The FDP has rejected the demands of environmental aid, the police union, the German Medical Association, and environmental aid for a ban on private New Year’s fireworks. “I think it’s inappropriate to completely ban private fireworks” said FDP General Secretary Marco Buschmann to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Friday edition).
“That would be collective responsibility. One doesn’t have to like the noise of New Year’s fireworks, but one should allow people the freedom to maintain this tradition once a year” Buschmann said.
To prevent fatal accidents with banned firecrackers, which occurred on New Year’s, one must appeal to the personal responsibility of citizens. Firecrackers of this kind already face multiple-year prison sentences or substantial fines. “If people still put themselves in danger with such firecrackers for their own sake, it’s a matter of voluntary self-endangerment” Buschmann said.
Environmental aid, the police union, and the medical association justify their demands, among other things, with the danger to people, the additional workload for security forces and hospitals, and the environmental pollution caused by rockets.