This deadly item is banned in the USA (I own it..I'm not even allowed to re-sell it.. too dangerous)

[SoCalDem]

Someone took the time to create a law that banned this...why? because it might kill children (actually it did kill a few.....totally by accident)


An item designed and sold as a harmless...fun...toy, but which accidentally killed some kids, gets banned, but items which when used for their designed purpose, definitely kills people...... they are not banned, and are worshiped by 1/3 or more of the population

[slackmaster]

1. I'm forwarding a link to this post to Agent Mike.

Last edited Mon Dec 17, 2012, 03:44 PM - Edit history (1)

I snapped a screen shot of it, so don't try anything funny.

ETA - In all seriousness, Jarts should not be banned.

[msanthrope]

2. I have them, too. We play them once a year, at Thanksgiving. Carefully. nt

[zappaman]

3. I remember those!

Never saw anyone get hurt by them, but I suppose you could.
Then again, you can get hurt by almost anything...

[FSogol]

13. There were 2 deaths by lawn darts, There were 3,200 injuries, mostly on children under age 15.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Report on them from 1988:

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml87/87042.html

[Squinch]

41. But something over 9000 children die from gun violence every year. You can resell a gun no problem.

[AtheistCrusader]

60. Well, significantly more than lawn darts but...

your number is way WAAAAY off, unless you count suicides as 'gun violence'.

Which would make jumping deaths what... bridge violence? Gravity violence?

[Squinch]

79. I got that from a chart in a DU post today, and now I can't find it. But the Brady site has some

interesting stats:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/Facts/Gun_Death_and_Injury_Stat_Sheet_2008__2009_FINAL.pdf

It does say that the 9000 number is off, BUT it says that about 17,000 kids die or are injured in gun violence in a given year, and only about 1000 of those are suicides or suicide attempts. Their number for child gun deaths per year is 2966, so I'm not sure what the 9000 number on the chart was or how I misread it.

Thanks for the heads up.

[AtheistCrusader]

80. Including injured makes 100% more sense.

That's ballpark about right.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. "you'll put your eye out, kid"!

we had them as kids and they were one of our favorite toys!

don't you love the wording - "missile game - for the whole family"!

[SoCalDem]

6. Cold War Era, Baby !

We paid $2.98 at Sears.. The box has the original price sticker on it

[trailmonkee]

5. .

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. I used to know a child (he's grown now) who was awarded $2M after

sustaining a serious head injury from one of those things. He will have effects from that injury all his life.

I don't know how guns get banned though.

[HeavyMeta]

8. I remember those.

That and croquet...

[SoCalDem]

9. We still have our croquet set as well..

I got hit in the forehead with a croquet ball ...took me to my knees..and yes..
"it did leave a mark"

[FSogol]

14. That explains so much.

Just kidding.

[SoCalDem]

15. I was born in 1949... ALL our toys were "deadly "

[FSogol]

16. I was born in 1965. If our toys weren't sufficiently deadly, we made them more deadly.

I still miss the concrete and steel playground equipment.

[SoCalDem]

17. Jungle Gyms on asphalt... two-story metal slippery-slides.....ah the memories

Last edited Mon Dec 17, 2012, 07:22 PM - Edit history (1)

and the merry-go-round that wobbled and dragged you as someone shoved you on their way on it

[Euphoria]

66. and how those lovely metal slides

burned when you slid down them after they'd been heating up in the sun. And I still have playground asphalt scars on my knees.

[geardaddy]

45. Yes, I can't tell you how many times I fell from Jungle Gyms.

Born in '65 here too.

[Thav]

19. You misspelled "fun"

[SoCalDem]

20. huh?

[thelordofhell]

27. I do believe he means you spelled fun "d-e-a-d-l-y"

They can have my lawn darts when they pry them from my cold dead fingers

[Squinch]

43. LOL!

[llmart]

101. LOL

I was born in 1949 and I agree! Well, the hula hoop wasn't deadly.

Hey, compared to kids today, what with all the "dangerous" things we did and played with, it's a wonder we're still here. My God, I rode a bike without a HELMET! What were my parents thinking?

And I wish I had a nickel for every time my brother steered the sled into a tree with me on the back. Oh, and ice skating on a farmer's pond where we, the kids, made the decision if the ice was thick enough or not. Ha. Ha. Egads.

However, I do remember the neighbor kid who actually did shoot his sister's eye out with a BB gun. But they were a redneck family from West Virginia who thought guns were an appropriate toy for a 10 year old boy.

[Dustlawyer]

69. Had lots of fun with them at the beach every year.

[uncle ray]

10. you can get replacement parts for them online.

the ban really isn't taken all that seriously by anybody but the original manufacturer. poor example IMO.

[SoCalDem]

12. thanks for your concern over my "poor example"

[JanMichael]

21. What a silly comment

I can get parts for a 64 Studebaker Lark too....the fact the car company shut down wasn't really taken seriously by anyone but the manufactuer.

Please. I haven't seen a set of metal lawn darts in decades...my friends with children would not even recognize them today. That's pretty "serious" I think.

[barbtries]

11. it is seriously senseless.

i hope this is a tipping point, and some new laws will be enacted.

[WinkyDink]

18. I blame the Founding Fathers.

[RomneyLies]

22. They were banned after three children died.

Just three.

[Remmah2]

23. Are those the hollow point or soft point edition?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

63. fool metal jacket

[Snotcicles]

24. We use to play catch with'em, toss them underhand. nt

[Remmah2]

25. Snipe hunting. nt

nt

[liberal N proud]

26. I have a set too

Still in the box

[trailmonkee]

29. you inspired me to do this graphic... what do you think?

[Snotcicles]

30. +1

[SoCalDem]

31. Fantastic..

[trailmonkee]

34. I'll post it on some of the Facebook pages I frequent....

I think this might get accepted... the last one I posted got 7,000 likes? lots of people read theses pages and I think the message behind what you posted was great... Thank You!!

[nc4bo]

35. Sharing.

Thanks for creating this.

[trailmonkee]

37. props to SoCalDem...

made a great point

[nc4bo]

40. +1. Crazy times we're living in. nm

[geardaddy]

48. I'm stealing this.

Awesome!

[NoMoreWarNow]

58. I assume you don't mind if we share...

[trailmonkee]

70. of course not...stole the content from socaldem anyhow :)

[neverforget]

89. Really puts things in perspective. Thanks and great job!

[Buck Turgidson]

94. Brilliant!

I just FB'ed it but I don't know how to give you credit.

[trailmonkee]

95. no worries, its on other fb pages and is sparking lots of interesting convo

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. when were they outlawed?

[SoCalDem]

33. 1988?

I think that was the year.

[Jim Lane]

82. Correct! You win a set of Jarts... oops, no, I have to give you a Bushmaster instead.

From the Wikipedia article about "Lawn darts":

On December 19, 1988, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lawn darts from sale in the United States due to their hazards as a flying projectile with a sharp metal point causing multiple deaths.[1]

Shortly after, in 1989, they were also banned in Canada.[2] Since then, alternatives have surfaced that are available for sale in Canada that are made of plastic.

It is possible to import parts of a lawn dart - plastic flights, metal bodies, and steel spigots - as well as a complete set of replacement parts to repair damaged lawn darts, into the US and Canada. However, fully assembled individual darts, sets, and kits are banned from entry by US and Canada customs.

[Liberal_in_LA]

36. Why aren't Pinatas banned? Pinatas send many people to the ER each year.

[PatrynXX]

46. believe America's Funniest Home Video's

points this out quite often. ouch. can't pin the donkey much anymore either.

[Scootaloo]

38. And remember; Jarts would be covered by the 2nd amendment!

After all, darts and javelins are weapons, and thus "arms"

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

39. Well if Jarts were designed to kill, constitutionally protected and worshiped by 1/3 of Americans,

they'd still be around. But they're not.

[geardaddy]

42. We had this dangerous toy.

Creepy Crawlers.

[Squinch]

47. OMG!!! I LOVE Creepy Crawlers!!! And they had the flower version too!

Actually, you can still get these. I got one for my niece a few years ago.

[geardaddy]

51. Yeah, but can you still get 3rd-degree burns from them?

Those were the days.

[Squinch]

64. The heat source is much more enclosed, so it is much harder. But I guess you could hold a match to

your hand while the bugs cook? Because tradition is important.

[geardaddy]

67. Or just have someone burn you with a curling iron or something.

[Squinch]

71. so you can include your friends in the fun! It encourages social skills!

[geardaddy]

76. I think we're onto something here!

And for lunch we can make cornballs.

[Squinch]

81. And after the cornballs we can play with some Click Clacks! Remember those??

Pink and purple sparkly nunchucks for kids!!

[geardaddy]

83. Oh yeah!

[cascadiance]

109. Remember playing with those a lot as a kid...

I remember a few good wrist bruises too...

[mainstreetonce]

49. There is no Jarts lobby

If there was a NJA it would still be on the market.

[randome]

50. This and the Strange Change Machine were my favorites!

[sufrommich]

53. Oh, how my brother and I loved our creepy

crawler maker. I forgot all about them, we burned the shit out of fingers making those.

[geardaddy]

54. Yep!

My brother had one of those. That thing terrified me!

[Cobalt Violet]

62. I want one again!

Haven't played with that in many years.

[Princess Turandot]

104. The best toy ever...

In addition to the hot metal molds, the goop did smell a little funky when it cooked, but what a great toy it was.

[PatrynXX]

44. Own quite a few fireworks

Rather illegal to shoot them off in Iowa. and um I tend to do it with responsibility so why would I shoot something that goes up in the sky if I don't know where it comes down. We did this in WI once. bottle rocket landed on a house. we wondered it down just in case. he blew up in the air then landed. course bottle rocks never work right unless one holds them in hand. so gloves on. otherwise unless your going for earplugs if one just blows up right there at least you lose your hearing but not the hand. But guns. oh totally legal to let kids use those. I'd prefer to fire off fireworks... Especially when the locals don't do July 4th

[Lordquinton]

56. I remember Independance day in Iowa

Not celebrated on the 4th, did it a couple days early, same with Halloween too, didn't like it at all.

[hockeynut57]

59. i had esres model rockets

heavily modfied estes rockets. would surely be illegal by todays standards.

[geardaddy]

77. We put together Estes rockets in grade school

as a science project. Those were fun!

[Harry Monroe]

74. Nah, bottlerockets work best when you get a length of pipe and shoot them at people

At least that's what we did in my neighborhood. Bottle rocket wars, we called it. Some crazy shit growing up in the '60's and 70's. How did we ever survive?

You'll put your eye out is very apt here!!

[SoCalDem]

88. We used to tie cherry bombs together and drop them under man hole covers to see those covers

blast into the air.. Modern kids have never seen a cherry bomb

[randome]

52. The Jarts hoops we had were full of holes on the outer rim.

[tech3149]

55. I still have a set in the shed

Pretty funny to see a 59 y/o fart playing with them in the back yard.

[demokatgurrl]

57. Also banned

Some chocolate candies from Germany that have toys inside. I can't recall the name and I don't know that they killed anyone

[Harry Monroe]

75. Oh geez, get real!!

In New Orleans, we put small plastic babies in pastries around Mardi Gras. King Cakes. I don't know anyone who was stupid enough to choke on one, because you always checked your piece of King Cake first before eating it.

[femrap]

86. I put small plastic

babies and spiders in ice trays and of course the ice ends up in cocktails. I still get a real kick out of that. I love watching people's eyes get real big while they're drinking.

I might do that for Xmas and/or New Years Eve.

[laundry_queen]

84. Kinder Surprise

We have them here in Canada - there was a funny article by an American not too long ago smuggling them across the border for her kids.

[beveeheart]

91. They are hollow chocolate eggs - Kinder eggs

and inside each you find a piece of plastic that needs to be taken apart in order to make a toy from the various pieces. It's a really small toy and and fun to put together.

[Spazito]

100. I think you are talking about Kinder Eggs, chocolate eggs with a little toy surprise...

inside. They were actually from Italy originally but uses the German word "kinder". My grandchildren loved them when they were little. They aren't banned in Canada, they are a big hit for stocking stuffers.

[Bake]

61. Are you serious comparing Jarts to guns? Jarts were sold as TOYS.

Guns are not sold as toys. There was no background check necessary to buy a set of Jarts. People let their kids play with them. Unsupervised. And a lot of stupid people were injured by them, by the way.

Most idiotic comparison I've seen yet in this discussion.

Bake

[ashling]

65. They should have just included Jart Safety Helmets

and other Jart appropriate safety items such as Jart Shields and Jart Proof Vests

[MiniMe]

85. They didn't even have bike helmets at that time.

Loved the Jarts, burned myself with the creepy crawler goo, some pretty bad burns with that, had the clackers. And somehow, I managed to make it to adulthood.

[femrap]

87. Jart safety glasses?

I still can't figure out how I lived through childhood riding my bike w/o a helmet?

And no seat belts.

Lucky, huh?

[TrogL]

68. I loved these as a kid

We'd throw them over the house to each other.

I have no idea how we weren't all killed.

[Harry Monroe]

72. I remember those

I remember playing with them with my friend, Tommy, and his brother, David, down the street. His brother had cerebal palsy and confined to a wheelchair, but those two being brothers, argued and fought just the same. I still remember them arguing during the game and then David tossing one and hitting Tommy right in the foot with it! (it was summer and we were barefoot). David blamed it on poor coordination due to his palsy, but I caught the look in his eye as he threw it. It was meant for Tommy's foot. Their mother was not pleased, especially as she had to pack us all in the car to take Tommy to the emergency room!!

Ah, memories. And yes, there is something askew about banning Jarts and not guns.

[pop topcan]

73. I know hundreds of gun owners and never met one that 'worshiped' them.

Who are those people?

[femrap]

90. the most common

theory is that over 95% are male and one of their appendages is extremely lacking.

[pop topcan]

97. My mom chased away a burglar with her .38 one night a few years ago. I'll have to tell her

about her unique status. She will be happy to know that her son isn't one who thinks victims deserve to be victims. (What, really, is responsible for the fascination that anti-gun people have with male genitalia?...an envy of sorts?)

[femrap]

105. She must have

short shooting finger.

I have a short nose.

[llmart]

102. Watch out for engaging trolls.

This one has to interject his/her nonsense - even into a lighthearted thread.

[scarletwoman]

93. Okay, how about "venerate", "cherish", "fetishize"? Here are some of "those people":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2013130

[pop topcan]

98. You can find thousands of images of people with their mostly or all naked children. It doesn't mean

they are child molesters.

[AndyA]

78. The Jarts maker made a mistake...

They didn't go out and hire a bunch of high cost, powerful lobbyists to label their missile game as essential for self defense. (And donate heavily to those in Congress friendly to their cause.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

92. OMG I loved those!

Then a stupid kid in our neighborhood threw one at his brother and stabbed him in the forehead. And we didn't play ours anymore. I think my dad threw them away.

[ZombieHorde]

96. Interesting point, at least to me.

I assume the lack of lawn-dart lobbyists and the 2A has something to do with it.

[pop topcan]

99. Once upon a time, Americans weren't cowering cowards and this game was universal

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/06/07/mumbley-peg/

[jeff47]

106. I was born in 1974. My parents were born in 1949.

My parents went to the same K-12 school as I did. During their time in that school, 5 of their classmates (out of ~40) died in various accidents before they graduated high school. 0 of my classmates (out of ~60) died.

So it would appear the safety folks did have a point, and some successes.

[pop topcan]

110. Gosh, I had no idea those damn lawn darts were such prolific killers! Sorry about your parents'

friends...

[jeff47]

111. So do you think sarcasm is able to change reality? (nt)

[pop topcan]

112. No, but it can change perception.

A good thing.

[rakeeb]

103. when lawn darts are outlawed

only outlaws will have lawn darts.

We used to play with defense: you could step in and attempt to swat the jart off-course from the ring in the last couple feet of descent by tapping the fins, (about as difficult as swatting a thrown football, slightly more dangerous).

We also threw overhand for distance, no ring, no defender.

[BigDemVoter]

107. Wow--I played with these as a kid in the 60's-- I'd forgotten about them!

[Saboburns]

108. I got in the head by one Jon those

Circa 1977. I was nine and swinging on our swing set, neighbor girl made really, really bad throw. Straight up in the air and nearly vertices descent. Which hit me right on top o'my brain can.

Kinda scared me, but no blood. Matter of fact we laughed about it for a long time.

I hadn't though about that in years.

My sister had an ex bake oven around then. It's a damn wonder our house didn't burn down. Those things were crazy dangerous.

And we boys used to play army with bb guns and firecrackers. I can't tell you haw many time I was shot with a bb, or had a firecracker 'grenade' go off right beside my head. I do remember we quit this after one of our gang got shot with a bb that missed his eye by about half an inch. We probably quit and had a whiffle ball game, or maybe went and caught crawl dads in the creek. Rubbing snuff and smoking filched cigarettes.

Good times.

[Rhiannon12866]

113. I had a friend who had a summer job making those

So they must have been made locally, here in NY. Throwing darts out in the summer sun! Fun for the whole family!