# Should the Sale of Fireworks be Banned (except to Trained Professionals) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364 "2015-07-06T01:13:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/21 "2015-07-07T00:14:18Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I’m sure there might be an exception or I might’ve missed one, but as far as I can tell there have been [**zero** witches burned in the United States or its predecessor colonies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_executed_for_witchcraft). Note the method of execution for the Salem victims. Burning is downright Yurupeean. I’m aware of the history. I just really want to burn some witches. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/22 "2015-07-07T00:36:07Z")
I will just point out that most of the incidents seem to involve people hurting themselves. If we had a rash of people being hurt by others’ fireworks, then I would be much more willing to consider a ban. ---
**Author:** ![Smartass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Smartass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smartass)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/23 "2015-07-07T00:49:41Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > If we had a rash of people being hurt by others’ fireworks, then I would be much more willing to consider a ban. You’ll not trick me that way. Nope, I wouldn’t say shit if I had a mouthful. -VM ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/24 "2015-07-07T01:55:46Z")
Those types of fireworks are illegal in Colorado; the idiot was from Colorado Springs. Those types of fireworks, however, are legal in Wyoming; just a couple hours north. That’s where they would have to be banned. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/25 "2015-07-07T04:17:41Z")
Kinda feel bad for that guys parents. Their son is dead, probably horribly disfigured as well, and they can’t turn on the internet without seeing articles talking about how stupid he was. That would be hard. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/26 "2015-07-07T05:26:42Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Yeah I want to celebrate by burning a ‘witch’ at the stake or by claiming someone else’s property as my own. It’s an American tradition! No tyrannical government should stop me! > [@theR](#): > > Should we all be allowed to fire actual bombs to burst in the air? Also fire our guns into the air in celebration? Always got to be a few dorks on threads like this, doesn’t there? :rolleyes: Lighting off some bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers once a year is not in anyway the same as setting off bombs, shooting guns into the air, or burning someone at the stake. Nor would their legality be an open invitation to light off these things at 3am on October 9th. > [@Cubsfan](#): > > Kinda feel bad for that guys parents. Their son is dead, probably horribly disfigured as well, and they can’t turn on the internet without seeing articles talking about how stupid he was. That would be hard. True. But that’s what happens when you die stupid. What also happens is people start whining about banning things the stupid guy off’d himself with. Like the dope who drank straight Everclear and croaked. Or the idiot kid who drown looking into a water wiggle toy. I wonder how many fun things don’t exist any more because of dead stupid people? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/27 "2015-07-07T13:54:08Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Definitely the Darwin award, as should that genius who decided swimming with crocodiles (despite posted warnings AND folks telling him not to) would be a great idea. > > I’m not normally really big on bans, and certainly not because folks are stupid and try and light them on top of their heads. If folks want to do that, well, more power to them I say. However, I will say that my attitude wrt fireworks has shifted over time. Not because of people hurting themselves or others, mainly, but because it seems crazy to me to allow the things in environments where wild fires can easily start from idiots using the things. I’m not sure if I’d say we need an across the board ban, but some additional regulation seems to be in order. > > Out of curiosity, foreign 'dopers, do you guys use a lot of personal fireworks? I know in Mexico there are quite a bit of the things (and generally, at least where my family used to live it’s the same issue…it’s a freaking desert with a lot of potential for wild fires). We do them in Ontario, Canada, both on Victoria Day (Monday before May 25 - though of as "May two-four’, a double entendre based on the date and a ‘two-four’ (24 pack) of beer!) and on Canada Day (July 1). In my neighbourhood, everyone on our street gathers in a local parking lot and ‘pools’ their fireworks to make a single big display. Responsible adults are in charge of lighting them, while others keep the kiddies at a safe distance and hand out sparklers. Never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/28 "2015-07-07T14:12:58Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Out of curiosity, foreign 'dopers, do you guys use a lot of personal fireworks? I know in Mexico there are quite a bit of the things (and generally, at least where my family used to live it’s the same issue…it’s a freaking desert with a lot of potential for wild fires). In Germany, fireworks may be sold from December 27 until December 31 to be used on New Year’s Day and New Year. There are usually quite a number of serious injuries and occasionally fatalities. This year, 3 people were killed nationwide, the latter were attributed to illegal fireworks from Eastern Europe that are much more powerful than allowed by (German) law, sometimes referred to as “Russenböller” (Russian bangers). Of course, excessive consumption of alcohol is an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/29 "2015-07-07T15:03:07Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Out of curiosity, foreign 'dopers, do you guys use a lot of personal fireworks? I know in Mexico there are quite a bit of the things (and generally, at least where my family used to live it’s the same issue…it’s a freaking desert with a lot of potential for wild fires). In the UK, fireworks are only generally available around Bonfire Night (5th November, Guy Fawkes, the big one, really), New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year. From [here](https://www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law) > [@](#): > > You can only buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers for private use on these dates: > > ``` > 15 October to 10 November > 26 to 31 December > 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year > > ``` Most local councils will put on a professional display for Bonfire Night, but many, many people put on a little garden display of their own. ---
**Author:** ![AdamF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/adamf/32/6246_2.png) [@AdamF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdamF)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/30 "2015-07-07T16:35:35Z")
What would be the point of banning sale of fireworks, when gunpowder is freely available? I am all for regulation though. If you sell a gadget and it says “4 second fuse” on the package, it better burn for at least 4s before it goes boom. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/31 "2015-07-07T18:05:05Z")
> [@AdamF](#): > > What would be the point of banning sale of fireworks, when gunpowder is freely available Or matches. I made a homemade “salute” with match heads and an empty paper towel tube when I was a kid in the early 70’s. Started the shrubs on fire. Was one of the only times in my life I ever heard my Pop say the “F” word. I’d hate to think that it would be illegal to get your hands on a book of matches because I did something stupid as a child. But had it happened today that’s what might of happened. Though my folks were not the type to have pushed for banning anything. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/32 "2015-07-07T18:17:07Z")
> [@AdamF](#): > > What would be the point of banning sale of fireworks, when gunpowder is freely available? > > I am all for regulation though. If you sell a gadget and it says “4 second fuse” on the package, it better burn for at least 4s before it goes boom. Because gunpowder is formulated for a particular function and attributes such as burn rate (which can vary among the dozens of powders out there), while the explosive compounds used in fireworks may require a different type of explosive. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/33 "2015-07-07T18:28:28Z")
You don’t even need gunpowder. Just search the net for instructions for making fireworks, there’s tons of info and you just need the basic components, all of which are easy to buy. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/34 "2015-07-07T19:22:56Z")
Yes! Two young boys found some fireworks and started playing with them , one boy lost a hand and the other boy got burnt. ☹ [Boy loses hand in Boston fireworks accident](http://www.wcvb.com/news/police-2-boys-hurt-in-boston-fireworks-accident/34010104) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/35 "2015-07-07T19:27:39Z")
All banning fireworks would accomplish is to put more people in our jails. Products should only be banned when their existence in society poses such a serious threat that it would be inconceivable to make them legal. If a product has no intrinsic demand(such as trans fats), then that’s a different case, since while it may be nanny statish, we’re not going to be ruining people’s lives over trans fat the way we do over drugs, and in some states, guns. Since alcohol is legal, that means that very few products meet that threshold. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/36 "2015-07-07T19:55:45Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > All banning fireworks would accomplish is to put more people in our jails. The places that ban them now don’t jail anyone, but the fines are pretty high. Ridiculous thing is, it’s not just exploding/flying things that are banned in those locations. Snakes, smoke bombs, and even party poppers are also prohibited. How stupid! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/37 "2015-07-07T19:57:23Z")
Over here they had signs all over saying that illegal fireworks would be confiscated. Wow, how threatening, if you use dangerous fireworks then the police will take them away! Harsh! But yeah, if you say something is a public threat, but you aren’t willing to jail people over it, then it’s not much of a public threat, and thus not worth making illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/38 "2015-07-07T20:04:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > But yeah, if you say something is a public threat, but you aren’t willing to jail people over it, then it’s not much of a public threat, and thus not worth making illegal. So you don’t think fines are a penalty at all? Jail for all people who exceed safe speed limits, etc? ---
**Author:** ![AdamF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/adamf/32/6246_2.png) [@AdamF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdamF)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/39 "2015-07-07T20:48:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Just search the net for instructions for making fireworks, there’s tons of info and you just need the basic components, all of which are easy to buy. I wouldn’t. Homemade explosives are unpredictable. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364/40 "2015-07-07T21:43:43Z")
> [@AdamF](#): > > I wouldn’t. Homemade explosives are unpredictable. But surely that just makes it more exciting? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sale-of-fireworks-be-banned-except-to-trained-professionals/724364.md?page=3)