There is now a mad scramble to purchase flamethrowers after state governments were reported to be mulling a ban on flamethrowers, as reported previously by HNGN. A bill in Michigan, for instance, proposes that ownership will be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
"Business is skyrocketing higher than ever due to the discussion on prohibition," Chris Byars, CEO of Ion Productions Team, a manufacturer of flamethrowers, said in an Ars Technica report. "I'm a huge supporter of personal freedom and personal responsibility. Own whatever you like, unless you use it in a manner that is harmful to another or other's property. We've received a large amount of support from police, fire, our customers, and interested parties regarding keeping them legal."
Presently, it is perfectly legal to purchase or own flamethrowers, except in Maryland where it is outlawed outright, and to some extent in California, which requires a permit of ownership.
There is some grey area in regards to regulation of flamethrowers, as there is no specific branch of government or agency that is set aside to ensure they're handled properly and safely.
"These devices are not regulated as they do not qualify as firearms under the National Firearms Act," Corey Ray, from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, told Ars Technica.
Authorities are increasingly getting concerned with the unfettered use of flamethrowers.
"My concern is that flamethrowers in the wrong hands could cause catastrophic damage either to the person who is using it or more likely to the person who is being targeted," said Mayor Jim Fouts of Warren, Michigan in an Ars Technica interview.
Previously, the exorbitant cost of acquiring a military-grade unit is thought to deter usage. But companies such as Ion Productions Team have changed this by manufacturing cheaper variants. A unit, for example, can be purchased as low as $900, BGR reported. The Michigan bill is expected to be replicated in other states.
"Usually those sort of people don't understand the practical uses of a flamethrower," Quinn Whitehead of XMatter, the team that manufactures the X15 flamethrower, countered in a story by Popular Mechanics. The device has practical and legitimate uses such as in farming and firefighting, he said.
