California's Efforts To Restrict Elon Musk's Flamethrowers Go Down In Flames (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A California state bill that would have more heavily regulated the use of flamethrowers has now effectively fizzled out in a legislative committee. In light of this development, there's nothing to stop Boring Company customers in California from receiving the company's sold-out flamethrowers. On May 26, the day after the bill died in committee, CEO Elon Musk tweeted: "About to ship. @BoringCompany holding flamethrower pickup parties in a week or so, then deliveries begin. Check https://www.boringcompany.com/... for details." After Musk said he would be selling a flamethrower dubbed "Not a Flamethrower" to get around customs, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) authored a bill that would have imposed more restrictions on their acquisition and use.

"I honestly thought it was a joke when I saw the news about this," the assemblyman said in a statement at the time. "This product, in the wake of California's deadliest wildfire year in state history, is incredibly insensitive, dangerous, and most definitely not funny." He added: "There are many times in which technology and inventions benefit society but are not made available to the public. We don't allow people to walk in off the street and purchase military grade tanks or armor-piercing ammunition... I cannot even begin to imagine the problems a flamethrower would cause firefighters and police officers alike."

Comments

To be fair, Santiago has a point.

[Qbertino]

As far as wacky jokes go, this one is a little over the top.

Re: To be fair, Santiago has a point.

[ShanghaiBill]

There are many privately owned army tanks in the US.

Indeed. Privately owned tanks exist, and have never been a problem. Privately owned flame throwers consist of a hose, nozzle, igniter, and compressed air tank. Anyone can put one together, yet there are very few "school flamings".

What is really slick is the combination of the two: The flame tank. These were very effective at close-in destruction bunkers and entrenched positions. They were used on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Alas, flame tanks were banned by the Geneva Convention in 1983, so they don't make 'em anymore.

Re:To be fair, Santiago has a point.

[blindseer]

In fairness, there is something called mil spec.

Yes, that is a thing. If some elected numbskull says I can't have something because it's "mil-spec" then that person needs to be removed from office. I would also like to see them removed from the gene pool.

I was issued "mil-spec" earplugs in the Army. Does this mean I can't have the same kind of ear plugs now that I'm not in the Army any more? Construction battalions will be issued mil-spec steel toed boots, safety goggles, gloves, and again earplugs. If someone wanted to sell these same mil-spec items to civilians then should they be barred from doing so?

Lots of things are mil-spec, like nuts and bolts, socks, eyeglasses, stocking caps, tents, sleeping bags, adhesive tape, bandages. I have a mil-spec ruler on my desk. It's a real deal military surplus 6-inch ruler. I guess I shouldn't have this ruler because it was designed "for use on the battlefield". It is in fact a ruler designed for use on the battlefield, because sometimes it comes in handy to know how large of a hole just got blown into your APC and/or battle-buddy.

Here's my thought on mil-spec or "military grade", if the military can buy it then anyone else should be able to buy it.

Re:What's the range on the thing?

[oic0]

It has about the same range as a $20 harbor freight propane torch used to kill weeds, which is a couple feet. If yours only does a few inches you got ripped off.

over reacting children

[ArylAkamov]

That isn't a fucking flamethrower, it's an expensive weed burner with a cool shape. You can buy them anywhere. It's compressed gas powered as well, so it's very safe.
These people don't know their ass from a gloryhole in a truck stop bathroom.