NOVELTY GUN LIGHTERS POSE REAL THREAT

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

June 26, 2012

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release

718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)

Assemblyman Hikind shows Boro Park vendor selling novelty lighters how dangerous and
real looking the ‘guns’ are.

HIKIND SAYS NOVELTY GUN LIGHTERS POSE REAL THREAT

ASKS VENDORS: ‘DO THE RIGHT THING—
STOP SELLING GUN LIGHTERS’

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is urging Borough Park and Midwood vendors to cease carrying novelty lighters—especially the ones that look like real guns, which he says can pose a serious threat. The Assemblyman made a point of visiting local vendors asking them to drop the product line for the sake of community safety.

“They look real,” said the Assemblyman who noticed the items being sold across the street from his office. “It’s too easy to confuse a gun-lighter with a real gun or a toy.” Last year, a California mother accidentally shot her twelve-year-old daughter after mistaking a real gun for a novelty cigarette lighter. “There have already been too many accidents reported,” said Hikind. “These ‘guns’ are accidents waiting to happen. Soon enough a law will be in place prohibiting their sale so I’m asking vendors to please drop these items now.”

A bill that would ban novelty lighters was recently passed by the New York State Assembly and now awaits action by the NYS Senate. Fire prevention officials say it is nearly impossible for children to distinguish a toy from a lighter and incidents of children starting fires with novelty lighters have increased. More than a third of fire-related deaths each year are caused by children under the age of 10.

In 2006, Maine became the first U.S. state to ban novelty lighters after the son of a fire chief mistook a novelty lighter for a flashlight and burned his face. Today, 14 states have enacted legislation prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters.

“Why risk further injuries?” asked Assemblyman Hikind. “If you’re a vendor, just do the right thing and stop carrying these dangerous items.”