Now Their After The Knives.

[artabr]

I know this probably should go in the Knives & Edged Items forum, but if you're like me, you carry a knife every day and rarely check in on the knife guys.
Thats why I posted it here.
I carry a Kershaw Leek or Boa everyday. Both of these are "assisted opening" knives but this law could extend to other knife designs as well.

I ran across this this morning and figured it needed to be seen.


http://kniferights.org/index.php?opt...=76&Itemid=150

Monday, 08 June 2009


US ATTEMPTS TO RE-DEFINE SWITCHBLADES – WOULD MAKE MOST POCKET KNIVES ILLEGAL
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has proposed revoking earlier rulings that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. The proposed new rule would not only outlaw assisted opening knives, its broad definition of a switchblade would also include one-handed opening knives and could be easily interpreted to cover most other pocket knives, even simple old-fashioned slip-joints.

Note that CBP's interpretation of the Federal Switchblade Act forms the basis for national, state and even local law and judicial rulings in many cases. This ruling by CBP is NOT limited to just imports. This WILL affect virtually everyone who carries a pocket knife, no matter the type!


http://Download the 63 page CPB docu...t for yourself

Knife Rights has sent a letter to CBP requesting an extension to the ridiculously short 30-day comment period. We need your help to make an impression on CBP. They figured that they could slip this by everyone with little notice. We need to let CBP know that they are not going to get away with it; that we noticed and we are not happy and that we will not stand by while they take away our pocket knives.

We are in for the fight of our lives. We need you to write CBP NOW!

http://Click here for a Model Letter...an send to CBP.

However, the reality is that CBP isn't required to listen to our demands, but they do have to answer to Congress. After you send a letter to CBP, giving them notice they are not going to sneak this by us, the next step is to inundate Congress with emails and letters.

If you want to be free to carry your pocket knives in the future, you need to write your Senators and Representative TODAY!

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php...d=78&Itemid=29

We have also prepared a Communicating with Congress page that includes tips to maximize the effect of your letters. This page was developed after consultation with experts who understand exactly how to get your message across to Members of Congress. We have also included easy links to find your Representatives, if you don't know who they are or the best way to reach them. How much of an impact your communication has can be significantly impacted by how and what you write. Our aim is to help maximize your impact so your Members of Congress actually listen and do something. PLEASE, take a few minutes to review our Communicating with Congress page BEFORE you act.

Knife Rights was formed three years ago because we knew it was only a matter of time before something like this would happen that would threaten to take away our right to own and carry our knives. Well, that time is now and we're working to help keep our essential tools and essential rights. We cannot do it without your help. Knife Rights is only as powerful as the forces we can bring to bear. You are the only truly effective weapon we have. Policitcans only listen to voters. NOW IS YOUR TIME TO ACT!

Because you are sending a hard copy letter and emails via Members' web forms, we won't know you did it unless you let us know. It is critical that we be able to know how many have responded, so please click here to send us an email (customs@Kniferights.org) to let us know you've sent the letter and emails.


WRITE Customs NOW!
WRITE your Members of Congress NOW!



Art

[45nut]

I sent the form letter to both of my Senators. Do you think we need to send it to our Reps?

[artabr]

Originally Posted by 45nut

I sent the form letter to both of my Senators. Do you think we need to send it to our Reps?

I can't see where it would hurt. The more folks that know about this the better.
DHS is lible to try to have it buried in some obscure bill that nobody knows anything about, like the porkulus bill.



Art

[bcj1755]

More stupid BS from the stinking closet-commie socialist b****** in DC.


I wish those f***tarded morons in DC would get a clue....SOCIALISM SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TranterUK]

Dont get me started on knives.

I carried a pocket knife most of my life. I used it every day for everything from opening the mail, to sharpening a pencil, cutting some cheese to fixing the car. Now its illegal to carry because its a lock knife, you know the safe kind that wont flick closed on your fingers. Unbelievable.

I am almost lost for words at the stupidity of it. Like the broken pencil I cant sharpen, pointless.

[armedandsafe]

I know better than to email my Senators, but I did. I emailed Doc Hastings, my Rep. That will do some good.

I used the tactic that they are discriminatiing against handicapped people. No knives which can be opened by a one handed person and illegal to carry/possess in public a fixed blade. hmmmm

Pops

[Bobitis]

At least my sons swords are safe.

[DebS]

Please don't forget to contact the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via written letter sent USPS. They are refusing to accept email and are only allowing 30 days for these letters to be sent; deadline for them to receive them is June 20.

Again: Write Customs & Border Patrol NOW! Sample letter and address here.

I think this is a backdoor attempt to screw us out of our knives, our guns being next.

[ponycar17]

This sounds eerily like Mr. Eric Holder is attempting an action on knives to determine how effective he can prohibit guns. Do you remember him saying "I don’t think our Second Amendment will stand in the way of efforts we have begun and will expand upon.” Perhaps trade is how Mr. Holder is attempting to limit firearms?

My question is why in the hell these pocket knives are considered a hazard? How many murders occur because a suspect is able to whip out their knife quickly? If someone is going to jump an unsuspecting victim, their knife is already going to be ready. This is bullcrap. This makes absolutely NO sense!!!! This administration has their head up their collective arse!!!!

[bcj1755]

This is just a transparent ploy to see how much more control the closet-commies can ram down our throats. Like I've said before, EVERYTHING The Hussein does is transparent. Guess that is his idea of a "new era of openness and transparency in government." If the moronic branwashed Kool-Aid drinking sheeple could get their heads out of the mind numbing drivel thay watch on TV long enough to actually THINK for themselves, they'd see it too. But thinking is too hard, I guess. It must be much easier to just sit back, let one's IQ drop while watching "American Idol" and "Survivor" and partake of the tasty Barry-flavored Kenyan Kool-Aid. Eveytime I hear a "citizen" go on about how great Obababababa is, I want to vomit my guts up


I've got something right here that Eric ButtHolder can register and confiscate....MY BUTT!!!!!!!!!!

[ponycar17]

Here's another article on this issue from WND...

Obama move would eliminate 8 of 10 pocketknives
'If this were to pass and you cross the state line with one, it's a felony'
Posted: June 09, 2009
8:40 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2009 WorldNetDaily


The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is proposing a new definition that could be used to eliminate 8 of 10 legal pocketknives in the United States right now, according to activists who are gearing up to fight the plan.

The federal bureaucracy is accepting comments – written only – that must be received by June 21 before its planned changes could become final, but Doug Ritter of KnifeRights.org, said the implications of the decision would be far-reaching, since many state and federal agencies depend on the agency's definitions to determine what is legal in the United States.

For a long time, those switchblades that have long stiletto blades that are spring-ejected powerfully from the side or end of the handle have been illegal in the United States, but now a review by the agency of its own approval in 2008 of a particular type of knife for import is raising serious alarms.

Ritter said the effect of the proposed change would be that the new design in knives, many of which contain a tiny spring to help the user pull open the blade and lock it into position, would be classified alongside those true weapons where the user just presses a button and the blade is ejected.

"They are saying that any knife that you can open quickly or any knife that you can open with one hand is therefore a switchblade," Ritter told WND.

On his organization's website there are suggested letters for consumers to reproduce and dispatch to both the Customs agency as well as their members of Congress over the issue.

Ritter suggested that up to 80 percent of the pocketknives sold in America today either are one-handed opening knives or so-called assisted opening knives – and they all suddenly would be classified as illegal switchblades.

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The agency change came in a case involving a knife called the "VanHoy Assist," whose importers were represented in a request for affirmation of its legality by a San Francisco law firm.

Such determinations are not unusual since an importer does not want to have a shipment of products sitting on a ship waiting for unloading only to have a federal agent call them illegal.

The knives first were approved by the agency in 2008. But only a few weeks ago, Frederick McCray of the agency's Intellectual Property Rights and Restricted Merchandise Branch did a review.

"This is in reference to Headquarters Ruling Letter ('HQ') H032255, dated August 12, 2008, which concerned the admissibility of the 'VanHoy Assist,' a 'release-assisted' knife described below, pursuant to the Switchblade Knife Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1241, et seq. In the referenced ruling, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (hereinafter 'CBP') determined that the knives at issue were admissible into the United States pursuant to the Switchblade Knife Act. We have reconsidered the rationale of, and the admissibility determination made in HQ H032255 and found both to be in error. For the reasons set forth below, we hereby revoke HQ H032255," the letter said.

That could mean headaches for the knife industry, Ritter said.

"Customs," continued Ritter, "is the only place where the switchblade is interpreted in various rulings. Whenever a federal, state, or local jurisdiction is looking at what a switchblade is, whenever there's a court case or whatever … they will look to the feds."

He said the change came after the incoming administration of President Barack Obama reassigned some managers at the agency.

"What we do know is when the incoming administration reshuffled assignments at Customs, it moved the responsibility for knives and switchblades from one organization with Customs to a new organization," he said. "That group has, as far we can tell, virtually no experiences, background or anything with knives."

Officials with Customs told WND that they do not comment on issues during an open comment period, such as going on for the regulation change right now.

"We do not comment on pending proposals for changes in our rulings under 19 USC 1625. We are in the comment period and we will carefully weigh the comments that we receive before deciding whether to proceed to a final decision," the prepared statement e-mailed to WND said.

Ritter said the reason for the change isn't clear, "but certainly this administration is no friend to things like knives and guns," he said.

A successful campaign to change the definition would mean thousands would be out of work in the knife industry, and the impact would have far-reaching effects.

For example, if someone would be caught with a newly-illegal "pocketknife," would the resulting charges be structured to allege that person was dangerous or had an illegal weapon, and how would that change the defendant's right to own a firearm, he wondered.

"If this law were to pass and you cross the state line with a folder (pocketknife) in your pocket, it would be a federal felony," he said.

In reality, pocketknives are tools, he said. "Certainly they can be used as a weapon." But so could a screw driver or other hand tools.

He said the proposal, which puts pocketknives in the classification of switchblades – described by a Senate committee as "almost exclusively the weapon of the thug and the delinquent" – isn't fair.

"There are 40 million people in America walking around with pocketknives in their pocket," he said.

Further, the majority of crimes committed with knives are done with the "lowly kitchen knife," he said.

According to Ritter's website, the proposed revocation of the approval for "assisted opening knives," would impact "most other pocketknives, even simple old-fashioned slip-joints."

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=100679

[Bill DeShivs]

This is not a proposed bill. It is a proposed RULING by customs. It is a new, liberal interpretation of the 1958 switchblade act. All they have to do is DECIDE these knives are illegal, unless they get millions of letters opposing this ruling. Make sure you print out a letter and MAIL it to customs.

[SaddleSarge]

I'd love to have one of those customs morons try and free a horse that's tangled in a rope and open a standard "jack knife" with one hand while the other hand is full of horse.

You know, it's harder and harder for me to be respectful when writing these bombastic poltroons. I'm getting to where they really need to know how the cow eats the cabbage.

Thanks for the links Art. Also to add, comments MUST be received by June 21st, 2009, so....time is of the essence.

DATE: Comments must be received on or before June 21, 2009.

ADDRESS: Written comments are to be addressed to U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, Office of International Trade, Regulations
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 5
and Rulings, Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise
Branch, Mint Annex, 799 9th Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20229.
Submitted comments may be inspected at U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, 799 9th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., during
regular business hours.

Arrangements to inspect submitted comments
should be made in advance by calling Joseph Clark, Trade
and Commercial Regulations Branch, at (202) 325–0089.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew M. Langreich,
Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch, at (202)
325–0089.

[DebS]

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

This is not a proposed bill. It is a proposed RULING by customs. It is a new, liberal interpretation of the 1958 switchblade act. All they have to do is DECIDE these knives are illegal, unless they get millions of letters opposing this ruling. Make sure you print out a letter and MAIL it to customs.

This is exactly right. Please see my post #8 for a link to the CPB address and sample letter.

Time is of the essence.

They are not accepting emails and only offered to accept written letters via snail mail from the public for thirty days which expires June 21, THIS coming Sunday.

Letters must be in their hands by June 21, NOT postmarked by June 21. If you haven't sent your letter out already, please do so asap.

I would hate to be a felon for crossing state lines carrying the pocket knife I use to cut a horse loose in a trailer should an accident occur, etc. as would anyone who carries one for work or personal business.

I don't even want to think about how many people this would put out of work.

[islenos]

Just adding fuel to the fire, I just received this:

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

[DebS]

Originally Posted by ponycar17

Here's another article on this issue from WND...

"If this law were to pass and you cross the state line with a folder (pocketknife) in your pocket, it would be a federal felony," he said.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=100679

I wonder just how incredibly fast the gubment will pull your CCW once you're deemed a felon.