In 2015, MP Eliot Engel introduced the « flamethrowers? Oh, really? A law in the 114th Congress that would regulate flamethrowers identical to machine guns, which have long been largely illegal for civilians in the United States. This bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, but no further action was taken. [13] Ironically, the prospect of potentially banning flamethrowers increased awareness of their legality, with the CEO of the Ion Productions team telling Ars Technica in 2015, « We have received tremendous support from police, firefighters, our customers and interested parties to keep them legal. » [12] The bill never made it out of the 114th Congress committee. [14] It`s a bit crazy to think that these potential weapons of war are so readily available, but when you think about their main purpose, it makes sense. Apart from war tactics, flamethrowers are traditionally used for gardening. Flamethrowers reduce vines, weeds and the occasional hornet`s nest and are a very handy tool in the farming community. Not to mention, flamethrowers themselves are usually a very thoughtful handle element, which means that if you`re not paying attention and start leaking, you won`t want to use it. This would make it a bad weapon of choice for anyone intending to do harm by chasing someone with a flamethrower. Add to that the fact that the range of such a device, in Elon Musk`s Boring Company Flamethrowers, is just over a foot, is hardly lethal in terms of range. Yes, a flamethrower: As in, a weapon that fires flames.
They are 100% legal and now easier to obtain than you ever imagined. However, some buy a flamethrower for the thrill. And according to XMatter`s research, it`s legal to do this everywhere except Maryland, where flamethrowers are banned, and California, where they require a permit. Until 2015, there were virtually no flamethrowers marketed to civilians in the United States. The only flamethrowers available were M1 and M2 flamethrowers from World War II. [1] Two start-ups began producing and selling flamethrowers for civilian use in the United States in 2015, Throwflame (originally known as XMatter) based in Cleveland and Ion Productions Team based in Detroit. [2] While many buyers wanted flamethrowers just for fun, both companies identified true civilian applications for flamethrowers, including brush control and starting controlled burns, as well as melting snow and ice. [2] [3] One of the founders of Throwflame reported in 2015 that « seventy percent of our market is made up of farmers who use flamethrowers for agriculture. » [1] The Ion Productions team stated that its flamethrowers are not marketed or intended for personal defense.
[4] Throwflame.com created the world`s most powerful personal flamethrower. The XL18`s revolutionary design allows flames to shoot more than 110 feet deep while maintaining easy portability. Flamethrowers can be used for agricultural purposes, to melt ice or to start controlled combustion. You can buy a flamethrower online. A quick search on Amazon for the term reveals low-quality versions of the tools for around $49. Some municipalities have also attempted to impose bans or restrictions on flamethrowers. At the request of the city`s mayor, the Warren, Michigan City Council considered banning flamethrowers in 2015. The effort ended without any action being taken, as council found that there had been no complaints about the flamethrowers to city council. [4] A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed: There are no federal regulations or restrictions on flamethrowers. Ironically, flamethrowers are not considered « firearms. » The National Firearms Act defines a firearm as a weapon that ejects a projectile through the action of an explosive, which is not the case with a flamethrower.
Maryland is the only U.S. state that completely bans flamethrowers. Possession and/or use of a flamethrower in Maryland is punishable by a $250,000 fine and/or up to 25 years in prison. [10] Flamethrowers are also severely restricted in California, but permits for their use can be obtained in certain circumstances, particularly in the production and filming of movies and television shows. [2] Specifically, California prohibits « any non-stationary, portable device designed or intended to emit or power a burning stream of flammable or flammable liquid over a distance of at least 10 feet » without a permit from a fire marshal. This definition excludes the flamethrower manufactured by The Boring Company, as this device does not exceed the limit distance and does not project a jet of flammable liquid. [11] In the other 48 states and the District of Columbia, there are no state or federal restrictions on their use or ownership, although some municipalities regulate them. [2] Mark Hoffman`s YouTube channel focused primarily on shotguns and pistols until he got his hands on an XM42, one of two personal flamethrowers launched this year and the subject of his noisy video review. Anyone with $899 and an internet connection can buy one.
At Jordan Law, we pride ourselves on bringing you the details of the interesting and the obscure. And while we`re telling you that you can safely use a flamethrower in accordance with our state law, whether it`s Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, Orange or Sumter counties (non-exclusive list), use these things wisely and not for people. As a bonus, Florida regulates dragon-style shotgun ammunition, armor-piercing projectiles, or any projectile bullet that creates a ball of flame. That would amount to crimes, so don`t confuse them with Florida`s lax stance on flamethrowers. If you are not sure, give us a call and we will be happy to use our legal knowledge to point you in the right direction. And if you`re with an unfortunate law enforcement agency that says, « You can`t have this flamethrower, » you can put it down and say, « You`ll hear about Jordan Law. » Of course, it is logical to think that a weapon that brought pure terror to the battlefields of World War I would be completely illegal. But after extensive research into the existing laws of our state of Florida, and out of curiosity downright curious for the rest of the United States, we came to the conclusion that the only state in the books that regulates flamethrowers is Maryland (where it is completely banned) and California (where a permit is required). But here in the Sunshine State, there are currently virtually no regulations prohibiting such a purchase. Our flamethrowers offer the power, performance and safety needed to smoke even the biggest challenges. Unleash the true power of your flamethrower with our fuel-thickening napalm blend Until this year, if you wanted to own a flamethrower, you probably would have had to build it yourself or spend a lot of money on a vintage World War II weapon. Starting in 2015, several companies began selling flamethrowers to civilians.
This has led to increased interest in their regulation, with unsuccessful attempts to regulate flamethrowers at the federal and state levels starting in 2022. Proponents of the regulation pointed to the potential dangers of civilian use of flamethrowers, while opponents identified legitimate uses and pointed to the nearly non-existent record of flamethrower incidents in the United States. The possession of flamethrowers is an issue that the federal government leaves to the states. There are no federal laws that relate in any way to flamethrowers. Due to the lack of federal laws and the scarcity of flamethrowers, there are relatively few states that choose to regulate flamethrowers. California has decided to ban flamethrowers. The penalty for possession of flamethrowers can be up to one year in jail or a fine of about $10,000. California remains the only state to have banned flamethrowers. « Seventy percent of our market are farmers who use flamethrowers for agriculture, » said Quinn Whitehead, co-founder of XMatter.
« The others are fire departments, pyrotechnicians, special effects companies for the cinema and many people in the forestry sector who prevent forest fires » by cleaning dry undergrowth with controlled burns. The license remains in effect for 90 days after the date the licensee establishes legal residence in the state. Depending on the wording, flamethrowers may fall within the definition of fireworks in certain locations where fireworks are prohibited.