# Fireworks in the Netherlands and Firearms in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853 "2013-01-11T12:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853/21 "2013-01-12T13:43:57Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Of course, but I meant the mindset of the owner. > With regard to doing something that poses real risks to themselves and others, is (arguably) unnecessary, and yet theze people have the attitude “you’ll pry my fireworks/guns from my cold dead hands and stop being a nanny government”. I fail to see anything wrong with that mindset, frankly. Legitimate government exists solely at the consent of the governed. If a large percentage of the population is opposed to more restrictions on guns or fireworks, what gives the government the right to impose them? And why isn’t it permissible for people to participate in high-risk activities? Many activities, not just firearms ownership and using fireworks, pose risks to the participants and to others and are technically “unnecessary.”. I’m not giving up horseback riding or hiking in wilderness areas. Others aren’t going to give up skiing, scuba diving, alcohol, motorcycles, ATVs, sportscars, or swimming pool ownership. Life’s not just about minimizing risks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853/22 "2013-01-12T16:40:02Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Fireworks are illegal in the republic of Ireland but you wouldn’t know it each Halloween or New Years. How do they get in? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853/23 "2013-01-15T14:40:40Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > How do they get in? We have a fairly long, open border with the United Kingdom wherein such things are legal and you’ll often see temporary fireworks stores right on the border. Back when I would have bought them you could get them easily enough from street traders in Dublin coming up to Hallowe’en. Typically a teenager would approach other teens on a busy street asking if they wanted bangers/fireworks etc. Nowadays I haven’t a clue if that practice is still widespread or if people just go up north to purchase them for their kids. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853/24 "2013-01-15T15:05:37Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > In Ohio, you can buy all kinds of fireworks so long as you sign a document saying that you’ll take them out of the state to use, cross your heart and hope to die. > > You can guess how well it works. In Florida you can buy and use any fireworks you like so long as they are for “agricultural purposes.” So we fill up our cars with rockets and mortars and dutifully sign a form saying we’re using them to scare birds away from our container grown tomato plant. I think Disney must shop at the same fireworks store I do because the two signatures above mine last year were “Donald Duck” and “Mickey Mouse.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-in-the-netherlands-and-firearms-in-the-us/646853.md?page=1)