Are Fireworks and Shell Casings Safe for Children to Handle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the safety concerns of children handling fireworks and shell casings, particularly in a home environment. Participants explore the implications of finding such items, the potential hazards they pose, and the appropriate parental responses based on the age and understanding of the children involved.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express strong concern about the presence of fireworks and shell casings in the home, suggesting that they could be dangerous and warrant a serious discussion with the children involved.
  • Others argue that the level of concern should depend on the age of the children and their ability to handle such items safely, citing personal experiences with explosives at a young age.
  • There is a suggestion that the items may be related to construction tools, specifically for ballistic nailing, raising questions about their origin and safety.
  • Participants discuss the potential hazards of low-velocity tools and the differences between these and actual bullets, noting that without a projectile, they may not be as harmful.
  • Some contributions mention the lack of warning labels on the items, indicating a concern about their accessibility and the implications for safety.
  • One participant shares a historical anecdote about military training devices, emphasizing the need for caution when handling powerful items.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the level of danger posed by the items in question. While some advocate for caution and strict discussions, others believe that children may be capable of handling them safely depending on their maturity.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying assumptions about the nature of the items, their intended use, and the appropriate parental responses, which remain unresolved. There is also a lack of clarity regarding the specific characteristics of the items mentioned.

DaveC426913
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As a parent, how would you feel about finding these items in your house?

http://www.davesbrain.ca/miscpix/shells.jpg

These are about the size of .22 cartridges. It says 'cartridges for low velocity tools'. That's like an airgun, right?

I would be very unhappy to find fireworks hidden under my couch, so I'm very unhappy to find these.

What I don't know is if this is cause for concern merely like firecrackers (a talking-to), or dangerous, like bullets (grounds for consequences of extreme prejudice).
 
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DaveC426913 said:
I would be very unhappy to find fireworks hidden under my couch, so I'm very unhappy to find these.
I hide my fireworks form my parents under the couch all the time
 
DaveC426913 said:
As a parent, how would you feel about finding these items in your house?

I would be very unhappy to find fireworks hidden under my couch, so I'm very unhappy to find these.
Depending on where they were, I would have a stern discussion with the individual invovled. They are 'incendiary' and a potential fire hazard. Such things should be stored in a metal container in a cool place, free of static charge.

DaveC426913 said:
These are about the size of .22 cartridges. It says 'cartridges for low velocity tools'. That's like an airgun, right?
It depends on what is meant by 'air' gun. Does one mean BB-gun or pellet gun, or does one mean pneumatic, i.e. higher pressure, which could drive a nail into a piece of hardwood or someone body.

DaveC426913 said:
What I don't know is if this is cause for concern merely like firecrackers (a talking-to), or dangerous, like bullets (grounds for consequences of extreme prejudice).
I'd say, stern discussion. Without a projectile (bullet or nail) they are not so harmful.

Are blank guns harmful? - http://www.motionpicturearmourer.com/q5.htm

How did one get access to the cartidges? Perhaps a course in gun/firearm safety would be appropriate?
 
I'd say that a discussion is in order since you didn't give permission for them to be there, but what kind should depend upon how old your kids are. They might be perfectly capable of handling them safely and don't think that it's a big deal. I had explosives of one sort or another around the house since I was about 9. My parents thought that it was great that I had an interest in something. They were quite happy with me when I used a sulfur bomb to rid our residence of a bee hive.
 
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Read the label, they are for low velocity tools, like a nail gun, power is rated #3 (scale is 1 to 6). Burn rate is slower than a true 22 bullet. Would need a mechanism to fire it like a tool gun. Could also be used as a low power blank for a 22 pistol, if it's a rim fire shell instead of a pin fired one.

A cherry bomb would have more power.

Largest firework I remember was back in the 70's a friend had some shell burst simulators (used by the military for training), bascially the same power as a hand grenade, but with a plaster of paris shell instead of metal, and a longer fuse (about 5 seconds after pin pull, along with a whistling sound similar to a picolo pete before the big boom). You had to be careful not to set on off near any rocks, or anything else that could become a projectile, and not to close to homes less windows would get broken.

I still have my lighter fluid tennis ball can cannon, which is quite loud.
 
My kids are adult, so outside the home I would not have any complaint about the mischief they get into. But they have a habit of bringing their mischief into the home, despite our wishes.

My concern is carelessness and safety. I would not let them bring fireworks indoors. If these had been actual bullets, I would be threatening them with expulsion.

I suspect these are purchasable at Home Depot. They don't even have a warning label on the box.
 
Apparently you've never been to the children's gun deparment so common in Texas super-market stores (as noted in a King of the Hill episode). I like the names of the products, "Little Johnnie's first 30-06", or "Little Johnnies first 12 guage", or "Little Johnnies first Mac 10".
 

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