Recently my mother-in-law purchased a set for playing bocce ball. While we are not going for professional-level playing, we are looking to have a little fun out in the green grass of her backyard (we play with my brother-in-law and his wife). This backyard game had me thinking back to my youth and the fact that I had played a few games of lawn darts. What a great game! Well, I wondered what happened to that game because I never see any for sale . . . and in the back of my mind I thought, "I bet those things are illegal." Well, sure enough - they are (my subconscious told me, I am sure - they were banned in 1988 and I was probably made aware of that fact then, but had forgotten). So, you can read the official declaration by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) right here.

For those of you too young to remember, or never blessed enough to have played, you can find a picture of people playing an illegal game of lawn darts here, here, and here. And for those who feel up to a little competition, these guys hold a lawn dart tournament every year! ("Jarts" was a brand name of lawn darts, probably the best made).

So, here is why I think this is idiotic: To quote from the text of the ban, "Effective December 19, 1988, all lawn darts are banned from sale in the United States. Lawn darts, used in an outdoor game, have been responsible for the deaths of 3 children." Yes, it is sad that 3 children died from some altercation involving a lawn dart (or darts). Notice I didn't say that they "died from playing" lawn darts. It is moot regardless, but just because something causes death doesn't mean you should immediately ban it - I mean, I am sure a bocce ball would do the same if the circumstances were just right. Not to mention the fact that many people have died from injuries related to football (an obvious understatement). Should we ban football? Baseball? Help me live people, this is lunacy! Yes, 3 dead people are 3 too many, but more people die from walking down the street every day - should we ban that too?!?! ARGH!!!!! Apparently someone at the CPSC had an axe to grind. Maybe someone there had lost a few too many games of lawn darts and thought to exact revenge on his/her opponents by banning the sport . . . I know, I am just rambling now but this is seriously stupid. I think one of the presidential candidates should have as part of their plan the bringing back of this great sport. I think it would go far to bring peace and unity to the world. I think Osama bin Laden would be a lot nicer if he could play a few games of lawn darts.

By the way if you or anyone you know is looking to sell a set or two of lawn darts, please let me know . . . I want them purely for a collector's item . . . yeah, yeah . . .

[Update: Saw this online just now and had to add it . . .]