Recently, a bulletin came across the wire that I think should concern all woodworkers, especially those who use power tools. Citing numerous surveys that conclusively prove power tools can cause serious personal injuries, a private company has filed suit with the National Association of Personal Safety (NAPS) with the goal of prohibiting sales of power tools to non-professional consumers. NAPS, encouraged by hand tool maker Lea Kneelson, has proposed a moratorium on all corded and cordless power tools on the basis of two arguments: first, the unarguable fact that power tools have a long history of accidental laceration and other harmful incidents. Secondly, they assert that most woodworkers can afford to lose a couple of pounds, and therefore a transition to hand tool woodworking would do them a world of good.

In the wire bulletin, NAPS spokesperson Mack E. Avelly is quoted as saying, "Sometimes when consumers are not smart enough to think for themselves, the government simply needs to think for them. It's the least we can do."

I don't know about you, but I think that says it all.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker's Journal

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