Any Oters Ordering Themselves A Flamethrower Before They Are Banned?

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In the wake of two companies now selling the first commercially available flamethrowers in the United States, at least one mayor has called for increased restrictions on their use. And to no one's surprise, the prospect of prohibition has driven an increase in sales.

"Business is skyrocketing higher than ever due to the discussion on prohibition," Chris Byars, the CEO of the Ion Productions Team based in Troy, Michigan, told Ars by e-mail. "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."

Byars added that the company has sold 350 units at $900 (£600) each, including shipping, in recent weeks. That's in addition to the $150,000 (£100,000) the company raised on IndieGoGo.

The Ion product, known as the XM42, can shoot fire over 25 feet (7.5m) and has more than 35 seconds of burn time per tank of fuel. With a full tank of fuel, it weighs just 10 pounds (4.5kg).

Another company—XMatter based in Cleveland, Ohio—sells a similar device for $1,600 (£1,000) each, but it weighs 50 pounds (23kg). However, this device has approximately double the range of the XM42. Quinn Whitehead, the company’s co-founder, did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment.

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