Federal Agents Prevail in the War on Lawn Darts

by Karen De Coster, LRC Blog
Apr. 04, 2011

Some folks know my penchant for the lawn darts issue. Yes, I even wrote about them. And yes, I have a few sets of the real thing stashed away. In fact, when I wrote that piece on lawn darts, I came across a website that sold parts – and what a great thing, I thought, because a few of my lawn darts needed some repairs on the plastic wings.

That website is now out of business. Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s office in St. Louis filed a suit to stop the Jefferson County web retailer, Steve King, from selling lawn darts and parts. This is how the Feds spend your money:

In two online stings, undercover investigators from the Consumer Product Safety Commission bought darts twice, the complaint says.

Yep, online stings to eradicate the selling and repairing of toys that don’t meet the official approval of the Safety Czars and the handful of folks who lost a family member because someone was careless with lawn darts. So Steve King is out of business. Well I’m glad that monster is off the streets! The Feds, as usual, made King grovel. He was forced to put a warning on his website about lawn darts, include a link to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), and he also had to offer to exchange lawn darts for another game for free. See the website. Now for the funny part. This is what Mr. King had to put on his website as a part of the Fed’s “Nation of Pansies” disclosure:

Please return any and all lawn darts and parts that you may have in your possession immediately to Lawn Dart Parts, LLC at P.O. Box 543, Hillsboro, MO 63050, for proper disposal. In exchange, and with the return of your items, I will send you another game of your choice (rubber tipped Jartsā„¢, lighted foam LED boomerang or lighted LED frisbee).

Surely I’ll be heading out to the garage in no time to pack mine up and send them in so I can clear my conscience of my criminality. Can’t wait for that lighted foam boomerang.