Bakisong ban

[navajo]

Maybe I don't know how to search the archives. Probably been asked many times before.
Does any one know who is directly responsible for the ban on imported balisongs?? Been told it was Ted Kennedys idea. Which I wouldn't doubt.

 

[Dawkind]

Don't ya just hate it when you can't edit the heading..........

 

[hogman]

Ah yes, Bakisong, the distant cousing of the toy Pikachu, was banned from import since it wouldn't stop singing "who let the dogs out" and telling Rodney Dangerfield jokes. I believe it was banned by the Boxing Commision since Mike Tyson would use it to get himself pissed before a fight, but it just caused severe mental retardation.

I don't think there is one person who is responsible for the ban. Several states enacted bans on autos and gravity knives in the 50's and 60's, and several court cases eventually said that the bali was considered a gravity knife and thus illegal. But I usually blame Geraldo Rivera for all of my problems, so I am going to say that it is his fault.

 

[Gollnick]

Yup, I always check the title twice before hitting the post button because you can't fix it once it's up.

Anyway,

Been told it was Ted Kennedys idea.

I heard Elvis was involved.

Seriously, though, the fault lies with US Customs court judges. In 1971, one of them ruled that balisong knives are a form of switchblade and so illegal to import. In 1982, that decision was reversed. But, in 1986, it was reversed again.

 

[shootist16]

I don't see how you can call a Balisong a switchblade. That is ridiculous.

Really sad that we have ill informed people making decisions like that.

 

[Guillaume]

Navajo,

I tried to reply to your email, but it seems that your email address is not valid anymore. Any trouble with Yahoo?

Guillaume

 

[tonyccw]

Originally posted by shootist16
I don't see how you can call a Balisong a switchblade. That is ridiculous.

It wasn't. It was classified as a gravity knife, since the opening and closing of the handles are done via centrifugal forces. Never mind that the process requires 3 axes to fully implement the process, versus the single axis of a tyical gravity knife.

Really sad that we have ill informed people making decisions like that.

Amen..... Although I remeber reading an article in Blade on how Mr. Levine testified on behalf of the Knife manufacturers, but he used terms like "battle position" during the testimony, which the article's author felt was detrimental to the case.... Either way, it's been a long uphill battle to re-educate ever since..

 

[navajo]

Thanks for the information folks. Bakisong does have a nice ring to it don't you think?