Pocketknives may be banned?

[BuzzKillington]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule change that directly targets the importation of "assisted opening" folding knives. (Read the proposed rule here.) The proposed regulations would designate all these knives as "switchblades" (despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of "switchblades"), and would make them illegal for import into the United States.

The proposed rule could affect all knives that can be opened with one hand, because it also includes changes in the interpretation of "gravity and inertia" opening knives in a way that could outlaw all knives that can be opened with a single hand. This means the new regulation could ban the importation of most of the pocketknives that are now in popular use.

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4972


So what about fixed blade knives? They can taken out with one hand. Hell, a fixed blade can be pulled much faster than folding blade, assisted or not. You simply reach for a handle as opposed to reaching for the knife, repositioning and flipping out.

These are sad times for true Americans.

[Bopher]

Wow. I know people who have knives that they can pull, flick the wrist and it pops open and they are suppose to be opened with 2 hands. I know in Michigan my uncle who worked in the Bay City PD told me that thumb assist knives were illegal because of how quick it it to open them.

[xRyokenx]

They better not ban multitools...

...and haven't they thought about people having them anyway? This isn't a MMORPG, you can't just delete items. They still exist, lol.

While "we're" at it "we" may as well ban people that are prone to violence, too.

[nevermind1534]

...and haven't they thought about people having them anyway? This isn't a MMORPG, you can't just delete items. They still exist, lol.

While "we're" at it "we" may as well ban people that are prone to violence, too.

That's just importing them, not owning them. They could still be made here, I suppose. Most of them probably come from China, though.

[xRyokenx]

I mean, are they going to go through every single person's house and belongs in their entirety to make sure these knives aren't in the country? Banning some things requires more effort than it's worth, at times. It's not that I'm for or against them banning certain types of knives, it just doesn't seem to be very practical. If someone wants to kill, injure, rob, etc. someone else, they will definitely find a way.

[nevermind1534]

I mean, are they going to go through every single person's house and belongs in their entirety to make sure these knives aren't in the country? Banning some things requires more effort than it's worth, at times. It's not that I'm for or against them banning certain types of knives, it just doesn't seem to be very practical. If someone wants to kill, injure, rob, etc. someone else, they will definitely find a way.

but they wouldn't be, since people would still be allowed to own them, just not ship them here, from other countries anymore.

[Drum Thumper]

Can't say I didn't see this coming. This is just the start of it.

Welcome to the USSA, comrade.

[x88x]

Hmmm, interesting. 'Assisted opening' knives are already illegal to purchase/sell/transport in many states and cities (though it's a little unclear whether possession is also illegal), but the more troubling aspect in my mind is the proposed broadening of the definition. Considering that a great many knife manufacturers have been moving more and more of their products to a single-hand-opening type (heck, my Leatherman Wave has two such blade on it), a huge number of knives would be affected.

[nevermind1534]

Welcome to the USSA, comrade.

I was just saying that earlier today. About some other things, but I was still saying it.

[xRyokenx]

but they wouldn't be, since people would still be allowed to own them, just not ship them here, from other countries anymore.

Ohhh, I must have misread something. Sorry about that, after that SSSC/NIN/JA concert yesterday my sinuses are all shot. Damn potheads and t'baccoheads.