Tighter controls or time to stop? What Echo readers think about banning the sale of fireworks
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The current law states that fireworks can only be purchased from registered sellers for private use between October 15 and November 10, December 26 to 31 and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year.
It is illegal for under 18s to buy fireworks and they must not be set off between 11pm and 7am, except for on Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight and New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am.
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Hide AdLast year, a petition calling for the Government to ban fireworks received 305,579 signatures, prompting MPs to debate the issue in Parliament.
This is what you said on the Sunderland Echo Facebook page:
Alison Guthrie: “They are anti-social and dangerous and the adverse impact on pets is unforgivable.
"Fireworks should only be sold to licensed companies for organised displays. They should not be available to private households."
Emma Holyoak: “We've set fireworks off every year on Bonfire Night, and that night only, since I was little.
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Hide Ad"As long as they're done on that night alone and responsibly, I can’t see the harm.”
Shirley Stephenson: “Both humans and animals suffer because of the noise. They are sold far too early for November 5, people set them off all hours and days with no consideration for anyone else.”
David Bell: “I don’t think they should be banned for general public, just tighter controls and only sold on certain days so you can’t set them off weeks early.”
Rob Victor Mcavoy: “Why should they be banned? It’s been a tradition for years.”
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Hide AdNorma Whenary: “Too many accidents are caused by them not being handled properly.”
Anita Byron-Forster: “I live near a park and fireworks have been going off every night for about two weeks now. My little dog is past herself and nothing calms her down.”
Ann Stuart-Heath: “Our poor veterans with PTSD go through hell and our animals go through the same. Time to call a halt to it.”