A large majority of the panel is in favor of the upcoming fireworks ban. “Unfortunately it is necessary, it’s a shame that people cannot deal with fireworks normally,” says a panel member from Purmerend. Proponents of the fireworks ban cite damage, injuries and many frightened pets as reasons.
Participants also started looking at fireworks differently. “My father’s birthday is on December 31, and from a very young age I was allowed to go outside with him when he lit fireworks. I was there well into my adult life,” says Angelique from Alkmaar, who is now in favor of the ban. “Frightened animals, damage to nature, but also damage to other people’s belongings and all the rubbish left on the street because people are too lazy to clean it up.”
Doubts about enforcement
27 percent of the panel members are against the fireworks ban. They call it patronizing, think it is a nice tradition and point out that illegal fireworks are mainly the problem. “Everything is being taken away, now that the fireworks ban is coming, you will get a lot of illegal fireworks. And it will then no longer be enforceable,” says a panel member from Texel.
More respondents doubt the feasibility of enforcing a ban. Additional proposed measures, such as controls on online sales and border controls, are not seen as sufficient because they believe there is not enough capacity for them. In any case, proponents hope that the nuisance will already decrease and think that it just takes time.
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