Bring back Bonfire Night for Canberra's children

wildturkeycanoe said :

Like I said, there are so many other killers in society but we aren’t banning them. What about rock fishing, water skiing,sky jumping, rally driving, even mountain biking? Let’s ban them all and wrap everyone in cotton wool. Eventually we won’t have to take responsibility for doing something wrong, because the government didn’t do enough to stop me from doing it.

When the rock fishers, water skiiers, sky divers, rally drivers and mountain bikers start waking people up in the wee hours of the morning, starting fires and blowing up letter boxes etc on public and private property your comparison might begin to make sense.

I think most people would be happy for cracker night to take place on one night of the year, during mandated hours, with responsible guidelines and an acceptable level of consideration for the broader community. This is what was supposed to happen, but it didn’t. And probably never did.

Why do those in favour of cracker night keep failing to acknowledge that a minority of selfish and irresponsible clowns had just as much influence on the demise of the event as John Hargreaves and his cats?

Holden Caulfield said :

Oh for the days when we could throw old tyres, empty spray cans and god knows what else into a big pile and burn, burn, burn the night away.

Then, at random and regular times throughout the year (not just cracker night), we could go around waking up the neighbourhood with our firecrackers, just having a laugh, starting fires at schools in the bin hoppers, blowing up people’s letter boxes, being total arsehats with no consideration for anyone else except our own selfish egos.

I agree. Brilliant article, easily the best ever published on RiotACT.

Vote 1 Selfishness!

Yep,

I much preferred the time when I got to decide what other people do and value because I happen to own a dog.

I mean, expecting the police to actually do their job when people break the law is too much to handle, we clearly need to ban every activity where a miniscule amount of people break already existing laws.

Oh and don’t worry about my dog barking every hour of the day whilst I’m not home, that’s your problem and shouldn’t be an issue

wildturkeycanoe said :

TimboinOz said :

but home events, no way and no thanks!

How many homes burnt down due to fireworks back when they were legal? How many dogs go crazy when there are thunderstorms? The reasons not to legalize fireworks really aren’t that good.
With the help of the internet and a few household ingredients, kids can cook up things far more powerful than a couple of crackers so banning the sale of a few sparkly things is not going to stop the bad eggs causing property damage. They will find other ways.
Guns kill, cars kill, (yes I know they don’t because ultimately people are the killers) but we haven’t banned their use, simply legislated the sale and use of them. Why not do the same for crackers?
Nimbys want to ruin everyone else’ enjoyment. What is wrong with a good bonfire to warm the soul on a cold winter night?

“”What is wrong with a good bonfire to warm the soul on a cold winter night?””

Try Chambers Rutherglen Muscadelle . A fortified drop which is very good for the soul on a winter night, and any other night realy.

dungfungus said :

I think it was banned because of cats, not dogs.

Not because of ‘cats’. It was because of ‘cat’. One particular cat.

TimboinOz said :

This idea while not quite as idiotic as getting rid of the microwave, TV and FM transmission, hub that is Black Mountain tower. But it is close.

Running fireworks displays at major venues, away form suburbs might work but home events, no way and no thanks!

Yep, agreed.

Allowing people the freedom to make their own decisions and live their own lives is like so 1990. If I don’t like something the government should ban it, we can’t have people valuing things that I don’t.

What kind of society would we end up with if people had individual freedoms? That kind of thought is dangerous.

Lurker2913 said :

So the ban had nothing to do with how dangerous fire crackers and bungers were and all the injuries that occurred.

I suppose you lot want to repeal seat belt laws too because it was fun flying through a car windscreen on impact back in the day.

Why not sell Absinthe and other high alcoholic drinks in every “blottlo” and see the punches fly. Oh I am sorry, we had prohibition in Canberra until 1928 then the six o’clock swill and that wasn’t so fun.

If you want to go back in time why don’t we roll back to the 1920’s and prohibition? I hear the cries that we can’t do that. #hypocrites

So sad that the government has to stop us from hurting ourselves instead of letting us take responsibilty for our own actions.
Like I said, there are so many other killers in society but we aren’t banning them. What about rock fishing, water skiing,sky jumping, rally driving, even mountain biking? Let’s ban them all and wrap everyone in cotton wool. Eventually we won’t have to take responsibility for doing something wrong, because the government didn’t do enough to stop me from doing it.

TimboinOz said :

but home events, no way and no thanks!

How many homes burnt down due to fireworks back when they were legal? How many dogs go crazy when there are thunderstorms? The reasons not to legalize fireworks really aren’t that good.
With the help of the internet and a few household ingredients, kids can cook up things far more powerful than a couple of crackers so banning the sale of a few sparkly things is not going to stop the bad eggs causing property damage. They will find other ways.
Guns kill, cars kill, (yes I know they don’t because ultimately people are the killers) but we haven’t banned their use, simply legislated the sale and use of them. Why not do the same for crackers?
Nimbys want to ruin everyone else’ enjoyment. What is wrong with a good bonfire to warm the soul on a cold winter night?

Lurker2913 said :

So the ban had nothing to do with how dangerous fire crackers and bungers were and all the injuries that occurred.

I suppose you lot want to repeal seat belt laws too because it was fun flying through a car windscreen on impact back in the day.

Why not sell Absinthe and other high alcoholic drinks in every “blottlo” and see the punches fly. Oh I am sorry, we had prohibition in Canberra until 1928 then the six o’clock swill and that wasn’t so fun.

If you want to go back in time why don’t we roll back to the 1920’s and prohibition? I hear the cries that we can’t do that. #hypocrites

Absinthe can be sold in Australia.

Oh for the days when we could throw old tyres, empty spray cans and god knows what else into a big pile and burn, burn, burn the night away.

Then, at random and regular times throughout the year (not just cracker night), we could go around waking up the neighbourhood with our firecrackers, just having a laugh, starting fires at schools in the bin hoppers, blowing up people’s letter boxes, being total arsehats with no consideration for anyone else except our own selfish egos.

I agree. Brilliant article, easily the best ever published on RiotACT.

Vote 1 Selfishness!

TimboinOz said :

This idea while not quite as idiotic as getting rid of the microwave, TV and FM transmission, hub that is Black Mountain tower. But it is close.

Running fireworks displays at major venues, away form suburbs might work but home events, no way and no thanks!

Tin-foil hats for all!

Lurker2913 said :

So the ban had nothing to do with how dangerous fire crackers and bungers were and all the injuries that occurred.

“all the injuries”. Got some evidence of them to back up your reasoning?

madelini said :

Darla said :

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

While I agree at the annoying habit of people to set off fireworks at random times, I hate that cracker night was banned because of dogs. That affected the many law-abiding people who may not have had dogs, the dog owners whose dogs weren’t bothered (like our old dog). The tiny minority of people would set off fireworks randomly, but the sound was rarely worse than cars backfiring – and there was no move to ban old cars. For others, who chose to leave their dogs alone and outside on cracker night but then made public appeals when the dog got out did not exercise responsible pet ownership. I have heard of people seeking to ban Skyfire for the same reason.

Pet ownership is a choice, and choosing to keep a dog means that you accept that the world is big and loud and sometimes they will get scared. I don’t believe that the rest of Canberra should have had to take responsibility for pet owners’ choices.

Well said. I agree 100%. Unfortunately, our politicians at the time were of the ilk that bought into the idea that the rest of society should accommodate the choices of the few, and they listened to a very small minority.

Interestingly enough, despite the ban being in place for 7 years, I regularly hear fireworks being let off in my suburb. It’s far more frequent that is used to be in the good old days before ACT Labor ruined them.

Lurker2913 said :

So the ban had nothing to do with how dangerous fire crackers and bungers were and all the injuries that occurred.

I suppose you lot want to repeal seat belt laws too because it was fun flying through a car windscreen on impact back in the day.

Why not sell Absinthe and other high alcoholic drinks in every “blottlo” and see the punches fly. Oh I am sorry, we had prohibition in Canberra until 1928 then the six o’clock swill and that wasn’t so fun.

If you want to go back in time why don’t we roll back to the 1920’s and prohibition? I hear the cries that we can’t do that. #hypocrites

If you think the (few) injuries that resulted from “dangerous firecrackers” were a problem then contemplate what can happen when large scale fireworks displays go wrong.

Some of the mortar launched star shells that go 200 metres in the are enormous and if one accidentally exploded in a nearby crowd there would be multiple fatalities and horrible injuries.

These large scale commercial fireworks exhibitions should be banned also.

It’s all about “risk”.

The controlled demolition on Acton Peninsula was deemed to be risk-free and look what happened.

This idea while not quite as idiotic as getting rid of the microwave, TV and FM transmission, hub that is Black Mountain tower. But it is close.

Running fireworks displays at major venues, away form suburbs might work but home events, no way and no thanks!

So the ban had nothing to do with how dangerous fire crackers and bungers were and all the injuries that occurred.

I suppose you lot want to repeal seat belt laws too because it was fun flying through a car windscreen on impact back in the day.

Why not sell Absinthe and other high alcoholic drinks in every “blottlo” and see the punches fly. Oh I am sorry, we had prohibition in Canberra until 1928 then the six o’clock swill and that wasn’t so fun.

If you want to go back in time why don’t we roll back to the 1920’s and prohibition? I hear the cries that we can’t do that. #hypocrites

It annoys dogs and wildlife, the crackers ended up injuring people, and people used crackers to blow stuff up. And for years the most spectacular crackers were phased out before the ban leaving “consumer” grade ones. Just sit back and enjoy the work of professionals.

dungfungus said :

madelini said :

Darla said :

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

While I agree at the annoying habit of people to set off fireworks at random times, I hate that cracker night was banned because of dogs. That affected the many law-abiding people who may not have had dogs, the dog owners whose dogs weren’t bothered (like our old dog). The tiny minority of people would set off fireworks randomly, but the sound was rarely worse than cars backfiring – and there was no move to ban old cars. For others, who chose to leave their dogs alone and outside on cracker night but then made public appeals when the dog got out did not exercise responsible pet ownership. I have heard of people seeking to ban Skyfire for the same reason.

Pet ownership is a choice, and choosing to keep a dog means that you accept that the world is big and loud and sometimes they will get scared. I don’t believe that the rest of Canberra should have had to take responsibility for pet owners’ choices.

I think it was banned because of cats, not dogs.

Was it? I would have thought dogs. I have had several cats, and none appeared to have a problem with cracker night. If they did, I guess they hid. I was sorry to see it go. I don’t see why it can’t be brought back and only allow non-banging fireworks to be sold and used. The sparkling kind.

madelini said :

Darla said :

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

While I agree at the annoying habit of people to set off fireworks at random times, I hate that cracker night was banned because of dogs. That affected the many law-abiding people who may not have had dogs, the dog owners whose dogs weren’t bothered (like our old dog). The tiny minority of people would set off fireworks randomly, but the sound was rarely worse than cars backfiring – and there was no move to ban old cars. For others, who chose to leave their dogs alone and outside on cracker night but then made public appeals when the dog got out did not exercise responsible pet ownership. I have heard of people seeking to ban Skyfire for the same reason.

Pet ownership is a choice, and choosing to keep a dog means that you accept that the world is big and loud and sometimes they will get scared. I don’t believe that the rest of Canberra should have had to take responsibility for pet owners’ choices.

I think it was banned because of cats, not dogs.

I think JH commented on the strength of firecrackers. They were no longer the tuppeny bunger .

I saw one of the new type going off one day and was thankfull I was forewarned. The thing was only the same size as a 9 volt battery, but what a punch.

My neighbour must have upsett some kids as they blew his mailox to bits one night. The top of his box must have raised at least 4-5 metres to get through the trees, landing on my driveway. I was in the sack and probably raised a metre or so . I packed up the next day and went down to Mallacoota, which I did every year untill they were stopped. Gratefull to JH ever since.

Darla said :

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

While I agree at the annoying habit of people to set off fireworks at random times, I hate that cracker night was banned because of dogs. That affected the many law-abiding people who may not have had dogs, the dog owners whose dogs weren’t bothered (like our old dog). The tiny minority of people would set off fireworks randomly, but the sound was rarely worse than cars backfiring – and there was no move to ban old cars. For others, who chose to leave their dogs alone and outside on cracker night but then made public appeals when the dog got out did not exercise responsible pet ownership. I have heard of people seeking to ban Skyfire for the same reason.

Pet ownership is a choice, and choosing to keep a dog means that you accept that the world is big and loud and sometimes they will get scared. I don’t believe that the rest of Canberra should have had to take responsibility for pet owners’ choices.

I can hear screams emanating from a quiet street somewhere deep in Tuggers.

Come in JH.

Darla said :

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

You are quite right – its not just about the one night but about all the morons who would let off crackers and large illegal explosives at random times through the year, usually in the small hours of the morning when neighbours were trying to sleep. Its wasn’t just dogs having a difficult time but cats and other pets too. I look back with some nostalgia to cracker nights in my teens, but I’m reluctantly in favour of the ban because the of the irresponsible actions of too many residents at times other than the proper night.

Brilliant piece of writing, my thoughts exactly. This also lines up with the Animal Welfare party position of pretty much banning pet ownership, so we won’t have any issues od dogs running away from home.
The swaddling of our kids in bubble wrap is making them soft and unable to handle nature. If you dropped them in the Brindabellas for a few hours they would be mentally traumatised, not knowing what elements were safe and what was dangerous to touch. Our concrete and plastic city is more of a threat than the Aussie bush but kids know little of the wilderness, only what they read on the internet.
Crackers are fun, as are motorcross bikes, hunting, wood carting,fishing and simply building cubby houses out of tree branches. But we as a society have prohibited or made rules so strict that nobody can have fun anymore. Is it little surprise that energy explodes instead in the form of graffiti and destruction of property. Let kids be kids and adults too.

This piece seems to greatly minimise the negative effect of cracker nights. Dogs didn’t just bark or get somewhat distressed. Many would escape and end up in shelters or, worse still, hit by cars. My family had a dog who was terrified of firecrackers. We would stay at home on cracker night evenings to try and minimise his panic. The problem that arose was that people would buy crackers and let them off at various hours of the day and night, all year around. There was no way of predicting when it would happen. Sometimes our dog would panic so much he would claw at the bricks of the house, bloodying his paws. Other times he would escape, managing to clamber over the six foot fence, and run off into the neighbourhood. He was hit by a car, but luckily survived. I find myself having far less concern for the children deprived of an annual cracker night than the ones who lose their beloved family pet because people are nostalgic for cracker night.

Seriously….lol