Bureau of Customs and Border Protection is banning A.O. knives (Merged)

unloved · June 1st, 2009, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by CubistHamster on edcforums.com - Index

Quote:

For those of us who live in the US--

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has just decided to re-interpret the law that allows importation of assisted opening knives, making them illegal. The letters they've sent out to manufacturers could also be read as making pretty much any one hand opening locking knife illegal- a la NYC.

Here's a link to the relevant thread at Bladeforums, and another to a pdf of the actual letters sent out by Customs.

If you like owning and carrying decent knives, please let your elected representatives know how you feel about this.

I think many of us here carry folding knives that could be affected by this new interpretation.

As far as I'm concerned knives, sticks, batons, knuckledusters, blackjacks, saps, etc., et al, whatever, are all arms. As such, my right to keep and bear them shall not be infringed (or questioned as per Pa. Constitution).

Take a look at Knife Rights - Home for more info and advice on what to do.

Saber · June 1st, 2009, 04:39 PM

Great, pretty soon I'm sure our designer government will outlaw electric can openers.

Regards,

P.S. Please, please, please: Vote the Dem's out in 2010!!!

Paco · June 1st, 2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saber

Great, pretty soon I'm sure our designer government will outlaw electric can openers.

Regards,

They'll start with the "reasonable assumption" that no one needs a P-38 can opener and then they will move up to the electric "high capacity" can opener.

packinnova · June 1st, 2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saber

Great, pretty soon I'm sure our designer government will outlaw electric can openers.

Regards,

P.S. Please, please, please: Vote the Dem's out in 2010!!!

PSS... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE: Vote out BOTH parties of the two-headed snake.

jaypopsti · June 1st, 2009, 07:00 PM

Does this re-interpretation apply only to the future import of AO knives? or is it retroactive making AO knives that have been lawfully obtained previously illegal as well?

unloved · June 1st, 2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaypopsti

Does this re-interpretation apply only to the future import of AO knives? or is it retroactive making AO knives that have been lawfully obtained previously illegal as well?

As far as I can tell (so far, I'm still looking into this issue) it will apply to import of and 'interstate commerce' in AOKs once it goes into effect.
CBP doesn't have the authority to just say "They're all illegal to carry all over the country now."

The major concern (at least as I see it) is that once the Feds classify AOKs as 'switchblades', it would be a short trip to classify any non-assisted one hand openers as 'switchblades'. Once the Feds start calling all these knives 'switchblades' I think it's likely that states will follow suit.

CRags99 · June 1st, 2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saber

P.S. Please, please, please: Vote the Dem's out in 2010!!!

+1

unloved · June 1st, 2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

ATTEMPT TO RE-DEFINE SWITCHBLADES COULD MAKE MANY POCKET KNIVES ILLEGAL

This just a heads up to Knife Rights members and supporters about a very critical and important development that jeopardizes your right to own and carry pocket knives. PLEASE DO NOT ACT YET! Word is reaching the street via forums and other means and we want to make sure the true facts are known as there are many inaccurate rumors circulating. Many of the emails we have received are inaccurate or full of hyperbole. Any knee jerk or inappropriate reaction will endanger our cause, not help it. Please wait until your organization has developed appropriate and effective responses in order that you be taken seriously by the relevant authorities. I cannot overemphasize how critical this is, DO NOT WRITE YET, PLEASE!

Now, on to the issue:

U.S. Customs just about a week ago proposed revoking earlier rulings and years of precedence that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. That, in and of itself is bad enough. However, the proposed new rule would not only outlaw assisted opening knives, its overly broad new interpretation of what is a switchblade (automatic) knife could also easily be interpreted to include all one-handed opening knives and even most other pocket knives. All knife owners could be impacted by this ill-conceived change to existing policy. We will have much more information on the historical issues and the like in coming days as we organize our response.

Please note that Customs' interpretation of the Federal Switchblade Act forms the basis for national, state and even local law and judicial rulings in many cases. The effect is NOT limited to just imports. This would be a devastating blow to our rights and to the entire knifemaking community. It has the potential to make criminals of millions of law-abiding citizens and put thousands of workers on the street. This is no joke, this is not just hype, this is the real thing.

Knife Rights, in cooperation with AKTI and the affected knife manufacturers, is formulating a well-reasoned and effective response. We will all be asking for an extension to the ridiculously short 30-day comment period. We anticipate that some extension will be granted, hopefully for a meaningful period. Part of the reason for the extension is to allow us to adequately inform and advise the millions of knife owners who might be affected. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND JUST YET. This would be extremely counterproductive. We still have plenty of time to do this right and stop this travesty, but we must proceed intelligently and at the correct time with the best possible arguments. DO NOT JUMP THE GUN!

Within the next week we will post a sample letter and talking points for your use. At that time we will ask you to write and MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD! Please, do not respond earlier, it will be extremely counterproductive.

In the meantime, we are making the full 63 page document available to you to read for yourself. Again, while we understand your frustration, please do not write just yet.
http://www.kniferights.org/U%20S%20C...g%20Knives.pdf

This is the reason why Knife Rights exists, this is why we formed the organization. We didn't know where or how the attack would come, but we knew it was only a matter of time. We are here for you and will keep you informed.

Doug Ritter
dritter@KnifeRights.org

Have you signed up? Go to: Knife Rights - Home
Protecting your right to own and carry knives and tools

...

Gibber · June 1st, 2009, 09:37 PM

My wife, who works in the knife industry for a living [coincidentaly] just told me of this just a few minutes ago.
Yup, that's quite a government we have no-days. Making sure we can not harm ourselves.....or them.

HotGuns · June 1st, 2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Making sure we can not harm ourselves.....or them.

They dont care about us, only about them.

June 1st, 2009, 04:39 PM	#2
Saber Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 762	Great, pretty soon I'm sure our designer government will outlaw electric can openers. Regards, P.S. Please, please, please: Vote the Dem's out in 2010!!! __________________ “Monsters are real and so are ghosts. They live inside of us, and sometimes they win.” ~ Stephen King

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June 1st, 2009, 07:00 PM	#5
jaypopsti New Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Central NC Posts: 1	Does this re-interpretation apply only to the future import of AO knives? or is it retroactive making AO knives that have been lawfully obtained previously illegal as well?

June 1st, 2009, 09:37 PM	#9
Gibber Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TN Posts: 315	My wife, who works in the knife industry for a living [coincidentaly] just told me of this just a few minutes ago. Yup, that's quite a government we have no-days. Making sure we can not harm ourselves.....or them.