Attempt to control knives...

[mrmoetn]

I realize that we're a GUN board but I believe that this attempt to limit our liberty falls under the same heading as many of the gun related items we strongly oppose.

Below is a notice I received from a mailing list (The Shooting Wire). Part of this article discusses a move by the Customs and Boarder Protection to broaden the definition of a switchblade to set precedent for the interdiction of the types of knives that many of us carry daily. Notice that they are not accepting communications via email on this matter, only written communication, and that must be received by June 21. Kniferights.org has a suggested letter with all the salient information for voicing your objection to this action. Knife Rights - Home -

FEATURE ARTICLE

Various & Sundry

...And it's not exactly your firearms under attack this time, but a decision from the feds at Customs and Border Protection has knife owners more than a little on edge. On May 21, CBP proposed revoking earlier rulings that said assisted-opening knives were not switchblades. That sounds innocent enough, but the proposal is so broadly based as to make virtually any one-hand opening or assisted opening knife a switchblade, even simple slip joints. Today, just to give you an idea of the potential impact of such a ruling, eighty percent of U.S. knife sales would fall under the new CBP reclassification. Not good. Also not good was the method CBP used to insert their proposal into regular notices, almost as if they hoped no one would notice and the 30-day comment period would expire. People noticed. Our friend Doug Ritter, founder of KnifeRights.org, for one. When Ritter contacted us several days ago, he hinted that something was going on that had the potential to have a severe impact on knife ownership. That's because the impact of the CBP ruling would go far beyond just imported knives. Often, "agency determination" is used by domestic courts and law enforcement to determine what is a "switchblade" under both federal and state laws. Many states do not themselves define switchblades and simply rely on the federal definition and interpretation, which is only found in rulings by CBP. Since interstate commerce in switchblades is prohibited, except under very limited conditions, simply driving across a state line with a pocket knife in their possession would make someone a federal felon. Ritter and hundreds of others protested to CBP, asking for an extension of the comment period. On Wednesday, that request for an extension was denied, meaning, that barring some sudden change of heart, the CBP will proceed with the revocation. So what does that mean? "If their new ruling is accepted and put in place, says Ritter, "the next step will be seizing a warehouse full of imported one-hand openers, which they can legally do, declaring them to also meet their now very broadly defined interpretation of what a switchblade is. They came very close to doing that a few years back in a seizure involving Columbia River Knife & Tool." "With this ruling in place, they would succeed. Then the definition of what is a switchblade is expanded even further. It is this that has knife owners and the knifemaking industry up in arms, because our lawyers understand how these bureaucrats use these rulings and language games to get well beyond what it appears at first glance they are reaching for." Now, KnifeRights.org and the Second Amendment Foundation have teamed up to try and get together a grassroots campaign to help Customs see the error of their ways. There's one rub - the comment period ends on June 21 and only written comments sent via FedEx/UPS or USPS will be accepted. As Ritter points out, failing to protest the move will only open the door for the inevitable expansion of the definition. There's a model letter available if you're interested in letting Customs know you don't appreciate their proposal.

You can see it at Knife Rights - Model Letter to Customs and Border Protection

The knife you save may be your own. --Jim Shepherd

[RinTN]

FYI - it's already being discussed here...

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/newsworthy-reports/22426-our-knives-danger.html

[Guest TackleberryTom]

I am thinking that this administration is getting way outta hand!!! I am finding myself in awe and pissed off every day with what they are doing/trying to do.