DETROIT (AP) – A suburban Detroit official is trying to extinguish the use of personal flamethrowers, which are being sold online by two Midwest companies, in his city.
The companies, located in the Detroit area and Cleveland, claim their devices can be used for recreation or to control weeds and insect hives, clear snow and ice, clear brush and start a bonfire.
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts calls the proposed uses “pretty specious” and “silly,” the Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/1JqGd6s ) reported. Fouts wants to ban the storage, use and possession of flamethrowers in Warren because he believes the devices are dangerous and could damage property and cause house fires, injury or death.
“You know something like this will be used by bad people for bad things,” Fouts said, adding that he thought it was “unthinkable” such a device would be sold to the general public.
According to the two companies making the devices, flamethrowers are legal in Michigan and most other states. They argue that flamethrowers have been used for decades, that people should be able to own one if they want to, and that misuse can happen with any product.