That's exactly what I've thought of (and am still thinking of) for our little country. The only problem with that is that authorities can't check if the person purchasing the device is also the one that is shooting it.
Hence, there should also be some sort of registration of which person purchases what kind of specific firework. This person should also have to be able to show all of his purchased and registered fireworks at any time (except for the day(s) that it is legal to use them?). If this person can't show all of the registered fireworks his license should be revoked immediately. And he should be forbidden to use any (heavier) fireworks for the rest of his/her life.
But how on earth should authorities manage a thing like this?
Here in the uk,
most retail consumers really only buy fireworks twice a year, for November 5th and new year, and don't even think of fireworks for the rest of the year.
As far as I can see, most catagory 2 and 3 fireworks are not a concern for the authorities (even 100mm mines) it seems to be aimed mainly at large shellburst rockets and aerial shells, so my thoughts were aimed mainly at only those specific items. (I realise I mentioned mines earlier and this was in hindsight a mistake).
In my opinion, Should a member of the general public wish to purchase aerial shells upto a size limit of say 85 / 100mm, then a training session must be passed, and a certificate / license (as in firearms) issued.
The system seemed to work ok for firearms, as the police monitored and checked people with the license to hold a firearm, (and they were year round monitoring requirements), what I am suggesting is a twice a year monitor need for the most part, with all purchases logged at point of sale, which have to be notified to the authorities by the retailer, IE: who bought the items, how many items, and the address of the licensed purchaser, and when and where the items are to be fired by the purchaser.
This system already exists for purchases of over 50kg composition weight of any class of fireworks, and so this idea is easily applied (simply add the purchase of aerial shells to that regulation and its done!!!).
Those people with no interest in such items need not be trained / licensed, but should still be able to purchase and fire cat2 / cat3 fireworks as they can now.
If this was adopted then of course many other powerful cat 3 fireworks (like the tropicana fanned mentioned above) would probably be added to the list requiring the training / license before purchase, as time went by.
As regards the black market, its always been there and always will, in the fashion and dvd industries it is rife, where there is demand someone will supply!
so don't ban items, keep them available to satisfy demand (with responsibility ie:training / license) and reduce the potential market so far, as to make it un profitable to the black marketeers.
Regards
Reb
