Assisted Openers

David Wesner

David Wesner

Joined
Jan 5, 2005
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August issue of BLADE has an article on page 52 about a ruling the Texas appeals court just handed down regarding assisted openers. Unfortunately they have ruled that assisted openers are in fact switchblades, making the possession of them "a violation of the states switchblade/automatic ban". A follow-up article on the potential ramifications of the ruling (page 10) mentions that " it might start a wildfire of similar rulings throughout the country" :mad: :mad: :thumbdn: :thumbdn: :thumbdn:

Thoughts ??
 
This ruling is so shady it's ridiculous! The courts didn't even bother to read the letter of the law and took a misspoken lawman's word without even bothering to look at the evidence. The same thing happened in Amarillo when I was living there. A guy ran from the cops, so they threw the book at him. He happened to be carrying a Kershaw, and the DA decided he had the legal authority to lable it a switch blade. He even went as far as to threaten Wal Mart and dedicated knife sellers with legal action is they continued to sell them. It made Amarillo, TX the only place in the US where you could be arrested for carrying a legal knife.

Stuff like this just pisses me off! Texas should know better!! :grumpy:

--nathan
 
silver_pilate said:
This ruling is so shady it's ridiculous! The courts didn't even bother to read the letter of the law and took a misspoken lawman's word without even bothering to look at the evidence. The same thing happened in Amarillo when I was living there. A guy ran from the cops, so they threw the book at him. He happened to be carrying a Kershaw, and the DA decided he had the legal authority to lable it a switch blade. He even went as far as to threaten Wal Mart and dedicated knife sellers with legal action is they continued to sell them. It made Amarillo, TX the only place in the US where you could be arrested for carrying a legal knife.

Stuff like this just pisses me off! Texas should know better!! :grumpy:

--nathan
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more :thumbup: The entire fiasco is B. S. !!
 
silver_pilate said:
This ruling is so shady it's ridiculous! The courts didn't even bother to read the letter of the law and took a misspoken lawman's word without even bothering to look at the evidence. The same thing happened in Amarillo when I was living there. A guy ran from the cops, so they threw the book at him. He happened to be carrying a Kershaw, and the DA decided he had the legal authority to lable it a switch blade. He even went as far as to threaten Wal Mart and dedicated knife sellers with legal action is they continued to sell them. It made Amarillo, TX the only place in the US where you could be arrested for carrying a legal knife.

Stuff like this just pisses me off! Texas should know better!! :grumpy:

--nathan
Click to expand...
As a resident of Texas I will state my view. Texas has only one interest. That is to do whatever they want, however and where ever they want. They want to make a statement that they are above the rest of the country. They could care less if you are guilty or not. It is all a game for the prosecutor. Which lawyer wins is all that matters. The really sad part is the rest of the country may jump on this stupid bandwagon and then everyone with a knife is in trouble. By the way, I am ex law enforcement, retired Marine and NO criminal record so my views are not based on having a problem with the courts other than their ignorance. God save us all!
 
What I don't understand is the mal-preferential treatment that states give automatic type knives. I'll tell you that I can pull my Spyderco Viele and have it opened and in action much faster than I could pull an automatic from my pocket and press the button to open it.

It's all about image and for whatever reason, legislatures assume that all criminals use autos. Whatever, most of the ones I've known wouldn't have the money to buy an auto to begin with. Cheap butterfly's maybe. Asinine laws with no common sense behind them. ARGH!

--nathan
 
So in Texas you can carry a firearm,shoot anyone who tresspasses on their property at night without prosicution,but cant carry an assisted opening knife,hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:jerkit:
 
A friend told me the only place in Texas that Liberals were permitted was Austin. Sounds like they may be leaking out. :rolleyes:

Rob!
 
Living in California (dont laugh) I really have to worry about how this will effect me. I have been stoped on my motorcycle and my knife taken and measured twice. Legal both times, I dont dare carry an assist open or even a lock liner that may flip open.
 
Hey, I'm a liberal and I think this is stupid too! The ban on autos is a legislative dinosaur. "Oh no, street punks with switchblades!" Right. Like it's a real big problem.
 
The thing is that laws on weapons other than firearms in this country have been primarily
based on prejudice of one type or another for the last couple of centuries. "Good, upright
citizens can afford guns. It's those others who carry knives. We've got to stop that."

For an example, look at the Virginia laws against Bowies and dirks. These laws were passed
way back in the first half of the 1800's.

For a horrible example, look at the current Mass. laws. Better yet, don't :-(
 
Its truly up to officer discretion.The law states no dirks,dagger,push knives,auto's over 2",balisongs,folders over 4"'or a blade over 16 inches as its considered a sword.However,any and all objects can and do get taken away as weapons.I have law in the family and they all know officers who collect knives by consfication.If an officer takes something away it better be written on a ticket or some other legal document as required by law,none of this " if you just hand it over I'll let it go" crap.
 
What is crap is that cops do that and other cops let them get away with it. Not necessarily those of equal rank, but the higher ups have to be turning a blind eye also. I am sorry to say that my respect for law enforcement and our judicial system goes down more and more. Plus more and more it is about money and politics than actual rights and justice. Most police are good decent people, but a few are really wrecking it.
 
Same BS as the gun issue. Some idiots think that passing a law will stop crimes from being committed. All these laws do is take rights away from law abiding people. Take the DC gun ban for example, the only people who gave up their guns were the law abiding people. The criminals never bothered to stop carrying theirs. The repeal of the ban gave the good guys back their rights and their guns to defend themselves against the scum that don't care about the law in the first place. Enforce the laws on the books and put the blame where it lies! Gives me a rash just thinking about it.:mad:
 
David I hope the new laws havent affected you directly.I like peace officers and think 99% of them are a great contribution to society but if people think they are all above breaking the laws they are paid to enforce then your either naive or uninformed.Police officers are humans not angels.Would you like first hand account testomony from my brother whom I made a nice damascus folder for who had it consficated or my cousin who was beat severly by several officers in an off duty road rage altercation.
I wonder how many assisted opener makers are out there?I also wonder how long until some idiot gets liner locks,flippers and others of those types banned under gravity fed/automatic laws?
I think edro20 nailed on the head.Laws only affect law abiders for the most part.
 
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Does any know which state has the strictest anti-gun and knife laws.Living here in Commufornia makes me think its us but maybe somewhere else is worse?
 
McAhron said:
David I hope the new laws havent affected you directly.I like peace officers and think 99% of them are a great contribution to society but if people think they are all above breaking the laws they are paid to enforce then your either naive or uninformed.Police officers are humans not angels.Would you like first hand account testomony from my brother whom I made a nice damascus folder for who had it consficated or my cousin who was beat severly by several officers in an off duty road rage altercation.
I wonder how many assisted opener makers are out there?I also wonder how long until some idiot gets liner locks,flippers and others of those types banned under gravity fed/automatic laws?
I think edro20 nailed on the head.Laws only affect law abiders for the most part.
Click to expand...

No first hand accounts necessary McAhron. I believe you :thumbup: I know, they're "only human". But ............... :confused: :confused:
 
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