Proposed Change in Knife Defiinition could make Rigging Knives illegal

[AdriftAtSea]

Just got this in e-mail from Boye Knives....


                 URGENT ACTION NEEDED

                 BY TOMORROW, JULY 7!



Dear Boye Knife Customers,

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has proposed a new rule that would broaden the definition of a switchblade to include one hand opening pocket knives, thereby illegalizing them in some states and restricting commerce.

If you want to have legal folding knives in your life, write your Senators NOW to derail this limiting proposal. Out in the ocean, one hand opening knives are saving lives every day.

Thank you for your help!

David Boye


For more information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5KINtCajwI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTXCoulHxFw

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations  Bill will be taken up by the Senate tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7th. Your emails to Senate offices will be a huge help as knife rights lobbyists and legislative representatives work Monday and Tuesday to get an amendment introduced and voted into the bill. Time is of the essence.

Contacting Senator Patty Murray [D-WA] and Senator George Voinovich [R-OH] is particularly important because they are ranking members on the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Contacting your own Senators is also very important and their support is needed as well.

You can use the two sample letters below and copy and paste into the email forms. Just four simple emails can make a BIG difference! (There are two different letters, one for Senators Murray and Voinovich and one for your own two Senators.)

Email forms for Senators Murray and Voinovich can be found here:

Senator Murray:   http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
Senator Voinovich:   http://tinyurl.com/2rpu4p

[Lynx]

Good point. From my understanding the UK has strick laws regarding carying of a knife of anykind.

[CharlieJ]

Would make my Leatherman Wave illegal

Departmentof Homeland Stupidity strikes again-

or

down the slippery slope we go

[Oldrig]

So, does "assisted opening" apply to knives like my Myerchin, which can be opened with one hand by using the thumb slot in the blade?

I'm not sure if this new regulation would apply to my trusty sailing knife.

And, do these clowns understand that sailing without a knife on your person puts everybody on board in danger?

--Joe
P.S. I didn't even know there was a "knife-rights community." Wow!

[AdriftAtSea]

Unfortunately, it would cover quite a few folding rigging knives, and a host of pocket multitools, like CharlieJ's Wave and my Surge.  This is a complete waste of our taxes and really something that the government has no real reason to be spending its time on IMHO.

I'd point out that the number of people who would die or be seriously injured by not having knives that can be opened single-handedly, is probably far higher than the number of people who are mugged, robbed or stabbed with one.  Many recreational activities and several work activities really require a decent knife that can be opened with a single hand.  As examples: driving, kayaking, fishing, sailing, climbing, hiking, are among the recreational activities where a single-hand opening knife can be very useful.  Commercial fishermen, EMS and other emergency responders, and many others are professions where having a good knife that can be opened single-handedly can be a matter of life or death.

[CapnK]

P.S. I didn't even know there was a "knife-rights community." Wow!

Here's some related trivia, where I imagine a 'knife rights community' would have been involved:

That little clip on your knife handle is not just there for convenience. Many states/municipalities have laws regarding how blade length relates to whether a knife in your pocket is a "concealed weapon". If your blade exceeds their selected certain length, the only *legal* way for you to carry it without a concealed weapons permit is to have that clip showing on the exterior of your person. Supposedly, then a law enforcement person would be able to divine that you had a weapon.

Anyway - Thanks Dan, I'll pass on the info re: this legislation.

CJ - a slippery slope, indeed...

[Gus]

I think its 5 inches, anything bigger than that would be illegal (I could be wrong)

[freeskier710]

they can have my "knife???" when they pry it from my cold dead fingers??? what a silly issue, i'll be carrying my knife all day everyday no matter what regulations they put on it, better to ask forgiveness than permission

[ThistleCap]

I hadn't seen this topic until freeskier's post brought it back to the current page.  July 7th was the date initially listed as when a vote was pending.  Is this still a current issue, or has the issue already been decided?  Does anyone have a current update?
Thanks.

[s/v Copacetic]

It looks like the bill has been amended in our favor. For complete info: http://www.kniferights.org/

[Suzanne]

With regards to UK law.
Having a knife on your boat or using it in a yard where you're fixing it up - not a problem.

Carrying it around in public can get you a caution or you could be prosecuted unless you can provide a good reason why you have it on you.

"It is an offence for any person, without lawful authority or good reason, to have with him in a public place, any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except for a folding pocket-knife which has a cutting edge to its blade not exceeding 3 inches." [CJA 1988 section 139(1)]

Link to directgov site (horses mouth so to speak)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/CrimePrevention/DG_078569