US Customs wants to ban some pocket knives?

[Okie75]

Alright, I saw this a while back and didnt think anything of it, but then i got this email from SOG, who I feel is a reputable company... not known for fear mongering..

U.S. Customs wants to ban your pocket knife!

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools LLC, in support with The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) opposes U.S. Customs' attempt to classify assisted-opening knives and all one-hand-opening knives as switchblades.

U.S. Customs proposes to bypass Congress and expand the switchblade definition to include all knives that open with one hand. These include multi-tools, traditional pocket knives, one-hand openers, as well as assisted-openers.

Statistics to consider about the knife industry and the possible effects of this ruling:

* U.S. Sporting Knife Industry has a $5.9 Billion Economic Impact on U.S. Economy
* 3,881 direct U.S. Employees at 61 Companies
* 35.6 Million Households Own Pocket Knives; 24.8 Million Own Hunting Knives
* Assisted-opening and one-hand-opening knives are 80 % of All Knives Sold
* 30-40 Million Public Safety, Non-Issue Military, Construction, Recreational Users

Material compiled and provided by AKTI

The majority of Americans who carry and use one-hand-openers every day need them for their jobs. They use them to save lives as well as for scores of recreational activities.

If U.S. Customs succeeds, it could lead to effectively banning all folding knives from interstate commerce.

We're asking you to register your opposition to the U.S. Customs' plan (19 CFR Part 177) to re-classify assisted openers and all folding knives.

You comments must arrive at U.S. Customs no later than June 21, 2009.

19 CFR Part 177
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings
Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch
Mint Annex, 799 Ninth St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

If you don't think your letter will arrive in time, please fax or email a signed copy to us and we will forward it to US Customs on your behalf. Our fax number is (425) 771-6230. Please submit responses to us by noon on Friday, June 19th, 2009.

Please also express your concerns to your state Senators and Representatives.

For more information on this issue, visit:

www.akti.org and www.kniferights.org

Click here for model letters that can be downloaded and personalized with your story:

http://akti.org/legislation/uscustoms.html

or

kniferights.org
Thank you,

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, LLC

[RGR.Montcalm]

Sounds to me like U.S. Customs is opening themselves up for another SCOTUS class action litigation...

[nofear]

Fuck me....who's the retard who came up with this?

What's next....forks?

[GackMan]

Surprise Cock Fags! I've got a fixed blade... its ALREADY open. Gonna ban those too?

Fucking stupid idea.

How about this: if they need a feel good law, make committing a crime with an auto an aggravating factor for sentencing? There. Problem solved.

Leave people who need a knife to open with one hand for reasons other than criminal endeavors the hell alone.

[bobofthedesert]

Fuck me....who's the retard who came up with this?

Some bureaucrat who wants to make his/her "mark" to get a promotion, and doesn't mind doing it at the expense of our liberty. Just another way to make us all into criminals. Fuck them. They need to worry about the TONS of drugs coming north before they worry about my knife. Oh wait, they're not really that good at that, maybe this will be easier for the little dears......:rolleyes:

[RetPara]

This has got to be a low level Purple Booker at DHS....

[DaedalusX]

Oh well it could be an incentive for knife maker to make them in the US of A instead of China and Taiwan ... are you listening Cold Steel, CRKT, SOG, etc ?

[Gotrek]

If U.S. Customs succeeds, it could lead to effectively banning all folding knives from interstate commerce.

I do not understand this.

Ban them how? Not allowed to carry them across state lines, sell them across state lines, enter the country with them?


U.S. Customs proposes to bypass Congress

How do they decide to just Bypass congress?

[SN]

Oh well it could be an incentive for knife maker to make them in the US of A instead of China and Taiwan ... are you listening Cold Steel, CRKT, SOG, etc ?

It would also allow customs to confiscate Leatherman's as guys return from the sandbox.

Assinine idea, this hope and change shit is really wearing thin.

[Decon]

It would also allow customs to confiscate Leatherman's as guys return from the sandbox.


I thought military were able to carry switchblades.

[Ace]

I thought military were able to carry switchblades.

Not sure why you have this idea. The exception being: If you are issued one at work (as some of us are), you are permitted to carry it, and use it, while working.

If you take that same knife down town in civilian clothes, you go to jail just like everyone else.

[Tracy]

Well, the USMC may have a slight problem with this law. They issue switchblades as their standard utility knife. They go through customs as well.

My question is how are they going to enforce it? Baggage screening, 'knife' dogs, etc.?

Well, at least they'll get a numbers boost in total arrests and confiscations. :rolleyes:

[1026]

I do not understand this.

Ban them how? Not allowed to carry them across state lines, sell them across state lines, enter the country with them?
How do they decide to just Bypass congress?

Congress itself gave all Executive Branch agencies the power to bypass Congress by delegating its legislative powers to said agencies; they get around it by calling Executive legislation "regulation". The Executive Branch also has its own extra-constitutional judicial branch, known as "administrative law courts". Break a law passed by Congress or run contrary to an Executive "regulation" and the prison cell is the same.

This is all done through a perversion of Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the U.S. Constitution.

[CAP MARINE]

Customs the next ATFE?

[Decon]

Not sure why you have this idea. The exception being: If you are issued one at work (as some of us are), you are permitted to carry it, and use it, while working.

If you take that same knife down town in civilian clothes, you go to jail just like everyone else.

I just assumed. I've bought a couple with LE ID and the other way to purchase was with Active Duty Military ID.

Thanks for the information.

[Scratchy]

Surprise Cock Fags! I've got a fixed blade... its ALREADY open. Gonna ban those too?


Oh my god that's great. :biggrin:

[10thvet]

I thought military were able to carry switchblades.

82nd used to issue SWITCHBLADES to Jumpmasters. When I graduated JM school(82nd MTT in Italy), My company issued me a knife that was a one handed opener that I needed to carry as per our JM SOP(it also allowed for fixed blades).

I think this is stupid. What are they going to attempt to outlaw next?

[Low Profile]

Benchmade Knife Company, in support with The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) opposes U.S. Customs' attempt to classify assisted-opening knives and all one-hand-opening knives as switchblades.

U.S. Customs proposes to bypass Congress and expand the switchblade definition to include all knives that open with one hand. These include multi-tools, traditional pocket knives, one-hand openers, and assisted-openers.

More than 35 million law-abiding Americans now own one-hand-opening knives in one of the above four categories.

The majority of Americans who carry and use one-hand-openers every day need them for their jobs. They use them to save lives as well as for scores of recreational activities.

If U.S. Customs succeeds, it could lead to effectively banning all folding knives from interstate commerce.

We're asking you to register your opposition to the U.S. Customs' plan (19 CFR Part 177) to re-classify assisted openers and all folding knives.


Please address your comments to arrive at Customs by June 21, 2009.

19 CFR Part 177
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings
Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch
Mint Annex, 799 Ninth St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

Please also express your concerns to your state Senators and representatives.

For more information on this issue, visit:

www.akti.org and www.kniferights.org

Click here for model letters that can be downloaded and personalized with your story:

http://akti.org/legislation/uscustoms.html
or

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=29

This was emailed out from Benchmade. Basically the same information.

[Old_Starlight]

Fuck me....who's the retard who came up with this?

What's next....forks?

Seems we've started exporting our public servants to our US cousins Mate! Had to be a class 6 clerk in the Public Service who got nervous the other night at Burwood station when 3 thugs (really a 13 yo nerd with glasses) made him feel very uncomfortable as the sun had just set behind Westfields!

Geesus!


Cheers,

AJ

[iraqgunz]

I do not believe that the switchblade in question has to be issued. Here is an excerpt from The Federal Switchblade Act;

Section 1244. Exceptions

Sections 1242 and 1243 of this title shall not apply to -
(1) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any
switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment
in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;
(2) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution,
possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of
switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces;
(3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting
in the performance of his duty; or
(4) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any
switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by
any individual who has only one arm.


It does not state that it must be issued. I should also add that the act only applies to the importation, transportation and possession on federal lands (as far as I know). Also, some states like Oregon and Arizona allow the purchase and carry of automatic knives. Some states like Alabama have very lax laws when it comes to bladed weapons.

Not sure why you have this idea. The exception being: If you are issued one at work (as some of us are), you are permitted to carry it, and use it, while working.

If you take that same knife down town in civilian clothes, you go to jail just like everyone else.

[iraqgunz]

Another thing to consider is that even though this whole thing is bullshit it will have zero impact on what you actually carry in your pocket on a daily basis. This regulation would simply affect the importation of said knives and as far as I know has no bearing on what knife is legal. In some states there is actually no state governance on knives and what can or can't be possesses or carried, instead it falls on the county.

[bobofthedesert]

My question is how are they going to enforce it? Baggage screening, 'knife' dogs, etc.?

Sure, they'll claim that the dog alerted to the oil on the knife, or the "smell" of metal.......and if they find something else, they'll have probable cause because they were "honestly" looking for something else....:rolleyes:

Well, at least they'll get a numbers boost in total arrests and confiscations.

Bingo.

The idea is to eventually have a law against everything, it's called expansion of control and authority. The goal of power or authority is always to expand itself, this is not news. Resist now or resist later.......

[NightLandNav]

X2 Iraqgunz.

The assertion that this will somehow directly restrict ownership or possession of traditional folding pocket knives and multi-tools that are not designed with an open assist mechanism is misleading at best.

It would restrict the availability of imported knives that qualify as automatic, but that's it.

If you sell allot of these knives, yeah it's gonna hurt.

[Greenhat]

X2 Iraqgunz.

The assertion that this will somehow directly restrict ownership or possession of traditional folding pocket knives and multi-tools that are not designed with an open assist mechanism is misleading at best.

It would restrict the availability of imported knives that qualify as automatic, but that's it.

If you sell allot of these knives, yeah it's gonna hurt.

I carry a Leatherman Wave. Both knife blades are one-handed opening... not automatic, but they would qualify under the criteria of this regulation. It's idiotic.

[Joker]

Why are switchblades still illegal anyway? Weren’t they made illegal when they were carried by gangs with names like Dragons, back when fights used to start out with dancing. Seriously how many gangs/criminals prefer the switchblade over say a Glock.

[grog18b]

I think this is stupid. What are they going to attempt to outlaw next?

Air. But does that mean we all have to hold our breath? Nope.

...only outlaws will breathe...

The Government will continue to "ban" things, and we must simply continue to fight them in court. Simple, but costly.

[iraqgunz]

GH,

You are correct. But, the law itself was written like crap. Back in 1958 knives were much different than now. Perfect example of legislation not catching up with technology. I am curious to know what prompted Customs to take this action.

I carry a Leatherman Wave. Both knife blades are one-handed opening... not automatic, but they would qualify under the criteria of this regulation. It's idiotic.

[nofear]

X2 Iraqgunz.

The assertion that this will somehow directly restrict ownership or possession of traditional folding pocket knives and multi-tools that are not designed with an open assist mechanism is misleading at best.

It would restrict the availability of imported knives that qualify as automatic, but that's it.

If you sell allot of these knives, yeah it's gonna hurt.


So the assumption is that once this becomes law, then it won't progress to the states, by banning these "illegal weapons"?

From someone who's been fucked over by their Govt.....don't become complacent when they start this shit!

[NightLandNav]

I would not suggest assumption of certainty in this regard either way.

Probable outcome vice plausible.

Plausible is more than enough for concern.

But there is a difference.

[dagger0824]

Since we're on the topic of SOG, has anyone received their knife for filling out that survey back in March?

Sorry for the hijack!

[nofear]

Just when I was thinking of getting a SOG Flash II too.....pretty sad that something that is legal in Australia won't be legal in the US!!

[iraqgunz]

nofear,

The proposed changes are not laws, but regulations. There is a difference. In order for it to affect everyday Joe every state or locale would have to pass laws banning such knives. Right now I don't think that it is even a blip on the radar. YMMV.

So the assumption is that once this becomes law, then it won't progress to the states, by banning these "illegal weapons"?

From someone who's been fucked over by their Govt.....don't become complacent when they start this shit!

[RGR.Montcalm]

Since we're on the topic of SOG, has anyone received their knife for filling out that survey back in March?

Sorry for the hijack!

NOPE

[Greenhat]

nofear,

The proposed changes are not laws, but regulations. There is a difference. In order for it to affect everyday Joe every state or locale would have to pass laws banning such knives. Right now I don't think that it is even a blip on the radar. YMMV.

A great deal of the tax code is regulation, not law. Try not following those regulations.

[iraqgunz]

GH,

I understand that. But, this is only about importation. There is nothing that I have seen in that document that suggests this can impact day to day carrying of knives. There may be a "boogie man" in there. I am just not seeing it.

A great deal of the tax code is regulation, not law. Try not following those regulations.

[GackMan]

Attached is the proposal in its full text.

Read for yourself.

What I get out of it is they will revoke 4 previous memos which considered "assisted" knives to not be automatics.

It will not make them illegal, it will just make them unimportable.

The tinfoil-hat in me wants to say it is a prelude to banning knives and an indication of the priorities of this administration.

Kind of like the death of the nifty $75 SKS from China and Russia in the mid 90s prior to passing the assault weapons ban.

[nofear]

The tinfoil-hat in me wants to say it is a prelude to banning knives and an indication of the priorities of this administration.


That's what I was referring to.

Making something that is in everyday use, immediately illegal is not the smart way to do things.

Doing it in small increments is. First you ban the importation. Then you ban the sale.

Then the possession....

It could also be a testing ground for the process required to ban firearms. ;)

Don't get complacent....that's all I'm saying.

[Greenhat]

GH,

I understand that. But, this is only about importation. There is nothing that I have seen in that document that suggests this can impact day to day carrying of knives. There may be a "boogie man" in there. I am just not seeing it.

I think you will find that very few knives are manufactured in the US anymore. And unless you like the idea of paying a few hundred dollars for a Leatherman Wave type knife, this will effectively eliminate those knives from the market.

[KitC]

Here is the link to the letter that legal counsel for kniferights.org sent today to CBP. The comment deadline is 21 Jun 09.

http://www.kniferights.org/KNIFE%20RIGHTS%20CBP%20COMMENTS.pdf


Here are the Oregon knife companies that are the importers of this type knife, and stand to loose millions of dollars. Hundreds of honest citizens work for these companies in sales, marketing, and design work and could loose their jobs.
Al Mar
Benchmade
Coast
CRKT
Gerber
Kershaw
Leatherman
Lone Wolf
William Henry

[GackMan]

Look at those congress critters reaching across the aisle... Teamwork. :smile:


http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=5043
Senate Passes Amendment Protecting Knife Owners

Friday, July 10, 2009

Late Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act as part of the Homeland Security appropriations bill. The amendment, authored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), changes the federal law under which one agency had tried to redefine many common knives as switchblades.

The measure would exempt assisted-opening knives that can only be opened with "exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist or arm" from a federal law that criminalizes commerce in switchblades. Assisted opening knives are highly desired by hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel and others who may need to open a knife with only one hand.

"The Senate sent a strong message and made clear that the 35 million Americans who own pocketknives are free to continue using them without the threat of federal agency intrusion," Sen. Cornyn said in a statement today. "While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed changing that, my colleagues joined in a unanimous, bipartisan effort to ensure assisted-opening pocketknives are protected by the law. What's more, the CBP reversal would have inflicted serious economic harm to sporting goods manufacturers and retailers."

In the same statement, Sen. Hatch said, "Without this amendment, there is a real danger that 80 percent of the pocketknives sold in the U.S. could be classified as illegal switchblades, which would hurt knife and tool manufacturers across the nation. The unintended consequences of the CBP's definition could be that state and federal criminal courts could construe Leatherman-type multi-tools equipped with one-hand opening features, as well as folding utility knives with studs on the blunt portions of the blade to assist with opening, to be illegal. That is absurd."

Thursday's Senate action puts us one step closer to passing this common-sense measure into law. The measure now heads to a House-Senate Conference Committee.

To view the amendment, please click here: http://www.KnifeRights.org/SAmdt%201447.pdf