The legality of owning a flamethrower by state

From my understanding, the reason most states allow them is largely because they're very useful tools in certain fields of construction, particularly for melting tar.

If I'm mistaken, or if they also have other legitimate uses, feel free to correct me or add additional information..

34

I suppose the key is where the line is drawn between a flamethrower and a very large torch.

25
- A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device.
  
  What do you consider a flamethrower?
  
  How far is ranged?
  
  Construction uses what I would call torches, not flamethrowers
  
  There is very few cases where you want to "throw" flames. It's inefficient. Keeping the flame and the material close is preferred.
  
  Giant pile of tar you want to set on fire as fast as possible? I guess a flamethrower is effective. Burning brush, anything where you're catching something on fire so it spreads.
  
  They use "flamethrowers" on bitumen roofs. But the idea behind the tool is to not throw the flames as far as possible.
  
  I'd define flamethrower as "An incendiary device that disperses uncontrollable flames at a distance"
  
  13
- Flamethrowers typically set fire to a stream of flammable liquid, like gasoline (as a trivial example). Torches use gas, or gas mixtures.
  
  The inherent range differences are a meter (maybe 2) for torches, and flamethrowers do 50-100 m (source: Wikipedia). Just in case that isn't clear, those aren't the same category of device.
  
  6
They are also very useful for controlled burns.

The most important thing is that nobody is using them maliciously so there is no incentive to ban them.

12
- and the reason that there are no bad guys with flamethrowers is that they're terrified of good guys with flamethrowers
  
  14
Traditional flamethrowers have fuel gelling additives that cause the burning fuel to stick to the victim, making them considerably more dangerous than a long flamed torch.

6
I believe they are also used in agriculture.

6
A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device.

What do you consider a flamethrower?

How far is ranged?

Construction uses what I would call torches, not flamethrowers

There is very few cases where you want to "throw" flames. It's inefficient. Keeping the flame and the material close is preferred.

I feel like if you're right they just need a better classification of what a flamethrower is.

Giant pile of tar you want to set on fire as fast as possible? I guess a flamethrower is effective. Burning brush, anything where you're catching something on fire so it spreads.

They use "flamethrowers" on bitumen roofs. But the idea behind the tool is to not throw the flames as far as possible.

I'd define flamethrower as "An incendiary device that disperses uncontrollable flames at a distance"

1

What’s up with Delaware?

18

Their motto is "Come to Delaware. We hate fun!"

8
- Please. With a motto that long you wouldn't be able to fully read the welcome sign before exiting the other side of the state.
  
  That's why the motto is just "TAX FREE SHOPPING"
  
  6
That's Maryland. Delaware is white, whatever that means.

5
- I think that's what they were asking.
  
  6

See I can't see colour, but fun fact, flame based weed abatement systems can be easily purchased in many parts of California, and they are basically just a flame thrower attachment for propane tanks.

13

More of a torch than a flame thrower though

7
- Agreed. I have one and it shoots maybe a foot when you pull the trigger
  
  2
- It is is a hadheld nozzle that ejects propane that is on fire ~3ft for the purpose of burning weeds, I think that is enough to count as a "flame" "thrower"
  
  0
Flame throwers throw something similar to napalm. Weed systems just shoot flame.

3
- Yeah a real flamethrower fires a line of sticky flaming liquid up to 50". It's like saying a BB gun is the same thing as a M4.
  
  2
- Not all flamethrowers throw napalm, as seen flamethrowers predate napalm. A flamethrower made to abate weeds is not nearly as powerful as a military grade one, but it still throws flame. So even if you can't buy a fancy flamethrower that shoots out 20+ feet, you can have some fun with a little propane tank based weed abatement "flamethrower". I wasn't trying to kick up an argument on the technicalities of what is a flamethrower, but your arguments are the weakest thing to support your idea.
  
  0
Torch, not flame thrower.

Vaporous propellant ignition is a torch, usually butane not propane as propane leaves residue on the glass, and burns differently.

Flame throwers are literally a pee stream of fuel that is ignited on the handle by the operator. There is only destructive use with flamethrower as well due to the lack of accurate control.

3

Remember the time Elon made a flame thrower and even that was a piece of shit too?

8

Yup. Strangely, that's why I got perma-banned from Reddit, just for commenting that the thing exists, and posting a link for reference.

6
- Lol nice. I got banned once I found out about Lemmy. After that I simply went to a thread which had a particularly shitty power mod and literally just said, "sounds like something a cringe reddit person would say".
  
  Boom. Permanent admin ban.
  
  10

In my state I can both own a flame thrower and kangaroos. I have no plans at this time.

7

I assume it’s because it’s hard to come up with a legal definition for flamethrower that doesn’t exclude things like blow torches, and there aren’t a lot of incidents involving flamethrowers

6

The difference isn't really that complicated; a flamethrower sprays flaming liquid, a blowtorch sprays flaming gas

3
- Yeah but I can set up my oxy acetylene rig to throw huge beams of fire. To a layman, it’ll look like a flame thrower.
  
  1

Is the California law because of Elon Musk?

5

And his non-flamethrower? Probably not.

5

Now I know why my state apparently swears the most. I want to buy a fucking flamethrower.

5

The colour codes could be more accessible.

5

What do you mean? they're clearly legal everywhere except Delaware, where you have to get a permit

2

You can also make thermite and use it legally in every state! Although you do need certification to transport, so if you don't have one just mix it on site

3

Oh no you got your pulverized aluminum in my powdered iron oxide!

4

Still mad I didn’t buy one of the Tesla ones.

2

That's a toy.

Buy a tool:

https://throwflame.com/products/arc/

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- What the fuck is this website lmao
  
  https://throwflame.com/products/thermonator-robodog/
  
  8
Just get a roofing / weed torch and slap a 3d printed stock on it.

3
- A weed or roofing torch puts out about 500,000 BTUs. You need to think a little bigger.
  
  These put out about 60 times as much, around 30 million BTUs, and a 30' flame. The pilot light on a hot air balloon burner is a 12-18" flame.
  
  The burner cans weigh about 20 pounds, so a bit large to shoulder, but pretty easy to sling.
  
  They burn liquid propane, not vapor, so you'll probably want a forklift tank rather than the usual 20# barbecue bottle.
  
  5

What happened in Maryland‽‽‽

2

duly takes note

2

Ah yes. The Flamethrower. It's origin story is legendary. 🤪

1

“I’d sure like to set those people on fire, but they way TF over there”

2