Powerful enough to break paper cartons, cans and even fight cockroaches.

Used since ancient times as weapons of war, the latest advance in the crossbow won’t change the face of armed conflict, but can fire toothpicks and fit in one hand.

Fits in one hand.

Normally, a crossbow is so heavy that it requires two hands to operate. Not so with this one. You can hold the bow and fire the toothpick with just one hand pulling the trigger. Compare that to 12th century Europe where a heavy crossbow would require special systems for pulling the sinew via windlasses. You have it so easy.

Long range.

You can fire the toothpick as far as 30-40 feet. That’s almost half the length of a bowling lane.

Cheap, ample supply of ammo.

Sure you can fire toothpicks, or god forbid needles, but you can also load it with cotton buds for a softer play time. In fact, using cotton buds in your ear is more dangerous. Cotton buds send thousands of kids to the ER every year. Put them in your mini crossbow instead. Your local armory – err, pharmacy – sells both toothpicks and cotton buds on the cheap.

Those wusses in China already banned it.

Toothpick crossbows are the new must-have item for schoolkids across China — and concerned parents and school officials aren’t having any of it. Though there have not yet been widespread reports of serious injuries, several cities have already banned them.

UPDATE: New Zealand has declared them banned now too.