they made when they were a kid? Cool. Let’s also not provide veterans with replacement limbs and treatments.

Plus, the focus on downvotes and banning fireworks outright is a strawman on their part. They just want their pretty lights and loud bangs, everyone else can go fuck themselves.

Bought the “wrong” pet? That’s on you.

Autism? Shut up and wear your headphones.

Worried about the welfare of wild animals? I won’t listen until you become a vegan.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

Oh I agree, there's steps to take. That's why I don't think they should be banned. As I said, it's the unpredictability. You can't ask a person with special needs to wear just-in-case ear defenders 24/7 for 5 weeks, but one or two evenings is reasonable.

As for PTSD as a whole, I can maybe explain. PTSD results in a symptom called hypervigiliance, where you're basically hardwired to every change and/or threat. You do not have to have trauma involving a loud noise to be freaked out by loud noises. Hypervigiliance means that pretty much any sudden change, including movement and loud noises, will be interpreted as a threat. I was once set off by my husband forgetting his phone was on full volume and it unexpectedly blasting a Duolingo sentence at us. Pretty much everyone with PTSD will run the risk of being freaked out by sudden explosions.

And while on the subject of war, there are many people living in the UK who grew up in warzones or fled them, or work in them in some capacity (such as humanitarian aid, journalists, etc). So even if loud noises was a war-only speciality, there's still a lot of exposure there outside of being a veteran.

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Nit_not@reddit

I mean, they are hardly subtle when they go off. If it was actually illegal then police wouldn't struggle to locate the crime.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

No. Some people don't like them. Ok, that's annoying for them. But that's not a reason for banning something.

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sjlefeaver@reddit

The most ignorant response I've read. Definitely not just because 'some people don't like them'.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

Judging by reddit, that's the overwhelming reason. They're annoying and upsetting for some people. Ok, that's unfortunate. But lots of things are annoying and upsetting. It doesn't mean we should ban them.

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

He's not talking about banning them. He's talking about banning the public sale of them so we don't have to listen to them for weeks on end.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

I know. I read the question.

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

It's not complicated!

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Cool I get it

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SissyWannabeWales@reddit

Yes. My dog is shaking, his heart is pounding and has wedged himself under the reclining part of my sofa.

It’s got springs and moving parts .. lifting the whole sofa uo is risky as the sections have give in them.

I hate it. My poor sensitive lovey dog is suffering. And suffers for days and days.

It drags on so much and it’s in every direction. Fizzing crackling booming repeating.

Every bang upsets him. It feels like a war zone. I hate it.

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NoisyGog@reddit

It feels like a war zone.

Yep, you’re probably going through the exact same thing as the folk in the Gaza Strip, or Ukraine.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

They probably meant it sounds like a war zone, and they are right in saying that. If you are using fireworks yourself, you would be oblivious to the effects it is having on others.

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NoisyGog@reddit

They probably meant it sounds like a war zone, and they are right in saying that.

No, they’re not. That’s fucking insane.

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sjlefeaver@reddit

So why do ex military with PTSD suffer with fireworks going off? 🥴

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Able-Brother-7953@reddit

Ex military here, some of these fireworks sound like gunfire, others sound like mortars going off, so yes, they are right, it can sound like a war zone.

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SissyWannabeWales@reddit

Well obviously not.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

I can't remember the exact details now, as I'm not currently a dog owner and when I was, he didn't care about fireworks.

But there's something I've seen from dog owners/trainers that if the owner panics and worries, the dog will be scared too. Can't remember exactly what you're supposed to do, but I think it's along the lines of basically not caring, acting as normal, trying to play with them, being happy, "who's a good doggo! Want to go for a walkie!" etc.

I've known of people who's dog went from being scared shitless of fireworks, to being able to go on a walk while they were going off.

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healingwhispersasmr@reddit

Doesn't work for all dogs.

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SissyWannabeWales@reddit

Thank you. Yes I am, just had food, watching YouTube. But I am deeply sad that’s all xx thanks

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

I feel so sorry for your dog. Give him a pet from me

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SissyWannabeWales@reddit

Thank you.. his name is Stubbs. And I’ll pay him when I can fish him out from under the sofa. I’m worried he’s gonna really hurt himself there.

But I can’t move it, or drag him out. I’ll leave him for now.. fingers crossed

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Please tell Stubbs I love him and he's such a good brave boy

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SissyWannabeWales@reddit

Thank you .. you’re a treasure. And made me smile X

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SSBVegetaSama24@reddit

Miserable sack of shit, cause a minority of people are upset because loud noises and bangs scare you, instantly run to a government and want them banning UK is one miserable broken country your downfall is coming quicker than expected

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Turning it political hey.

It's the youth that have lost the UK not us older guys.

Maybe look at them. They have a lot to answer to.

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TSC-99@reddit

Yes apart from organised displays.

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OccidentalTouriste@reddit

Just lower the legal decibel limit. I'm sure nobody is complaining about the visual effects.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

It's the damn noise.. they are going off right now in my area and it sounds like nothing short of an artillery barrage

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unlokia@reddit

It’s once a year. So what.

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adymann@reddit

No it not unfortunately, all the other religions do their own thing once a year with fireworks. newyears eve and most of oct/Nov seem to be a banging/flashing time.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

Even that's too much.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

I was just thinking to myself - I'm sure "home" fireworks have got bigger since I was a kid in the 90s.

I don't remember commercial-grade displays being launched from anyone's garden.

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Key_Milk_9222@reddit

Definitely this.

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denisutu4@reddit

I would like to have just a singular night of sleep, it's either a loud ass 10 pm football game or constant fireworks for a random holiday from one of the 900000 random cultures and ethnicities living in the UK.

I might also be biased since I'm Romanian and we literally only ever shot fireworks on December 1st and new years (with the country slowly banning fireworks on new years and just replacing it with light and drone shows) which why can't the UK? don't tell me it's expensive, Romania's not exactly known for it's rock solid economy,

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unlokia@reddit

“Random cultures”

Just about sums up the pig ignorance the British have always had to cultures OUTSIDE their tiny little postage stamp island. I’m British and you embarrass me.

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denisutu4@reddit

what so you want me to list off every culture ever? good for you that you have the time but clearly not the patience to get through the rest of my post to see that I'm NOT british... seems a lot more embarrassing in my opinion.

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Dimac99@reddit

I'm all for banning public sale. It's like artillery out there, and I live in a "nice" area on the edge of the suburbs. At least, the loud stuff needs to be banned. There's absolutely no need for it. And I pity anyone trying to get a toddler or small child to sleep with this racket that will go on for another 3 or 4 hours yet.

The wildlife, never mind the pets and the farm animals must be terrified. For a country that supposedly loves animals, many people seem extremely unconcerned by their suffering.

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SSBVegetaSama24@reddit

Stfu you peasant bet you get disability payments

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jo_evo24@reddit

How old are you?

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Ramadeus88@reddit

I’m ok preventing the general public getting their hands on them.

Sure, it might be a percentage of bad actors who misuse them, but for as long as you can readily and easily purchase them over the counter even a small percentage of people can misused them.

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unlokia@reddit

“Bad actors”?

Talk like a normal person. Sheesh

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Ramadeus88@reddit

Bad actors is a pretty normal phrase that’s frequently used in normal conversation, the general media, literature and pretty much … everywhere?

It’s a term that’s been in use since the 1800s and is still a part of common language unless you’ve lived under a rock.

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ooh_bit_of_bush@reddit

Why? Because they're too fun?

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Large displays are fun I agree.

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rev-fr-john@reddit

And these days most people have a large display in their gardens because they're fun.

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LateFlorey@reddit

I don’t even want them banned, but just the times they can be let off, I’d happy with.

Allowing them to go off until 1am for Diwali, for example, is just bonkers! Especially if it falls on a week night.

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HeftyRelative7600@reddit

Nah I'm in my mid 40s and still love not only the organised displays but also the randomness of people letting them off in their gardens and on the streets.

Honestly, I think pet owners are getting a bit hysterical, people have been letting off fireworks for literally 100s of years and its not like the streets are littered with dead animals.

Ok, so your pets are afraid for a few days.. life goes on and they'll survive..

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unlokia@reddit

Pansy Britain. That’s what we have now. I agree with you.

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unlokia@reddit

Enjoy:

https://youtu.be/M03esB_HBzM?si=SsqEoiK4qisZiu2T

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aezy01@reddit

No. It’s time for people to be less wet.

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unlokia@reddit

Exactomondo. Modern Britain are a bunch of limp crybabies

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

Wanting peace isn’t being wet.

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aezy01@reddit

You have peace, last time I checked we aren’t at war.

Sometimes there are loud noises we don’t like, but because we live in a society where people want to enjoy the flashes and bangs, we tolerate them.

I’m not saying there shouldn’t be restrictions on them, but banning them apart from big organised displays seems a step too far.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

Peace isn’t just the absence of war. Step too far in what direction, towards a quieter, safer environment? That sounds like healthy progress to me. You’re right that people enjoy fireworks, but there’s room for compromise, so we can limit them to organised venues, or stop selling the loud ones to the public. That alone would make a real difference in reducing the disturbances.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

Fireworks are not harmless fun, actually they’re explosives that shatter peace and mimic the sound of war. If I find it intolerable as an adult, imagine the panic they cause to animals and children. Fireworks serve no essential purpose. Cars and motorbikes make noise too, but they move people and goods so they matter. Fireworks don’t. It’s noise for the sake of noise, and it’s long past time we questioned why that’s acceptable.

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unlokia@reddit

😂😂

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Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit

Fuck no. What’s next on your list?

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unlokia@reddit

This sappy soppy wet flannel country. What a bunch. I’d HAPPILY ban the great unwashed from being able to send data TO the internet, so their “opinions” fell silent; a read-only internet for the public would be amazing.

I agree, no banning.

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unlokia@reddit

🤣🤣🤣

ER, NOOOOO.

Gosh people are pansies these days.

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GetItUpYee@reddit

Yeah I'm game. Outwith planned and properly actioned firework displays which im fine with, they are 90% used in an antisocial manner.

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Aliman581@reddit

Planned and properly actioned firework displays are outrageously expensive and most people don't even use fireworks they just watch their neighbours shooting them off for free.

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GetItUpYee@reddit

Yeah they are expensive..but they take place every year across the country.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

I agree

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Gold_Addage@reddit

I think they should be restricted to licenced events.

Even then I am leaning to ban, fireworks play havoc on animals

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patchworkcat12@reddit

If you feel more control of fireworks is needed sign the petition to control it,I have

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drunkpostin@reddit

No, obviously not. Ffs, people in this country are obsessed with banning everything that even slightly annoys them.

Fun is already policed to high hell and back in this country, just let people have this.

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RecentTwo544@reddit

50/50 for me.

I love fireworks, but only really the kind when licencing and lots of paperwork are required, and they're all sycned up to a DMX system so you can fire them in time with music, etc.

I can take or leave "home" fireworks, and if banned, would anyone really miss them?

That said, I'm not a fan of just banning things for the sake of it, and the only two groups who seem to be cited in regards to a ban are dog owners and war veterans.

You can train your dog to not be scared of them, most dogs get scared because they initially think "wtf was that?" then the owner ingrains that fear in them by also panicking.

War veterans. I don't want to sound rude or nasty, but lets just say conscription hasn't been a thing since WW2.

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healingwhispersasmr@reddit

Veterans aren't the only people with PTSD, I think that's important to point out. And non veterans with PTSD can find loud noises terrifying too.

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sup9817@reddit

Yes especially after seeing the video of idiots shooting them at fire fighters

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microMan312@reddit

It should only be sold for events, it should be banned for the general public to just go and purchase. They go on for many weeks and very late at night. And the fact there's youths who are going on the street aiming them at people and cars

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NoisyGog@reddit

I’ve just been for a walk to the shop to get Mike and things.
There’s five fireworks displays going on, within a two mile radius. I live near a large body of water so I can see and hear them all clearly. The beast is less than a quarter of a mile away. I saw about a dozen people walking their dogs with no problem. Another couple had stopped to watch the fireworks with their dog, who didn’t seem phased.
When I got home, my cat is on his cat-tree in the window, watching the fireworks in the sky, again seemingly un-bothered, but fascinated.

Do you think maybe people are exaggerating the negative effects of these things?
I know my experience in general, and particularly this evening, is hardly extensive enough to draw conclusions from, but… yeah.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

You’ve just described one evening in one area, and that’s not proof the issue’s exaggerated. Some animals and kids cope fine, others don’t, and you can’t see that from your walk.

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NoisyGog@reddit

I stated that. Try reading.

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Responsible-Poem-473@reddit

I live in Salford and there are multiple groups of people are setting them off in carparks, where the sound is bouncing off the buildings. This is the first night so far, but it's been like this for weeks now. So it might be fine where you're out in the countryside on your dog walk (or at least an open space), but in an urban environment, it's deeply unpleasant.

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NoisyGog@reddit

The buildings also block a lot of the sound.

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Responsible-Poem-473@reddit

*Worst

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Sea-Hour-6063@reddit

No, this same question comes up every year. Fireworks are great. Just shut the dogs away for a few hours. Want people to know more about guy fawkes? Post something informative not a whiney ban fireworks post.

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LJA0611@reddit

No

But also it’s a pity that a lot of public displays have fallen victim to council spending cuts.

Probably means more people buying their own. Plus it’s just a shame not to have these large community events.

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Spottyjamie@reddit

Banning will make dodgy ones sell well

Tightening up current rules would be nice but political suicide for any party who implemented it

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dark_day_photography@reddit

My puppy is currently being traumatised by a neighbours loud fireworks. I’m all for a ban of fireworks to the public and organised events should have a restriction on noise level or preferably use silent fireworks only.

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NothingHealthy7920@reddit

It's about time that fireworks are banned for public use in England.. Ireland has already done it. The greater good is more important over people's desire for short term entertainment. It should be a criminal offence to set them off, however, I am not against a fireworks licence.

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JerkyOnassis@reddit

I don’t think I know the story of Guy Failed tbh.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

To be fair he very much did fail.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Haha edited. He did fail though so spell checker was part correct.

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

Agree. I've never really understood why people are that bothered about them, tbh.

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

Because they're fun to watch. It's not that complicated.

Also, personally, because I just now discovered that my toddler absolutely loves them and it was incredibly heart warming watching the look on his face as he saw them.

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

Do you have pets?

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

Yes, a dog.

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

And how does the dog react to fireworks?

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Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit

He's a dog, he doesn't like them. But that is no reason to ban them.

Imo, we're far too quick to demand things we don't like are banned in this country. Living in a society means putting up with things we dislike but just getting on with it because we accept this lots of other people like them.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

That's fair enough. Great reply.

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Questjon@reddit

Because I get up at 3am for work and don't want fireworks every night randomly for 2 months.

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Purple-Process3038@reddit

It causes mayhem for wildlife, harms and scares pets, leaves card rubbish, and severely injures people every year. Should be able to apply for an official fireworks permit to host a larger show in parks, fields etc.

Ridiculous that so many people think its just personal issues and not countless pieces of evidence that they’re outdated entertainment.

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Exotic_Bug3885@reddit

No way.

By all means increase awareness of the dangers. Have more active social media campaigns from police forces, have targeted school assemblies, have higher fines for those who abuse use them, and ramp up police patrols in the weeks leading up to Guy Fawkes night.

But we can't just go round mindlessly banning everything left, right and centre, as seems to be the trend nowadays.

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seeyoujim@reddit

Banning ? No.

Making legislation so that only responsible people/those that have a job requiring them can buy them .

There are Mandy organise fireworks displays- those working on them would be viewed as responsible.

No-one needs to set fireworks off in their gardens all sodding ear long for any tiny reason

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Plus-Desk-737@reddit

I think that's a good compromise.

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UltraCat-a@reddit

No. We've had fireworks for hundreds of years.

Whilst I agree their use has expanded with Diwali, Halloween and Bonfire Night, and no doubt we will also have New Years fireworks, I think there should be a limit to the powers of the Fun Police.

There should undoubtedly be better enforcement of where fireworks may be set off.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Yes that's cool. Great reply.

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QueefInMyKisser@reddit

No, I have happy childhood memories of my dad setting off a few fireworks in our garden on bonfire night, and children today should have the chance to make the same sort of memories.

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TheHeroYouNeed247@reddit

No, buy some headphones and let people have fun.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)

Ok cool. How about only selling them 1 week before.

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