The eighth floor

[Lucinda]

There is an argument nowadays that sales of fireworks should be restricted to the days leading up to 5th November or even only sold to professionals for public displays.

This article has more information and people's views on it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/have_your_say/fireworks/

I post this because I was crossing a road next to King's Cross station in London yesterday afternoon when someone chucked a lit firework out of a bus window which exploded right next to me and scared the s*** out of me. It's really not nice, and it could have hurt someone, and it is very insensitive and stupid to explode a firework next to a railway and Tube station. It could also have hit another vehicle and damaged it or caused a road accident by surprising the drivers.

Do you think that there should be more done to prevent young people from getting hold of fireworks, or to prevent members of the public from getting hold of fireworks, or do you think it is all more health and safety rubbish and people should be able to hold displays at their own risk?

[jembie]

Firework sales to the public should be outlawed completely in my opinion!!

I think that to put on a firework display you should have to apply for a licence and then you have to use your licence to buy the fireworks you need.

For years there have been horrific injuries to people of all ages. Pets that get scared as well as Pets that get injured. Old people that are terrorised with fireworks etc...

[stupid_sexy_flanders]

Fireworks have to be outlawed - something like 900 injuries in England alone last year, not including the noise polution. Agree with Jembie on the licence thing as well.

[Ross]

I have always thought they should keep them to public displays only as well there just dangrous otherwise

[DC]

they sell fireworks to people over the age of 18, but sadly even some over that age are still not grown up enough to handle them. then there are sensible people who will miss out if then get banned.

[Serin]

Definitely. Not only do they interfere with wildife, they're ****ing annoying.

[Lucinda]

Well since having a lit one lobbed at me, I am even more in favour of banning them for the public and only selling them at certain times of year on licence.

[Mike]

i know for a fact that an 18 year old and his 15 year old mates were throwing fireworks at little kids for the last 2 nights

they should be banned completely, only for public displays

[callum]

it is a shame that people do that. As a lot of people are responsible with fireworks, perhaps the law should change to 21 year olds being aloud to purchase, or a supervised sale where another person is required to legitimise the sale, perhaos an older relitive who can say they will be responsibly used. although it a bit of fun at the end of the day, it is still dangerous

[Lucinda]

Most people's gardens aren't really big enough for fireworks anyway. I think people should be able to run their own displays as long as they plan it responsibly and fireworks should only be sold to those who have a licence from the local council to say that they will use them responsibly. Then these people should be held responsible if any of their fireworks get into the wrong hands and are let off irresponsibly eg. by being thrown at people.

There should definitely be more regulation of who is buying fireworks and where and when they are let off.

[John]

i know for a fact that an 18 year old and his 15 year old mates were throwing fireworks at little kids for the last 2 nights

That is a total disgrace. They should be locked up for that

[goldengirl]

I definitely think they should only be sold for professional displays! Too many people get hurt by not being careful!

My main reason for thinking they should only be sold for professional displays tho is that my dog is absolutely terrified of them! At this time of year she hardly goes out of the house and is scared witless for about 2 weeks while people are setting them off!