7 July 2014

Man hospitalised following fireworks incident

| Canfan
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A 30-year-old man was hospitalised last night following reports of fireworks being set off on an oval in Kambah (Sunday, July 6).

Police responded to reports of fireworks about 9.30pm last night at the Kambah District Playing Fields, off Chirnside Circuit, Kambah.

A witness reported the car’s registration to police, who later attended the owner’s home and seized 14 assorted fireworks.

The man was hospitalised with severe injuries to one of his hands.

Superintendent of South District, Justine Gough, said this is a significant reminder to the community of the dangers of playing with fireworks.

“This is a timely reminder, especially with the start of school holidays, of the potential for serious injury associated with operating fireworks,” said Superintendent Gough.

“Consumer fireworks are banned in the ACT, simply for this reason, people get injured if not properly trained to handle an explosive device. A firework is an explosive device and falls under the Dangerous Substances Act 2004.

Consideration will be given to the laying of charges in relation to this matter however at this time our concern is on the man’s recovery,” she said.

Police urge anyone who has any information about suspicious activity relating to possible fireworks incidents, including damage to property, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via www.crimestoppers.act.com.au.

(ACT Policing Media Release)

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I forget the circumstances and if it was 2003 or 2004, but one year around about then Canberra had a firework Christmas, and veritable sticks of gelignite went on sale, along with rockets, ball shots, and all manner of other previously banned fireworks that made Thunders look like party poppers. I spent hundreds of dollars, and my purchase looked modest compared to other buyers at the counter.

It was a good Queen’s birthday that year, the hospitals were full, and I suspect that year still echos occasionally across the Canberra valleys.

Holden Caulfield4:05 pm 08 Jul 14

Grimm said :

Holden Caulfield said :

Maya123 said :

Banning all fireworks was a shame and has ruined the occasion. People could keep their neurotic pets inside. None of my pets have had a problem with fireworks.

If people could keep their fireworks use to the mandated times and away from letterboxes, school dumpsters and the good old wheelie bin explosion then you’d probably still be in with a government sanctioned chance to blow your own hand off.

The fireworks used to do those things were already illegal. It was also a tiny minority of people doing stupid cr#p like that. So, why ban all fireworks because of a few idiots were using already illegal fireworks to do stupid, illegal things? Those people still seem able to get hold of those fireworks, because they are willing to break the law. A novel idea would be to punish the actual offenders, and not the majority who are doing the right thing.

Perhaps the minority wasn’t as insignificant as you would like to believe?

No problems with punishing the offenders, but I’d suggest the identities of those responsible were largely unknown due to the ease of carrying out said activities away from the eyes of the law.

Holden Caulfield said :

Maya123 said :

Banning all fireworks was a shame and has ruined the occasion. People could keep their neurotic pets inside. None of my pets have had a problem with fireworks.

If people could keep their fireworks use to the mandated times and away from letterboxes, school dumpsters and the good old wheelie bin explosion then you’d probably still be in with a government sanctioned chance to blow your own hand off.

The fireworks used to do those things were already illegal. It was also a tiny minority of people doing stupid cr#p like that. So, why ban all fireworks because of a few idiots were using already illegal fireworks to do stupid, illegal things? Those people still seem able to get hold of those fireworks, because they are willing to break the law. A novel idea would be to punish the actual offenders, and not the majority who are doing the right thing.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

The pohas and tomthumbs we had as kids were much more explosive than the fireworks available (legally) before the ban.

Sparklers and birthday candles are dangerous in the hands of amateurs. Ban them all! And while we’re at it ban sports – you only have to visit Emergency on the weekend to see how dangerous it is for amateurs.

Holden Caulfield11:49 am 08 Jul 14

Maya123 said :

Banning all fireworks was a shame and has ruined the occasion. People could keep their neurotic pets inside. None of my pets have had a problem with fireworks.

If people could keep their fireworks use to the mandated times and away from letterboxes, school dumpsters and the good old wheelie bin explosion then you’d probably still be in with a government sanctioned chance to blow your own hand off.

Maya123 said :

Banning all fireworks was a shame and has ruined the occasion. People could keep their neurotic pets inside. None of my pets have had a problem with fireworks.

Exactly. If I’ve had to put up with their horrible barking mutt, or their mangy cat sh*tting in my yard 365 days of the year, surely they can put up with fireworks of an evening for one single weekend each year…

^ what gooterz said

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

http://the-riotact.com/hargreaves-kills-fireworks-now/13419

Its amazing how the few can ruin the fun of everyone else.
Skydiving is also dangerous for amateurs but isn’t banned.
Pole-vaulting is also dangerous for amateurs but isn’t banned.
Using a drill is also dangerous for some but isn’t banned.

If we banned everything that someone didn’t agree too no one would be able to legally do anything.
Yet I’m sure they’d do it anyway.

I raise the point, that fireworks today are illegal and under no quality control from government whatsoever, wouldn’t that negatively impact the safety? If there wasn’t a flat out ban, then they would be limited to certain types and thus much safer to use?

I’m also sure that we get less visitors to Canberra because of it too.

Banning all fireworks was a shame and has ruined the occasion. People could keep their neurotic pets inside. None of my pets have had a problem with fireworks.

bundah said :

The penny and tuppeny/thunder bungers of yesteryear ie.70’s were more powerful than the bungers you could get in recent times until they were banned.

Dad told me about sixpenny bungers and basket bombs when he were a lad.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

The penny and tuppeny/thunder bungers of yesteryear ie.70’s were more powerful than the bungers you could get in recent times until they were banned. The exception were the ones that were illegally acquired and needed to be fired out of a metal tube for they were bloody loud and packed a punch.

bigfeet said :

Kim F said :

Yeah, my late elderly parents loved having their mailbox blown up continually – what fun !

Has anyone done a study on how the fireworks ban has impacted on the mailbox construction and installation industry? How many jobs have been lost because of this policy?

Don’t worry. In Pearce and Chifley local kids occasionally go around with baseball bats bashing mailboxes so the replacement letterbox industry is still alive and well in those suburbs.

bigfeet said :

Kim F said :

Yeah, my late elderly parents loved having their mailbox blown up continually – what fun !

Has anyone done a study on how the fireworks ban has impacted on the mailbox construction and installation industry? How many jobs have been lost because of this policy?

Royal Commission required, now!

Holden Caulfield1:55 pm 07 Jul 14

Stupid is as stupid does.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

John, The crackers you and I would have had as kids were significantly more powerful, and dangerous, than the crackers that were available directly before the ban. The types and explosive power of the available fireworks was watered down significantly before they were banned.

To be honest, the crackers we had as kids bear far more resemblance to AP mines (very little), to the ones we were getting just before the ban (none at all).

Lots of things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs, that doesn’t mean we should run around banning things willy-nilly.

Kim F said :

Yeah, my late elderly parents loved having their mailbox blown up continually – what fun !

Has anyone done a study on how the fireworks ban has impacted on the mailbox construction and installation industry? How many jobs have been lost because of this policy?

Yeah, my late elderly parents loved having their mailbox blown up continually – what fun !

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

What a load of absolute cr*p. Between this and the article, I don’t know which is worse.

For decades, all we “untrained” amateurs set off fireworks every Queens Birthday long weekend, and the vast, vast majority of us got through the weekend uninjured. Most injuries were attributed to stupidity and deliberate misuse.

As usual though, the fun police and wowsers, who were in the minority, complained enough about people enjoying themselves and neighbourhoods coming together because a tiny minority of idiots burned themselves and people couldn’t keep their dog inside for a few nights if it got scared.

Typical for the squeaky wheel to get the grease, and the silent minority to get shafted though. Always pandering to the lowest common denominator.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

When will ex-MLAs realise that we use Australian English spelling?

John Hargreaves Ex MLA10:19 am 07 Jul 14

I am not sorry that eh Assembly agreed to ban these things. the constituent ingredients are more akin to anti-personnel mines than the crackers I had as a kid!

When will people realize that these things are dangerous in the hands of amateurs?

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