Some might call the introduction of a “personal flame thrower” as taking purchasing power from the sublime to the ridiculous, but Cincinnati-based Ion Productions is betting on an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign later this week to get the word out on their latest creation.
Ion Production’s web page says their goal is to bring “fun and awesome” products into the world. So they have given us the XM42 personal hand-held flame thrower. The scary part is they say “this is just the beginning.” What scares many people is that in the wrong hands, a flame-thrower could become a lethal weapon. At least two states have taken this into consideration, with California and Maryland banning their sale as well as Canada, at least for now.
A representative of Ion Productions corresponded with the Huffington Post via email. Chris Byers, CEO and Project Lead said while the XM42 should not be used as a weapon, it does have many practical uses, such as melting ice, clearing brush and destroying insect infestations. Byers also wrote, “”We strongly encourage its use only in a safe outdoor area free from inadvertent flammable objects and away from others.”
I hope there is a warning on the device saying it shouldn’t be used to defrost the refrigerator or melt icicles hanging from the eaves of the roof. The flame thrower could certainly turn a winter ice storm into something out of a scene in a National Lampoon Movie. Oh, Gee, I almost forgot to let readers know how much this little device will set them back. It only costs $699.
