Posted by Brian
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Sep 6, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Brian is a registered user.

I wish the reporting here were a little better. What they want to bad is not a flamethrower but a propane torch.

If you look at the definition of "Flamethrower" on Dictionary.com you get this: "a weapon, either mounted or portable, that sprays ignited incendiary fuel for some distance."

In California you already need a permit to own a flamethrower:

"HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE - HSC
DIVISION 11. EXPLOSIVES [12000 - 12761] ( Division 11 enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 60. )
PART 3. FLAMETHROWING DEVICES [12750 - 12761] ( Part 3 added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 496, Sec. 1. )

CHAPTER 1. Definitions and Scope [12750 - 12751] ( Chapter 1 added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 496, Sec. 1. )

12750. For purposes of this part, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Flamethrowing device” means any nonstationary and transportable device designed or intended to emit or propel a burning stream of combustible or flammable liquid a distance of at least 10 feet.
(b) “Permitholder” means a person who holds a flamethrowing device permit issued pursuant to this part.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 496, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)

12751. This part shall not apply to the sale, purchase, possession, transportation, storage, or use of a flamethrowing device by a person if all of the following apply:
(a) The person is regularly employed by or a paid officer, employee, or member of a fire department, fire protection district, or firefighting agency of the federal government, the state, a city, a county, a city and county, district, public or municipal corporation, or political subdivision of this state.
(b) The person is on duty and acting within the course and scope of his or her employment.
(c) The flamethrowing device is used by the fire department, fire protection district, or firefighting agency described in subdivision (a) in the course of fire suppression."


Please not that it says a flamethrower emits a stream of flammable or combustible LIQUID. What the board is discussing banning does not so that, it uses compressed flammable gas, this burns much faster and does not go nearly as far "from the pictures I have seen a couple feet. What Musk refers to is a propane torch of the type commonly used to burn weeds or in the application of roofing material where the tar needs to be heated to adhere to the roofing material. You can find lots of them on Amazon.com by searching for "Weed Torch", "Roofing Torch" or "Snow Torch". Don't believe me, try it yourself.

So this article is wrong in many ways, and ways that are very easy to check.

P.S. I find it funny they bother to discuss fireworks because illegal ones are constantly going off and no law enforcement seems to care. That was a discussion on Nextdoor if anyone is interested