For our American members

[astrozam]

This is a post that was recently posted to a knife forum that I'm a member of, this info is specifically directed towards American citizens, if you care about the Gov't intervention with you're rights to carry certain types of knives then this info is for you...

"This really applies only to those of us in the USA (or anyone who does business here, visits here, etc...).

That being said, the US Customs and Border protection is being pretty sneaky and is trying to re-define the federal definition of switchblades so that the definition is so ridiculously broad that pretty much anything can potentially be classed as a bannable (or at least bannable from import) switchblade. Besides the obvious implication that we'd be prevented from getting inexpensive pocketknives, or US companies wouldn't be able to have overseas production for their less expensive lines, the big issue is that a lot of states do not have a state specific switchblade definition, and use the federal model as a model for their state. An unconstitutionally broad definition of the verboten "switchblade" will effectively make a lot of currently existing (and legal) pocketknives illegal, and their owners and users de-facto criminals.
Couple the above with the fact that they are allowing only a 30 day comment period, are not widely advertising this action, and are not allowing comment by anything other than postal mail; it seems like the US customs and border protection agency is trying to pull a fast one and significantly erode your knife rights by sneaking a new definition of "switchblade" by in the dark, while everyone's preoccupied with the economy.

So... Here's a great webpage that explains it in more detail than I have, and has a sample letter should you be as pissed off as I am "

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?op ... 1&Itemid=1

[Cobra]

zam i had no idea you were a blade fan

On a serious note that is an intresting find how can they do something like that legally? after reading that it makes me feel like they are attempting to turn US citizens into sheep and that makes me angry (even tho i'm a canadian....?)

[Rebel]

On a serious note that is an intresting find how can they do something like that legally

You are seeing the fall of a great country right before your eyes and it appears no one on either side gives a damn. Oh, there are those who act as if they do but to really do anything to stop this madness,,not going to happen. We've gone so far down the road in the last 100 days Obama has been in office I think the only thing that would wake up DC is for no one to file a tax return next year. WE HAVE TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AND IT WILL GET WORSE and many other decisions have been made that are unconstitutional. No one is accountable it appears.

Thanks for posting this Keith. I hope it helps and have passed on to others. Thanks for caring. This is the first I've seen concerning knives.

[T.Low]

Thanks, Zammer. I've seen it on paddlingnet.com, NWOS, and Expo forums. The message is getting out there and we can only act and hope.

As a white water kayaker and camper, I have a plethera of knives...oops, now they know...and a buddy even took my Smith & Wesson knife and machined it into a switchblade. As I'm certified Swiftwater Rescue, I need a knife that is easy to open with one hand, while I theoretically am holding a victims head above water with the other, so I can cut them loose of any river debris they may be entangled in.

The last administration really paved the way for this administration to do anything they want. What a mess.

[astrozam]

zam i had no idea you were a blade fan

A guy has to have some secrets...LOL


Tom, Glad to see the word is being spread around.

[Rebel]

As I'm certified Swiftwater Rescue, I need a knife that is easy to open with one hand,

Now you'll possibly have a new permit charge coming up for all water rescue folks,,permit to carry one hand opening knife. Unreal,,place is going nuts.

[astrozam]

Heres a funny spoof on the whole "Ban Knives" paranoia...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQmW3i0Y ... re=related

But on a more serious note, your Custom's folks seem intent on reforming the switchblade act and trying to push it through.

Next it will be baseball bats, hockey sticks, golf clubs, archery equipment.......GUNS!!

[Cobra]

wait isn't that a little backwards as far as PERCEIVED threats
if they tried to ban guns texas would seperate, at least that's what my friend there said lol

[astrozam]

Yes it is Pierre, but they know not to go straight after guns, so if they chip away at all things less, then eventualy society will be used to it and it will be easier to go after guns. But thats a whole other topic.

Anyways here is a link to our Knife laws...http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/canada.html