Elon Musk Sells Flamethrowers: Are They Legal to Own?

Watch out for flamethrower bearing BBQers this summer. Elon Musk, the attention-grabbing entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, has fired up Twitter and legions of his loyal followers with a brand-spanking new toy -- a commercially available flamethrower.

The Future Is Flamethrower?

Musk's flamethrower has already become a hit. Pre-sales have quickly sold out online. There's no word about future flamethrowers hitting the market, so this might be a gag gift or the start of a new trend. But it raises interesting legal questions which, yes, we're here to blog about.

It's Easier to Buy a Flamethrower Than a Gun

You might be surprised to learn that only two states regulate flamethrowers. California requires flamethrower users and buyers to have a permit, while Maryland bans them entirely. But you shouldn't be too surprised. There's never been a wave of flamethrower-related violence to spur states and Congress to enact flamethrower laws. Hence their absence.

All flamethrowers will ship with a complimentary boring fire extinguisher

-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 1, 2018

That might change soon, however. California is already rumbling about a ban on flamethrower sales, and we'd expect other states to follow if necessary.

Use Your Flamethrower Wisely

What's always prohibited are crimes -- no matter what's used to commit them. Most criminal laws criminalize actions - murder, kidnapping, assault, etc. -- and "add on" counts or prison time for using prohibited items.

ELON I BOUGHT 6 FLAMETHROWERS NOW THE TSA IS TELLING ME I'M ON SOME SORT OF WATCHLIST?!? WHAT HAVE I DONE PLEASE HELP

-- Riccardo "fluffyblockchain" Spagni (@fluffypony) February 1, 2018

Those definitions are flexible: a car can be deadly weapon, as can be a surgeon's hands. A flamethrower might pose an interesting case for an appellate court someday, but it's not something we'd expect to be a winning argument.

Related Resources

• Find Your Lawyer (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Is It Legal to Own a Flamethrower? (lifehacker.com)
• Flamethrower Drone Draws Government Ire. Can the FAA Regulate? (FindLaw's Technologist Blog)