Call to ban fireworks

I read between the lines.
And I STILL didn’t find a fullstop.

I put in a solid month of crazy libertarian ranting and again someone comes out and takes away my crazy of the month title!

Just kidding johnny, I agree with you.

read between the lines people yes i ranted on and on as well i had alot to say as i was a little angeered by some of the anti fireworks.

What i was trying to get at with the massive rant up there is that, By taking away one civil liberty or one human right it leads to a link of other human rights and civil liberties being taken away from the people. An example of what i am talking about Now is not allowing it to be legal to walk down the street weilding a knife which i will admit is not a bad thing to have been stopped but because of this being stopped it is now illegal to walk down the street with a carpenters blade..which for those of you who dont no what that is its a thin blade covered in a plastic caseing that is generally used for opening carboard boxes and the like a tiny blade used to work with is now banned from public view in the streets..meaning that a simple contractor can actually be fined for carrying that “weapon” with them down the street now thats bullshit. how does this relate to fireworks u may ask, well u ban fireworks for there loud noise that scares animals, next is motorbikes, trucks, evensome cars then after that we might as well get rid of Lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners which also scare the cap outta most dogs.

What i was saying in the rant above is that by banning some simple human right that SOME believe to be stupid and nuisance will very likely lead to other much more needed human rights to be takn from us as well, it will never end as long as we prefer our tiny bit extra safety to our personal rights, Life is dangerous stop trying to turn life into something it is not. people will kill illegal or not people will drink drive illegal or not people will light fireworks illegal or not so why take away a right if it is going to be done anyway…its pointless to do so your just ruining everyone elses life by doing so.

I have never personally light up a firework..its illegal my uncle has when he was young and yes light his entire face up burnt badly and everything…doesnt stop me or my relatives from playing with crackers its just the way things are.
get over it. instead of making a law for everyone…how about limiting yourself speak for yourself not for the entire community a mior part want it banned the majority dont then deal with it, if it ever shifts then so be it but until then stop trying to mess with other peoples lives to make yours a tiny bit better. think of the big picture 🙂

Now look everyone, this is obviously an issue of great significance for all Melbournians … Johnno could lose his rights to explode firecrackers in Canberra, people!

; )

Just think about that for a second!!

I’m keen to know what being ‘orcastrated by the government’ involves. Sounds rather painful.

And my non canberrian but Aussie loving friend Johnno, I fully support your views. Every person should have the basic human right to kill and / or maim themselves in an explosive or otherwise humourous manner

Or even Electricty geez electricty kills load more people then fireworks do yet we continue to allow electricity into our homeswy not ban electricity?

Judging by the quality of your rant above it would be fair to say that you obviously don’t have electricity where you live.

and we love ourdays of.

God, johnno, don’t leave us hanging. Days of our Lives? Days of Thunder?

September has already been decided, they’ll just have to wait.

Ok now im not from Canberra im from Melbourne and as you all would be aware fireworks are banned from our state which really does suck.
Now to ban Fireworks cause they cause distress to animals or can be fatal is a completly stupid comment/idea. Cars kill alot more people then fireworks ever could why not Ban them? heck Dogs alone kill more people in one state then fireworks why not ban them? Or even Electricty geez electricty kills load more people then fireworks do yet we continue to allow electricity into our homeswy not ban electricity? you would say yer but these things have a better then well fireworks create entertainment to the masses with there glorious sky show and immense push of adrenaline releasing a great feeling inside of any person watching the show.
We get fireworks on soecial occasions all orcastrated by the government for functions such as christmas and festivals and such, which is great.
But as other people have pointed out its about civil liberties, i am sick and tired and people wanting a “bit of safety” and by getting it making everyone lose there human rights, if the fireworks scare you leave its just like a fist fight. u dont want to fight u walk away SIMPLE, as for those of youwith animals in the area you KNEW about the fireworks and the damage it does to the animals and yet u still went and either adopted or brought an animal and forced it to live in the area, theyanimal has the right idea it doesnt like the fireworks so it high tails it outa there, it doesnt start abusing others saying i dont like them stop your fun cause ur causing a tiny group discomfort, grow a Pair people.
Same thing has happend with Trial Bikes were i live 1-2 farmers who moved into a well known trial bike riding forest started to complain about motorbikes riding in the bush disrupting there peace and got them banned from major parts of the bush even though the bikes were there first, People need to grow up respect the HUMAN right to enjoy the little things that make them happy cause the way we are all going atm there is not going to be alot to be happy about because of all the people running scared and giving away all our human rights. I for one dont wanna lose my rights i think iv lost enough as it is and each day i forever lose more and more one of the reason why the government believe that us as Australians do not need a bill of rights is because once it is creatd they are unable to easily take away our rights, which means they cannot control us anymore.
Are you aware that some disasters and social mishaps are created by small parts of the goernment here and overseas? to scare us into a false security of our government i bet you didntno that did you? because our freedom of information act is squashed with so much misinformation that no one bothers to read past all the crap to the real problems.

In closing people need to grow up and exceept that fireworks will be let of on this weekend and probably others whether fireworks are banned or not, just like drink driving people still do it even though its illegal.
Australia if you dont love it as it is…LEAVE IT…dont try and change it to suit you…if it doesnt suit you leave it now cause us Austrlian Loving people are sick and tired of the Fake aussies trying to change our way of life. we love our barbeques we love our back yard fires we love our drinks and we love our fireworks we love our fast paced gas guzzlers and we love our sports we love being bogans and we love ourdays of. if u dont agree go away ur not wanted and never will be true aussies will never stop living the life there meant to live.

Your non canberrian but Aussie loving friend
Johnno

Construction work, aiplanes and tractors have a purpose – fireworks don’t. Therein lies the difference.

Other then entertainment of course. I am unsure of the reason that most people in the city have DVD players, stereos, goldfish, etc, but I’m sure that any comparison of the relative benefits gained will be fun to watch.

Construction work, aiplanes and tractors have a purpose – fireworks don’t. Therein lies the difference.

Nah, Mess has enough common sense not to whinge endlessly about something as unimportant as noise.

Mess is the one wearing two very large plastic hearing aids.

p1 – i totally agree!!

In regards to fireworks… AGAIN ONE WEEKEND. I dont complain about the constant noise coming from my neighbours motorbike, or them building all hours of the day. Dont complain about the construction next to my work – so if we wanna ban fireworks.. i guess most of those thing will need to be banned too. My dog hates the guy living behind us with his bike – all she does is bark at him, yet at the fireworks she was sounds asleep.

I’m sick of having things baned coz someone cant handle the noise – leave fireworks alone, bring back the noisy amusement parks, and bring back the dragway. Stuff Tralee and the airplane path – noise is noise… dont like it.. move away from it. If you cant handle these basic noises you should be living out in the countryside. But then you;d probably complain about the cows mooing.. or the revs of a tractor.

Traditionally, cracker/bonfire/blow-stuff-up night was set for Nov 5, Guy Fawkes Night; whats the idea of making it in June, have it on a night when it is too cold to enjoy it?

I suspect that it may well have something to do with risks of bushfires and the like. Plus, in winter you don’t have to keep the kids up till 9 o’clock so you can actually see the pretty flashing lights. and in november its warm so…

…no point having a bonfire in late spring…

There is nothing wrong in my mind with having traditions here that are different then those of the older nations of the world, even when they have similarities and shared origins. It is a shame when traditions die for no other reason then wankers and their wish for a safe world.

Can you imagine them cancelling the running of the bulls, or the big cheese wheel-chasing thing, or the , Sydney to Hobart, because they are dangerous?

i still celebrate the burning of the guy.

today is actually quite a significant day in history, when an evil monarch had his forces totally destroyed by a democratic force – and saved england (and by extension, us) from the jackboot of a religious theocracy.

I vaguely remember that the tradition in NSW, once upon a time, before the Catrionas of the world inherited that particular domicile, was that Queen’s birthday weekend was the cracker night down here. Largely ’cause, well, there’s no point having a bonfire in late spring in Australia…

Quite an intelligent reversal of the seasonal requirements, really.

i knew they would ban crackers, so a few years ago i bought shitloads. still have quite a stash.

im sure they will ban fireworks soon, so each year i buy a few more to add to my stash – and enjoy exploding a few legally.

Bogans and troglodytes spiflicated by incendiary devices is natural selection at work.

Coming form a State (QLD) that has long since banned firworks, I am a little intrigued by the whole affair. Traditionally, cracker/bonfire/blow-stuff-up night was set for Nov 5, Guy Fawkes Night; whats the idea of making it in June, have it on a night when it is too cold to enjoy it?

Put it on the list behind pornography and prostitution FC. They are more likely candidates for banning than fireworks.

I don’t really think this debate matters much as any money fireworks will be banned by next year anyways.

As a kid I loved fireworks. But my parents were always about and we were taught that only adults handled them, the kids only got the sparklers.
Standing out in the cold all rugged up, with the family, THE FAMILY PETS and a hot cup of chicken soup, watching things explode in the air and trying to catch the parachute ones as they came down was always great fun.

Now, as a mid-twenties, independent individual with my own pets, I discovered that my animals (especially dogs/pups) are much like children.
The people I know, who have pets that go nuts thunderstorms and fireworks have generally “played by the rules”. Making a fuss, locking them up etc.
My dogs (of very different breeds) have always been treated like kids. Involved in almost everything I do, cuddled and given treats.
They learned that I was not afraid and as a result, now when I have friends around and set off fireworks, they simply sit at my side and watch with everyone else.

I really don’t think that the fireworks issue is the fireworks.

People need to take responsibility for their pets, parents need to parent and anyone caught letting things off after designated hours should be banned from buying them for life.

To ban fireworks as a whole opens a whole new world for totally illegal black market stuff, which will be a hell of a lot harder to police.

That’s my two cents.

Blingbling, you do need a permit to purchase, posess and discharge fireworks. You get it from the same bloke that sells you the fireworks. It is a condition of the permit that the fireworks be discharged only at the address shown on the permit, that address must be the address of the purchaser.

That said, I wonder what Canberra’s appartment dwellers would do?

The gale force winds on Friday and Saturday didnt stop anyone… so a bit of rain wont really stop the obsessed bogans either!

Pandy – 2 years ago in fact….

Do what they did a decade or so back and allow them another night the following weekend.

The problem with that is, if it happens to rain on that Monday night, then people with fireworks have done their dough. Which is not a good way to make people happy.

Bonfire you really are a fat bastard. Raping pets!!!

I suggest that fire works be only allowed to be set off one day- say Monday. And that they be not sold till that morning. That way , I will not have to worry about the fireworks going off days before the weekend (Bonfire you twit); less sales by school chumps to their NSW bogan cousins. Also increase fines for the illegal use of fireworks to $10,000.

As Barr said, we told you to behave 2 years ago and you abused our trust.

“It’s never dark around Catriona since clearly the sun shines out of her arse.”

Better than having my head up it.

Ingeegoodbee I dont see how letting off your fireworks in your front/back yards and in the middle of busy roads and throwing them into other people’s yards at all hours of the day is being responsible – scaring the crap out of your neighbours and all pets in the area – its just ridiculous.

I dont really have a problem with people using fireworks – I just think people are obsessed and should learn how to use them responsibly – and like I said every man and his dog were using them.

I didnt actually buy any fireworks. A friend brought some small ones to a bbq and we thought the most responible thing to do was to go to an open area so as not to unesscesarily disturb other people and pets. We then also cleaned up our mess – unlike so many other people. Go for a walk and see just how much cracker rubbish you see around – not just on ovals but on footpaths and people’s front lawns. I have been told that over the long weekend you do not actually need a permit for fireworks (you just show your license to prove you are not underage). Apparently you only require a permit for evey other time in the year. Which might partially explain why so may idiots have been letting them off – I am sure not that many people would bother getting a permit.

I’m not for banning fireworks, but some of the ones I had this year were definitely bigger than I needed, and letting them off in the backyard you kind of lose the effect of those massive ones anyway. Further restrictions on how powerful fireworks can be would be a good thing, although I have no idea how feasible an idea that would be.

Blingbling, I’m guessing the backyard/frontyard thing is simply law abiding citizens complying with their fireworks permits – which require them to only be discharged at a residential address. Setting them off at the school oval would be breaking the law, making you part of the apparent minority of people who can’t be relied upon to enjoy fireworks responsibly.

I guess the designated fireworks zone proposed in the Canberra Crimes was the brainwave of the same bureaucrats that came up with concentrating drunks in town centres late at night because it would reduce problems associated with alcohol abuse, who knows.

“Arguing with people on the internet is like running in the special Olympics…..”

Yes – even if you win – you are still retarded…..

Funnily enough – I agree with ole bonny bonfire – pets escape 365 days a year… The RSPCA (who I may add i respect and support and have done volunteer work for) just bleet every fireworks season as if no pets go missing – or worse are dumped in the AH kennels – at any other time of the year.

Its all a bashup.

And to those saying that the so called fireworks where shaking their houses – they were probably IED’s – get an engineers report to ensure your house is habitable if your so worried – if not – dont… Easy…

I have never ever seen a cracker weekend as bad as the one just past. Absolutely everyone in my area and my parent’s area went beserk with fireworks. I have never seen anything like it. They are not cheap to buy – how on earth do people afford this? An odd one let off here is there I have no problem with – but it was just never ending! and it probably wont end for a while yet with people having lots left over I am sure.

If people dedicated this much time and money to a better cause the world would certainly be a much better place

I do also have pets and hate to see them distressed during the fireworks weekend. However that is not the only reason I dislike the overuse of fireworks.

I have felt like I have been sitting in the middle of a battlefield all weekend. Every man and his dog were letting them off im my area during the DAY (10 am in fact) and all hours of the night. It was like a huge competition. I am sure most of the ones let off around me were not legal – they were so loud that the house would shake and would scare the crap out of me – let alone the poor pets in the area.

Of course I enjoy a good fireworks display – heck I even lit a few off myself for the first time ever – but down on a school oval and I picked up my mess afterwards. My neighbours let them off in their back and front yards and in the middle of busy roads! Its just ridiculous how everyone is so obsessed with things that go bang. Apparently people have so much money to spend on this crap and yet do not have the time to go pick up all their cracker rubbish up from all over the place.

I really think that either they should be banned altogether or a designated letting off firework area should be made available and that there is a higher policing of what is happening in suburban areas.

if you keep raping your dog, no wonder its in distress.

think ill complain to the rspca

I guess I’m bored p1. I miss the days of Crazy Chester or Big Al taking the piss out of vg.

“Arguing with people on the internet is like running in the special Olympics…..”

So pointing out that the animals distress is real and not just a bit of barking makes me an idiot? Hey, I’m not the one that’s suggesting banning pets!

the difficulty in arguing with an idiot (you) is that you drag me down to your level, then beat me with experience.

That’s your best then is it? Completely run out of pathetic arguments or useless opinions?

i think your pet is probably a rape victim.

You’re right Bonfire, my analogy misses the mark. Rape victims are, in part, responsible for what has happened to them. Dogs on the other hand are simply victims of their circumstances.

a neurotic pet is not a rape victim.

what a typically ridiculous overegging of a weak argument.

every cracker night the rspca whines about dogs being brought in – heres a newsflash – dogs escape 365 days a year!

they way they bang on youd expect that for 51 weekends a year the rspca have nothing to do except tend to their battery hens, until this one weekend a year when the evil fireworks make geographically aware dogs go nuts and run away.

The odd dog barking at fireworks is not the issue as some idiots suggest. In some dogs the noise of fireworks trigger a genuine and unrelenting panic. The dog’s anxiety response could be as ‘harmless’ as involuntarily evacuating itself, or it could lead to more serious injury – say where a dog confined to the laundry repeated rams the door in an increasing desperate attempt to escape.

To argue that this is just something that pet owners need to manage is akin to saying that a distressed rape victim is just being precious about having their personal space intruded upon.

If you own a pet, you should be responsible enough to know how to calm your pets down when such noises occur. If this means sedation, then sedation it is. Frankly, my dog really doesn’t care about fireworks. She’s got a very ‘Whatever’ attitude to it all.

Catriona if you have a dog, I have some news for you: Dogs bark at noises. Fireworks make noises. Thats why dogs bark at them. Thats just what dogs do. If your dog is scared of fireworks: bring them inside or go and and sit with them for a bit.

If you don’t like the noise of firecrackers ONE weekend a year, then maybe Canberra isn’t the place for you. Don’t say that ‘you shouldn’t have to give up your home and memories blah blah…’ because if you still want to live here, you’d get over it.

You’ve got it wrong, kramer.

It’s never dark around Catriona since clearly the sun shines out of her arse.

Catriona – you must be able see in the dark, as you appear to be very fond of carats…

Danman, I really don’t give a flying fark about local radio, it’s all shite as far as I’m concerned. If you like it, good for you, but I’m also allowed to have an opinion.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“responsible pet owners should keep their animals locked inside or under conditions where they cant escape.”
Sometimes that isn’t possible though.
I kept my dog inside over the weekend, however that isn’t always possible, and when you work long hours (as I do) it is also cruel to the dog to be confined to a small laundry or similar.
I think about 150 dogs where reported missing over the weekend – a normally secure backyard may be there – but animals will find a way when they are shit scared –
I had to take a couple of dogs to the RSPCA over the weekend as the ran accross main roads and one I almost hit. It was shaking and wimpering and it was quite upsetting.
I am sure that the majority of people just enjoy a but of sensible fun with fireworks – but I just don’t understand how having a bit of fun justifies scaring (dare I say traumatising) so many animals.

What’s with all the damn ^’s? Quit it already!

I heard on the radio last week some vet talking about dogs and fireworks – apparently it’s an anxiety thing caused by a chemical imbalance and is easily fixed with a pill (I guess its not so weird that human medicine and animal medicine would be similar). Our Lab isn’t fussed at all – maybe it’s the hunting dog genes, who knows.

We enjoyed fireworks on Sunday night and enjoyed our neighbours fireworks on Saturday and Monday nights too. We also lodged a complaint on Saturday night when some idiot let theirs off around mid-night … some people just don’t get it.

why do peopel want to ban others enjoyment ?

i note one blow in whinger hoping someone suffers serious injuries, just so fireworks will be ‘banned’.

what a petty small minded wowser.

responsible pet owners shoudl keep their animals locked inside or under conditions where they cant escape.

their cats shoudl be insde at night in any case, as we all know they roam suburbs killing native wildlife 365 days a year – but thats OK catowners reckon.

and i think dogshit on the footpaths from irresponsible owners 365 days a year is more inconvenient than 3 or 4 days of crackers going off.

ban pets i say. more little kiddies have their faces ripped off by dogs than by crackers.

Fireworks are bogan. Same as flannies and Winnie Blues and VB and canned bourbon and coke and the Kambah Tavern and stupid utes with stupid stickers and boofhead bleating radio stations and Springer and A Current Affair and Today Tonight and the Telegraph and muffin tops and ridiculously inappropriate dogs for the burbs and a Camira on blocks in the front yard.

Ban the lot of them on aesthetic grounds. But ban fireworks first, because they needlessly frighten and harm animals. I read once that we are like gods to our domestic animals – we owe them care and protection.

Despite the whingeing, sanctimony and condescension from a few anti-fireworks zealots, they undermine their own point when they talk about how widespread the use of fireworks is.

Surely the fact that so many people actually set off fireworks at the weekend is a better guide to true community attitudes on this matter.

The Not-So-Silent Majority, perhaps?

^ Well that’s not surprising given the kind of people who would listen to a crapola station like 106.3!!

I daresay the demographic of listeners of 106.3 would be the plus 25 year old non redneck crowd – a bit of GenX and a lot of baby boomers…

Catriona – your comments and assumptions totally negate your argument.

106.3 is not 2CC as it is on the FM dial – as far as I know 2CC is 1206AM – and 100% talk back – 106.3 is a great station – and I am a Government employed 29 year old who still likes death metal and blues and jazz and 80’s music and folk music – though I do drive a ford falcon – so perhaps on some peoples rationale I am a reneck.

So be it – strangers opinions of me or what I like do me no harm – especially when I know myself better than a stranger does.

PS whats with the ^^^^ is it so hard to say “Danman” or “In reference to the post above” – it just makes you look lazy – and negates the point of your post even more (for me of course – I can not speak for the majority)

I don’t think any radio station could give an accurate picture of the local community’s sentiments. And I hate 2CC by the way, it’s even more crapola than 106.3.

And I’m so overjoyed that the kiddies liked the fireworks, makes the dead and distruaght animals all worth it as long as the kiddies are happy!

I am only for banning fireworks because I like ruining the majority’s fun. I quite like them otherwise, am not fascinated with them though. Fires are cool however…

So popular opinion should be derived from those who listen to redneck radio 2CC perhaps?

The show of fireworks from multiple sites on Gungahlin Ponds on Sunday night was unbelievable – there were about 4 separate efforts all going at once – a community skyfire. And it was all over by about 8 – and the kiddies would have loved every second of it.

^ Well that’s not surprising given the kind of people who would listen to a crapola station like 106.3!!

106.3 Radio station have an ongoing poll – the results as of this morning 39% in favour of banning 61% against banning.

Stupid git. It is the fireworks going off after hours like 11:45pm last night as I was asleep that is also of a worry.

A significant minority will ensure the banning of fireworks.

Catriona – hopefully someone will die soon, or have their face blown off and then maybe they’ll be banned. No one seems to care if an animal dies, but the minute a human dies (especially a kiddy) everyone’s up in arms and asking “why didn’t someone do something???”

By that rationale – 11 people died in a train crash last weekend – lets ban trains – people die in road crashes too – lets ban roads and crashes – in fact 9 people just died in wild weather – while we are here – lets ban weather as well.

I have a 6 year old dog and a 14 week old dog – I also had friends over on Satdee night – and we incinerated about 100 dollars worth of fireworks between us.

My dogs where inside (they had access outside via rear dog door) and I was checking them regularly – giving them treats and lots of love – that way they associate loud noises with comforting times.

I was scared of thunder when I was a child – but with rationalisation, exposure and comfort from my parents I got used to it – heck to the point of now loving it.

My dogs are more scared of thunderstorms than fireworks – but I am workin on it.

And to those people who lost pets because of fireworks weekend – I am sincerely sorry for you – but it snot like this weekend jumped out of the blue – maybe being a little prepared would be better next year.

We has 3 nights of fireworks inm a row and our dogs were fine.

DuffyMum – No in-slab heating, but insulated, and I think we keep our local Vinnie’s alive with our purchases of pet blankets. And it’s on our deck. This ok? 🙂

Don’t worry, your taxes are helping DuffyBreeder to live their lifestyle, and project their ignorant attitudes onto everyone else.

FFS DuffyMum, you may think I like to whinge but you sure like to see things in a very simplistic light, don’t you? Telling someone to move from their home which they have lived in for 12 years because of fireworks is just plain stupid. As if I’m going to give up my house and the memories in it because of that, it’s just admitting defeat. I’m not going to let bogans with fireworks push me out of my house and into Weston Creek thankyou very much.

“LOL, yes I’ll just pack my bags and move down to Weston Creek, because it really is that easy!”

I never said it was necessarily easy, heck no move is a piece of cake. BUT if the area you live in is so bad why stay there?

Catriona I think you just like to whinge ….

“FYI cracker supporters, funnily enough, pets CAN still hear it indoors!”

I never said that they couldn’t, but it is obvious with my dogs that by being inside the noise is lessened, and being with us they are reassured that the noises are not so frightening. I see the difference big time between when my dogs are outside and when they are inside.

“I choose not to have my large dog inside because it would mean having to try and stop his attempts to dig through the carpet or bust through the windows so that he can bark ’til he keels over.”

Bark Busters have a very effective program that teaches dogs how to cope with fireworks. We did this with our first dog and he is terrific around them (he will sit at the back door and watch them without fear). Sadly our younger dog wasn’t as receptive but that was because she was a badly abused pup (that we rescued) and no amount of training will cure the effects of that. But she will tolerate fireworks fine as long as we are nearby and she is inside.

“I am a responsible pet owner, he has a nice warm kennel to sleep in, sadly, he is too frightened this weekend.”

A nice warm kennel to sleep in here in Canberra in winter? In slab heating? 🙂

The problem with fireworks is that those who use them the most are yobbos who cannot be trusted to use them responsibly.

I’d prefer to have public displays with really good fireworks than crappy backyard ones. I think cracker night at home has well and truly had its day.

futto, would ‘personal liberties’ include me being able to seek some sort of compensation from, or revenge on, those who have shortened the life of my dog by using fireworks?

And drugging the animals is definitely the best way to go. They are crazed by the noises and the danger they perceive, drugging them dulls this.

I hate people whose ‘fun’ makes the lives of others a misery.

Trail bikes, Fireworks, Dragway….

I had lots of cracker nights. I’m in NSW, and pretty high (I look down on Telecom Tower) and for the past few nights, I’ve had crackers in all directions! So much for their big scary ban on crackers.

Which also shows how useless it is to have laws limiting the use of crackers in the ACT.
Ban them. They’re nasty, stupid little boys use them to frighten/injure other people/animals.

Hold more official cracker displays where you get to see decent crackers.

For all those considering banning another thing you don’t agree with, consider the last time you heard of any government granting you more freedom.

Restrictions on what you can take on a plane, how many years you have to have a P plate, removal of “unsafe” kids playground equipment. God, you used to be able to take your family up on the grass of parliament to watch a sunrise.

I’m not trying to scare monger, but what would be the point where YOU would say, LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ME THINK AND ACT FOR MYSELF.

It might not be for fireworks…but what about smacking your own child or even owning a cat (as they COULD go feral and kill billbies or some other native animal).

Support personal liberties or they will be gone, and you don’t get them back.

Ban the bloody things. Maybe somebody can explain why the pro’s of standing around and watching something go ‘bang’ outweigh the absolute torture that it must be for every cat and dog within earshot?

FYI cracker supporters, funnily enough, pets CAN still hear it indoors! I choose not to have my large dog inside because it would mean having to try and stop his attempts to dig through the carpet or bust through the windows so that he can bark ’til he keels over. I am a responsible pet owner, he has a nice warm kennel to sleep in, sadly, he is too frightened this weekend.

I choose not to cuddle my indoor cats because I value my eyes and do not wish to have their claws surgically removed due to a vain attempt in comforting them. The sound of fireworks invades their space, simple as that.

And speaking of simple (minded people), can somebody explain the attraction of fireworks…? I know they go ‘bang’ and they have pretty colours… surely there must be more… what am I missing???

Genie, you’re a dickhead. Fireworks are cruel to animals, and if you’d ever seen a dog or cat suffering badly from the noise, you’d understand why Pandy drugged his.

I drugged my dog under medical supervision. Do you think I enjoy being forced for 3 nights this week staying at home? Oh before you get on your hobby horse about people putting up with barking dogs, my dogs are hardly heard at all by the retired person next door.

I thought it’d be fairly obvious that people enjoyed fireworks FAR more than being attacked and mauled by a vicious, out of control dog.

^^As mentioned by a previous poster, the proof that a certain amount of Canberrans enjoy fireworks would mostly likely be found in the sales data from this week.

^ For your information GUIDE DOGS often have to be sedated when there are fireworks, often meaning that they cannot be of use to their owners for days. Do you think that’s fair? Should blind people be forced to “go down the coast” as well?

I also disagree that the majority of Canberrans enjoy fireworks, what is your evidence?

And a lot of parents nowdays DO drug their kids when they can’t handle things!

You guys are all pathetic whingers.. If you cant handle one weekend of fireworks then F*#K OFF and live elsewhere. Here in Canberra we enjoy our legalised Fireworks and Porn.

As for all the animals i agree with Pickle – you shouldnt be leaving your poor pets outside in the freezing cold anyways. THATS ANIMAL CRUELTY!

AND PANDY – I cant believe you drugged your pets ! Do you drug your children too when they cant handle things???

There are more important things people can whinge about than the majority of Canberrian’s having fun for one weekend. Buy some ear plugs or go down the coast for the weekend like the rest of Canberra people who dont wanna deal with fireworks.

GnT, that is one example – what about the parents who let their toddler wander into a neighbours backyard? The kid got mauled by the dog, the dog was put down. How is that fair? Anyway, this is not what the thread is about so start another topic if you want to debate dogs.

If you call the cops when you hear people setting off fireworks illegally or dangerously they’ll come around and sort the situation out.

Haaaaa hahahahahaha!

How do you enforce the laws Cranky? Call the cops? Report the use of mortars (one went off at 6:30pm)? It never works.

Katy Galah will just say after all the complaints are in “It is a Canberra tradition – I AM the Government and I have kids. Go frack yourself losers.”

So a pit bull attacks a kid in a pram, and it’s the parent’s fault???

^ I’d wager that most dog attacks on children are due to parents not warning them properly of the dangers of approaching and/or harrassing strange dogs. We never hear about that side of it though, because it’s not PC to criticize parents and their holy sproggens, oh no!

Indeed. Irresponsible pet owners should be banned.

Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the children!

Another article, this time from SMH: http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Ban-fireworks-in-ACT-pleads-RSPCA/2007/06/11/1181414193071.html

^ That is by far the most daft comment in support of fireworks that I’ve ever come across.

Have you considered how the local wildlife copes with fireworks? It’s not just family pets that suffer.

And by the way, it’s “their”, not “there”.

People who keep there pets in the backyard as garden ornaments, especially in this weather deserve to have them moved to the RSPCA. On that basis the RSPCA should be promoting fireworks …

We have a raft of laws, regulations, & requirements in place to arrive at the safe use of fireworks for a limited period of time.

Obviously the bottom feeders are upsetting a segment of the population with their indiscriminate use of supposedly quite fireworks.

I have enjoyed fireworks for donkeys years, and the PR campaign to have them banned is OTT.

Instead of kowtowing to the lowest common denominator, how about enforcing the laws we already have.

C

Home made crackers…are you kidding??? And they would make them…how?

It is not really that hard, with ingredients from your local hardware store, but the slight effort and time makes it pretty unlikely any but the most dedicated individuals bother.

They were not available all year round like they are now…

They are not available all year now either. At least the legally sold ones aren’t. The much loader, more hazardous ones are available all year if you know where to buy them. A bit like drugs really, and I suspect the “war on fireworks” will be only slightly more successful, as they are not quite so addictive.

And aparently Tuggernong really is a different universe….

Having lived in several locations in Belconnen, I would say after the two years I lived in Banks that there is certainly a much greater incidence of loud bangs and squeals, and the occasional cloud of tire smoke. And that I suspect is

directly proportional to the amount of 14-26 year old males in the vicinity.

I propose that as a way of judging the general publics feelings about the existence of commercial fireworks, we compare the number of people who purchased them (should be easy to do as everyone filled out paper work) with the number of people that complain about them.

Classic! Livin’ and lovin’ in the Creek hey!
Home made crackers…are you kidding??? And they would make them…how?
Back in my day (with suitable Yorkshire accent)we bought a bag and had none left after cracker weekend, because we went hell for leather. They were not available all year round like they are now, and the bags seem much bigger these days.

^ LOL, yes I’ll just pack my bags and move down to Weston Creek, because it really is that easy!

Gosh I would love to be able to move whenever I feel like it, it must great to live like that DuffyMum.

Yes fireworks do get let off outside the allowable hours but I very much doubt this lasts longer than a couple of weeks before these people run out of supplies. What you probably hear for the rest of the year are the homemade ones that no amount of restricting or banning of commercial fireworks is going to prevent.

If you don’t like what is happening in your neighbourhood then move away. We here in Weston Creek don’t have illegal fireworks going off throughout the year and there are properties for sale and for rent here.

Simbo, how about just accepting that yes, people DO set off fireworks outside of the designated times (gasp!) and stop basing everything just on your own experience? I think enough people besides myself have complained about this problem for you to be able to believe that it does happen and that I’m not lying just to try and back up my anti-fireworks stance. I have enough reasons for disliking the use of private fireworks, I don’t need to make up stories.

The amount of fireworks used outside the alloted time is directly proportional to the amount of 14-26 year old males in the vicinity. We used to have great cracker fights at the back of Curtin 25 years ago.

I’d be interested – is the ACT genuinely the only juristiction where fireworks are available

And aparently Tuggernong really is a different universe – I’ve lived in Hackett, Campbell and my current abode in Curtin (I’m fairly confident people can’t stalk me just based on my suburb), and never experienced the apparent unending fuselage of fireworks that other people have. So maybe we should just ban fireworks for people who live in Tuggers?

A few years ago I had a delightful 16 year old throw a firecracker at me at the local shops. He had a couple of drinks under his belt, and was just aiming at the next person who walked around the corner. Being well over 6 foot and not of slight build, he got a bit scared and tried to run. I briefly considered calling the police, but then decided not to bother. So I cought him, and then I explained politely to him and his 3 friends that throwing firecrackers wasn’t very nice. He was throwing the remaining bangers in the bin when I left.

What happened to the days when it was the job of every responsible adult to nip stupid behaviour by kids in the bud when they saw it starting up? Oh, that’s right – stupid lazy parents who don’t mind their kids whinged.

As for what happened to the cat, I’d be willing to have similar chat with those individuals if they could be identified.

For the record, no violence was involved.

I think that firework use is on the rise because people are afraid that they will be banned, and people who wouldn’t normally care much want their kids to have a chance to experience them in their own yards.

Whenever there is talk of banning something there is always comparison between different things, Guns, 4WDs, cats outside without a leash, lawn watering, fun…

The problem that I see with this is the fact that all these things are all different; guns have a much larger chance of being used to kill, 4WD do have valid uses (even if most people don’t), cats are cute, id rather drink the water (and what do I care if the lawn dies, I’m renting). And as for fun, kids shouldn’t be having fun – they should be seen and not heard…

I come down on the YES for fireworks side. They cause less greenhouse gas emissions then DVD players, kill less animals then domestic cats and dogs (how many people in Canberra are bitten by dogs each year?) and earn vital income to Canberra as young males form Sydney and Melbourne drive hear each year to stock up.

I was quite pleased at the selection in my Aussie Gold fireworks box (~$100). The assortment of 16, 19 and 25 shot barrages exceeded my expectations about consumer fireworks. Yay stuff that goes bang!

I had to build 7 foot high fences as a result of fireworks over the last few years. During thunderstorms I rush home; the big one during January resulted in the scared dog (he usually is very brave) eating through a wooden awning window that I had left open a little bit for air circulation. Thunderstorms never affected my dogs; the learned response is from fireworks.

So why does ACT have to be different?

Pandy, I expect that if your dogs are that freaked out with fireworks then thunderstorms probably upset them too. So where do you keep them safe during a thunderstorm?

I only mentioned the laundry as in our house it is in the centre of it and is a great sound protector. And this is where our dogs feel safe – I should know as this is where they ran to and hid in while we were fighting the firestorm raging outside our home back in 2003.

If your laundry is no good (and I don’t know your home so I wouldn’t know of course) then I hope you have somewhere else where they can feel safe.

In the laundry? Pleassse! I am inside with the TV on and can hear the fireworks. My dogs have better hearing than me so they will hear them too.

In fact, one of the dogs had two sedative tablets last night. Even then he was stumbling around the lounge room trying to bark at the noise. As I write he is still groggy on his feet.

And oh fireworks went off at 1:30 AND 3:30am. Where are the parent in this cae?

Enough!

Fireworks are banned in all states. Why does ACT have to be different?

I remember kids I USED to be friends with, until the day I found them getting great joy by strappng “yankees” to frogs and letting them off.

With the advent of the internet, pornography has become a lot more accessable and Canberra is losing some of uniqueness. If they take away our fireworks as well visiting comedians will have to revert to jokes about all our round-abouts.

Simbo which universe are you from? I live in (feral) Tuggeranong, where the crackers bump and sway FOR F#$KING MONTHS. They started up about 3 weeks ago now. That’s why I get annoyed, not because of a weekend’s work which we could all happily ignore.
I do not truly believe that most Canberrans set them off only on the weekend within the designated hours….how do I know? 36 years and living in 9 diffrerent suburbs in Canberra.

BTW

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”
Benjamin Franklin
…was my effort, sorry it got attrubuted to you Anonymous!

I find it remarkable that fireworks are available all year round in the US and Europe yet we cannot cope with them. The call for a ban is being pushed primarily by The Canberra Times which has long had a reputation as being the Animal Liberation newspaper.

Same, except they were after my letterbox. I hit the special duress button on my home alarm system which sets of a 180db siren outside. That shocked them enough. But then I did something I haven’t done since Uni. Flame throwing. I stepped out on my porch with a match and deodorant can and yelled at them to f*ck off as I walked towards them with the flame shooting a good meter ahead.
They ran off so freaking fast, serves them right.

While we’re banning things, can we ban my persistently loud neighbours? I’d love to go bang on their door and tell them to STFU, but I can’t get into that part of the complex without a key. Grr.

I just had some delightful youths throw lit crackers at my car at the lights on Northbourne (at Dickson). I say we ban youths and not fireworks, though.

Bloody oath. The near CONSTANT barking is far more irritating than fireworks going off for one weekend a year.

Ban barking dogs.

Ban whingers.

if someone can figure out how to make my neighbours (on BOTH sides) dogs only bark for one weekend of the year, i’m all ears!

Yup, they’re still going on here too…freaking my neighbour’s dogs out.

Sepi, I agree there seem to be a lot more fireworks this year than in previous years, hopefully someone will die soon, or have their face blown off and then maybe they’ll be banned. No one seems to care if an animal dies, but the minute a human dies (especially a kiddy) everyone’s up in arms and asking “why didn’t someone do something???”

And simbo, I know that you’re obsessed with me and want to know where I live so that you can come and stalk me, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen dear! Give up already.

There goes another one! (firework… and a comment, which is helping me test the new site).

Fireworks still going off in my area… Must be visitors from the central and western states.

There were alot tonight (more than last night) but it’s all quiet now …. 🙂

there seem to be way more fireworks going off this year than previous. (or am I just at home over the weekend for the first time??)

If you ban fireworks then those idiots will just find something else to stick up a cat’s bum for fun that causes just as much if not more damage.

I think what alot of people complain about is the fact that despite fireworks being allowed between 5 and 10pm this weekend people let them off outside of this time, ie. as soon as they go on sale in the week leading up to this weekend and in the weeks following.

if you ban fireworks, how are kids going to learn about the wonderful things that happen when you give a cat a gunpowder suppository?

I’m with the banners on this one.

Being new to the ACT, I have to say that this whole thing is somewhat weird. I am a little bit over hearing fireworks go off for hours on end a second night in a row, though. Perhaps limiting it to one night rather than a whole weekend might be a better solution?

If they are homemade then there is very little that can be done, least of all by banning the “normal little ones” on sale this past week.

People that make their own will use whatever materials they can find and often times they are (on their own) relatively harmless things that can be bought at your local hardware store, but combined together pack one hell of a punch. What should we do – close all hardware stores?

And for all you people that complain that their pets have gone missing during this time of year because of fireworks, that would not have happened if you had provided them with a secure area, ie. in the house/garage/shed/pet run.

I have two dogs, one of which is especially terrified of fireworks, and yes we still let off fireworks. Both dogs spend night time in our laundry in the house, warm and safe, with no chance of them escaping. And they aren’t scared while in there as they can’t hear the fireworks anywhere near as loud as if they were outside.

these arent normal fireworks. these things are shaking the houses and they’re deafening. I don’t mind the normal little ones, they’re great! I’d get a few myself if I had the money, but ignorant people are using this weekend as an excuse to destory property with whatever homemade crap they have.

if everywhere else can live without them, so can we. theres skyfire once a year over the lake and its free so go to that instead.

As long as people have the ability to think (and I use that term loosely) they have the ability to choose whether to follow the law or not. This will happen with every single thing we have at our disposal, be that cars, paint, ropes, kitchen knives, sound systems, lawn mowers (just to name a few) … all of these can do damage and/or be a nuisance if used/kept in the wrong way … do we ban all these?

Oh for heaven’s sake people, if you don’t like fireworks then that’s your choice. I don’t like Harleys and so choose to not have one, but my neighbour loves them and I just put up with the god awful noise rather than demand they be got rid of. The vast majority will do the right thing but it’s ALWAYS the minority doing the wrong thing that spoil it for the rest of us.

Leesa,
this is the traditional night to let off fireworks. it has been this way for some time. take a deep breath and think how much you like living in this community before ruining your neighbours idea of a good time.

no I agree ban fireworks NOW. where I live someones letting off a series of “fireworks” which simply go “BOOOM” and rattle the windows on the houses.

and someone has fireworks as big as the ones at skyfire. its raining sparks down over all the houses and you can hear them going out when they hit the road.

its not “a bit of fun” its dangerous and frightening. it would be alright if people could follow the laws but they can’t.

I couldn’t think of anything worse than to ban fireworks. How about putting a foot up the arse of these individuals who cannot teach their children to diseminate between right and wrong? ‘Pweshus’ pets ought to be inside for firework nights if they are afraid of the noises. This is also the man who has asked that children not ride bikes on streets becuase they can get injured, and that children are restricted to play in parks, not on streets and otyher public places, not too mention last month he took down a commissioned mural.

Just another conservative wowser, preaching to the paranoid few. all the bubble wrap you want to put around those on this earth less fortunate than yourself john, really ought be in your mouth. Part of childhood is learning that things hurt and not to do it again, this is called wisdom, something the proponents of this ban seem to have none of.

Cats should be locked in a cat run.They destroy wildlife.

I really don’t care if kids like fireworks, they like a lot of stupid things

Well, I bet you had a fun childhood. I have one dog (of 2) that is scared shitless of fireworks…so she comes inside until the noise stops. big deal.

Get off your high horse and stop spoiling a bit of fun.

Oh dear. Okay, I may have grumpily suggested that you live in a povvo suburb (and, ooh, it feels like I might have struck a raw nerve there), but it does feel weird that I’ve never seen ’em out of season in 8 years of living in this suburb (and two years of living in other suburbs of Canberra), while it’s apparently a constant event down your way. Or up your way. Or sideways your way.

In other words, either you’re lying, or something very strange is going on where you live. Which is it?

We all thought someone would have to die in the ACT for the Courts to take things seriously. 2 recently and still pathetic.

“Fireworks are awesome.”

Benjamin Franklin

Consider me informed

I am simply saying blame the user not the instrument.

There are charges for people who hurt animals whether they do it with fireworks, a car, or neglect.

*sigh* the thing about Hargraeves’ cat, it had fireworks strapped to it, and doused in kero. Ban kero, too. In fact, about as much damage would have been doing without the fireworks.

As for guns, they aren’t handed out willy-nilly, and neither are fireworks. 2 years ago, could buy them any time of the year, from any state. Now, it’s ACT licence only, fill out the permit stuff, bla bla bla. I’d hardly say they’re ‘freely’ available.

And are you suggesting that guns should be freely available, since it’s not guns that kill people but lunatics?

I really don’t care if kids like fireworks, they like a lot of stupid things. Should we all be pandering to their wants now?

And Hargraeves adopted his cat AFTER it had fireworks strapped to its stomach and was set alight, for your information.

On your bike Catriona,

I have always had pets and looked after them. Adda link to the Crapberra Times if you expect me to know the article. My dog gets scared, she stays inside and gets cuddles and a few leniencies like sleeping inside and the like.

If the cat got blown up then its not the fireworks fault its the numpty who did it. No animal deserves that.

My dog used to be more scared of the garbage truck that she ever has been of fireworks. Do you here me calling for them to be banned?

Kids like fireworks. I liked fireworks when I was a kid. Over a 1/3 of Canberra turns out every year when skyfire is on. There are probably more people in Canberra who like fireworks than like animals. I know there are a lot of cat haters out there. People who would shoot (blame the gun), run over (blame the car) or throw them in water in a hessian bag. I adopted my cat from the RSPCA – would have been looking at a lethal injection had I not.

Hargreaves should have locked his pet up and taken better care.

Rant over.

^ Why, so you can make fun of me if I happen to live in a less affluent suburb than you do?

Where is this suburb in which fireworks are set off for months after the queen’s birthday weekend? I’m genuinely curious. I seem to have missed this phenomenon, but obviously Catriona is exposed to it regularly, so I’m happy to believe her if she tells us which suburb it is…

Oh yes Special G, as long as your pweshus little girl is happy, who cares if a few animals die? Your blase attitude towards your pets is quite revolting, maybe you shouldn’t have any if that’s how much you care about them.

^ That would be great, if only they didn’t take innocent animals along with them. The story about John Hargraeve’s cat in the Canberra Times is a particularly sickening example of why private fireworks need to banned.

I have lost a cat during fireworks weekend and have a scared dog aswell. Its one weekend, get over it. I am sure in a few years my little girl will be wanting fireworks at home on this very weekend. Lock dog and cat up and she gets a little fun.

On another note damn they are expensive for the crap you get.

Ban fireworks? What are you guys crazy? This is Darwin at work!

How about having the “designated fireworks zone” in front of the chief minister’s house?

And Pandy is right, it’s not just one weekend of fireworks, people continue to use for them weeks afterwards, and well past 10pm at night. Must pet owners be forced to “lock up” their pets for the next couple of weeks so that bogans can set off fireworks?

So the idea to solve a few burns and what not is to gather the huge amount of people into a small area and sell them fireworks to be let off on location… Sounds, err, reasonable..

I guess thats the problem with compromises, its a moving target. You compromise to the incompetent pet owners, only to have another compromise in a few more years. Compromises in situations like this are just a slow path to eventual banishment.

While were talking about silly proposals how about imposing a fine on owners who can’t lock up their pets this weekend, we’ll call it a deterrent but if it helps the budget so be it..

It is not ONE weekend. And why were there numerous fireworks going off after 10om last nite?

WE tell people to wear seat-belts. We can also ban fireworks. Go Hargraeves!

Anonymous comments… I’ll fix that in a few minutes.

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
Benjamin Franklin

..for you anon

Ban dogs instead. They’re far more uncontrollable than fireworks.

why don’t ALL those who wish these banned, move the 10 km required to live in a state that has restricted them the rather than forcing EVERYONE else too. Dirty Nazis.

“Those who would give up liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety”

Benjamin Franklin

I dunno, As mush as a designated cracker zone seems like a good idea. I personally liked sitting on the balcony looking over lake Gininderra. Watch everyone else waste their money 😀

Gas and hot water are necessities, fireworks are not. You can’t really compare them.

Pfft designated Cracker Zone… what so all the freeloaders can go watch other peoples fireworks.. ???

Hmm actually sounds plausible… Free entertainment for the kiddies.. Ambulance on standby for the idiots, Would there be free food too ?

Its one weekend people… get over it!

Are they going to start banning gas and hot water in homes as they injure people too.

If people cant be sensible for one weekend thats their problem. Not everyone elses… Sorry to all the little kiddies that get hurt – but you should have ben taught not to play with fire.. And as for all the animals… its not that hard to lock them up for a weekend. All my cats and my dog ar eloving being kept inside this weekend.

A designated “cracker zone” would be a lot of fun, too. More of a community thing than everyone letting off their own crackers in their back yard.

I vote for the lawns on the sides of Parliament House. :).

Going by that article, it seems there have been some fatalities as well.

Unfortunately a child will probably have to die (or at the very least be terribly disfigured) before the ACT govt. takes any action on this issue.