John, with respect your complaint about fireworks being used irresponsibly is just about in the same league as my complaints about dog-owners leaving dogshit on the streets. Neither complaint adds up to an argument for banning said nuisances. My view on fireworks is that they should be used in organised, licensed displays only and on not many dates. There should be a charge for the licence to reflect the costs of clearing up and for the costs to the fire service and health service of standing by or dealing with accidents. My view on dogs is that they should be licensed via a fee that reflects what it costs councils to clear up the mess and empty those horrid dog bins and should include a contribution to the NHS which has to treat infections picked up from dog faeces. The problem as I see it in both cases is that we have allowed an ethos to exist of freedom to do what you bloody well like instead of an ethos of consideration and responsibility to others. Both fireworks and dogs are voluntary and both impact others. Paying up for the privilege of having these things seems only fair.