A toy toothpick crossbow. Su Ying/China Daily

A KIND OF MINIATURE crossbow that can shoot toothpicks or metal needles has become popular among primary and middle school students. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The concerns of parents and schools about the latest craze are justified. But that's not enough to prohibit producers and retailers from making money from the simple, yet dangerous, "toy".

Although those profiting from the crossbows claim they have "limited lethality", that claim does not hold water. The toothpick the crossbow shoots, which can penetrate even gypsum boards at a short distance, may cause injury if children aim them at each other or animals.

However, since none of the business, industry, public security or education departments have stood up to ban the "toy" weapons, the sellers and producers have turned a deaf ear to the complaints and concerns of parents, while continuing to openly promote their product as a "toy" originating from a kind of repeating crossbow invented during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280).

Yet according to the law, it is illegal for a person to carry a gun, crossbow or dagger, among other controlled weapons, and someone found guilty of doing so can be detained for up to five days and fined up to 500 yuan ($73).

Obviously, the "toothpick crossbow" should be considered a controlled instrument according to the law.

However, before the authorities ban the "toy", children's awareness of the potentially severe consequences of firing the crossbows must be raised, so that they are aware of the harm they can do.