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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."
"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."
As far as wacky jokes go, this one is a little over the top.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
After Musk said he would be selling a flamethrower dubbed "Not a Flamethrower" to get around customs
And also for the simple fact that it's not a flamethrower. It's a blowtorch in the shape of a squirt gun.
I've used blow torches to kill weeds, they only go a few inches out. It's why they're called "torches". If the range is minuscule it's fine, but if the thing can shoot flames several feet I'd have problems with it. And not because it's a weapon (a gun would be a better choice if you're trying to kill folks) but because CA's had a drought for ages and the last thing they need is numbnuts running around setting stuff on fire for fun (which appears to be the core market for this thing).
TL;DR, It's fun & games until folks lose their homes in wildfires.
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It's sort of odd for Santiago to use those examples because you can buy a tank in the US no problem. It's only the main gun and machine guns that are regulated, with the main gun requiring a $200 destructive device tax as well as the same $200 DD tax on each shell. But if you don't want the guns on it you can buy a tank just fine with no background checks.
The same goes for armor piercing ammunition. The ban in the US on it only applies to handgun calibers. You can still buy black tipped 30-06 from WWII.
I honestly thought it was a joke when I saw the news about this," the assemblyman said in a statement at the time. "This product, in the wake of California's deadliest wildfire year in state history, is incredibly insensitive, dangerous, and most definitely not funny.
Maybe if the commies in Commifornia gave up communism they wouldn't have to deal with Hellfire and mockery.
For his children? Yes. For other adults? No, of course not, that's what it means to be an adult. Also, you don't get to treat other adults as children either.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
I cannot even begin to imagine the problems a flamethrower would cause firefighters and police officers alike."
Just look around. Nothing has changed. Flamethrowers have been legal in CA since before it became a state. And yet to the best of my knowledge there isn't a single instance, ever, of one being used maliciously. (please correct me if I'm wrong)
This attempt at legislation looks more like a some kind of "OMG! Flamethrowers are scary! We have to outlaw them!" type of knee jerk BS I've come to expect from California lawmakers.
Musk doesn't have a conscience. It's that simple. No sign that he understands the consequences of his actions whatsoever.
Come on, hes basically selling a pocket lighter, not heroin to children, like the drug company Bayer used to do
I've not looked up the specs, but as one who is slightly familiar with real flamethrowers, (and I doubt this is one), then you have to be really careful...if not, you're just as likely to cover yourself with flaming liquid as you are to "have fun"...or whatever the hell you're trying to do with it.
And the teenager was selling something to people?
Ezekiel 23:20
Musk doesn't have a conscience. It's that simple. No sign that he understands the consequences of his actions whatsoever.
This statement is obtuse and you are an obtuse person.
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
That's nothing compared to the problems a flamethrower would cause to marshmallows.
#DeleteFacebook
Because it is immoral and should be against the law for richer people to pay poorer people above market for their homes and turn crime ridden cess pools into nice areas to live.
Consequences are for poor people. If people lose their homes due to other people playing with his toys, well, it is their own fault for living so close to other people!
Come on, hes basically selling a pocket lighter, not heroin to children, like the drug company Bayer used to do
Come on, Bayer didn't just sell heroin to kids, they made chemical weapons for use against US soldiers. Which of course is why they lost the US trademarks for Heroin and Aspirin.
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
You act like parents aren't constantly hypocritical when parenting, about a great many subjects. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, driving, curse words, porn, video games, firearms, power tool safety, household chemicals, etc.
All of these things are widely available, and used / abused by parents while those same parents tell their children not to.
It's a wonder that society hasn't collapsed, according to you.
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
Because I'm sure there won't be a liability waiver involved in the purchase of such a thing.
Get real.
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
Oh, society is collapsing I assure you.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
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.
Good point, but 'military grade' is widely understood (but vague term) that is used to describe weapons that aren't really useful unless you just want to cause carnage and destruction.
Grenade launchers, fully automatic weapons, crewed weapons, LAW rockets, cannons, Armor-piercing, incendiary, and explosive ammunition, mines and similar devices are probably fair to describe as military grade weaponry. Assault rifles are a bit more fuzzy, but mostly because lax laws have allowed them to proliferate as 'hunting rifles'.
Tommy guns were available via mail order catalogues in the 1920s to the public, but then later went on to be used by the army in ww2. Did the army call them Civilian Grade weapons? Any label you slap on something is going to be somewhat vague and fuzzy, because of the nature of people and language, but I think most people understand basically what military grade weapons means.
HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
designed for killing men over long periods of time with minimal maintenance. The latter part is usually what's emphasize in marketing. The former part is what worries people.
Based on what I've read this 'flamethrower' isn't military grade in either sense. Although as other's have pointed out on this thread the problem is that it encourages playing with fire in a state hit hard with drought.
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Also, if I was a smoker and I did so in front of my kids regularly, then my kids took up the habit I would sure as hell blame myself. I don't think there is any doubt that parenting is leading by example.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Besides, there's so much land not in the city they can take their money to and start a new life outside a lot of poverty.
Not a lot of jobs out of the city, nor practical transit to and from where there is jobs.
Tanks are legal to own. Just a bit expensive. And if the main gun is operative a tax stamp is needed for the destructive device. Armor piercing, even anti tank rounds are available as well...
.22 caliber round in a sabot are high enough velocity that they’ll defeat armor. Smart people that have criminal intent would just violate any restrictive laws, make their own. It’s not a technological barrier.
Politicians seldom actually research. And regards armor piercing rounds? Tungsten balls put into hollowpoint ammo suffice for light armor, and large game hunting rounds that aren’t armor piercing, will pierce armor. The military personnel care about efficiency. So they want lighter weight armor piercing rounds. They need to keep 40-60 pounds of MRE, grenades, clothing, etc. with them, but bad guys just need to carry ammo. A military weight burden of nitro express rifle rounds is quite a number of them. Heck 12 gauge magnum shells with 1 and 1/4 ounce slugs is effective against most body armor. But hunting rounds with a
Of course in California just order an armored upscale vehicle protected to your desired specs. Gun ports optional.
- Tjp
I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!
When governments targeted gun makers, the gun makers just decided to limit their liability and not sell to police or other government entities in those jurisdictions. Barret won’t sell to NY or CA. Some go farther Magpul moved out of Colorado. Weatherby left California for Wyoming. So not just refusing sales, moving jobs too.
- Tjp
I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!
Smoothbore front loaded cannon don’t require a permit. They use black powder and are relics...
- Tjp
I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!
Exactly backwards.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
Wait a second, fire hasn't been a toy forever?
I misspent my youth. Black powder is also a toy.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
People need a place to live, a place to work, and a way to get there and back. Should each of those be in or out of the city?