US Attempts to Re-Define Switchblades and Would Make Most Pocket Knives Illegal

Posted By: Xecab | June 24th, 2009 @ 6:52 pm | Filed In: News, Views

I was told about this and copied it from http://www.knifecenter.com/american-pocketknives.html. I hope something is done about this.

The U.S. Government is after your Pocket Knives! In a sneak attack, U.S. Customs has proposed revoking earlier rulings that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. The proposal would not only outlaw assisted opening knives, its overly broad new definition of a switchblade would also include all one-handed opening knives and most other pocket knives!

Knife Rights was formed three years ago because we knew it was only a matter of time before there would be a major attempt to take away our knives, as has occurred in England, Europe and elsewhere. Little did we guess that the first major battle at a national level wouldn’t come head on, but with government bureaucrats trying to sneak it by everyone, avoiding a more conventional legislative battle, which they know they’d likely lose.

Breaking News: After working closely with Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) we are pleased to announce that Rep. Latta and Rep. Walt Minnick (D-ID) have co-sponsored an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to Restrict Funds to Implement the proposed CBP rule. Our thanks to Reps. Latta and Minnick for taking a leadership role in this fight. This is just the first step in a complicated process, but it is important. We will post more information as soon as we get it. The amendment is now posted here.

What Happens Next? Here’s a preview of what comes next in this fight.

Breaking News: Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal.

Breaking News: National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) submitted Comments opposing CBP proposal.

At 3:50 EDT this afternoon, our Comments on Customs and Border Protection’s Revocation and Ruling proposal was sent off by FedEx for delivery tomorrow by CBP’s deadline. It has been a difficult task to put together a coherent brief on their proposal in the ridiculously short time they allowed. But, of course, that’s what CBP was counting on in providing only the minimum comment period and denying any extension.

My special thanks to Evan Nappen and Richard Gilbert, and the rest of Evan’s law firm, who managed to make time for us in an already full schedule and who worked long hours and late into the night because they care about this issue personally.

Click here to read our Comments submitted to CBP.