- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 3,911
Did you ever stop to wonder what goes on in a lawmaker's head when they write laws with broad definitions that essentially outlaw knives outside the context of kitchen use? I'm talking about regulations on blade length, how they open and operate, and so on.
In another thread we've talked about some materials you can't use in knife making, even if you obtain the materials in legal and moral ways. Ostensibly the purpose is to protect endangered species, but the laws are written such that even utilization of material that in no way harms the animals (or encourages harm to animals) is banned. What were they thinking?
And blade length... okay to have a kitchen knife with an 8 inch blade, but any OTHER type of knife with a 4 inch blade or larger is considered a dangerous weapon? So every bush knife and chopper is a crime? What were they thinking? Should I take kitchen knives on camping trips, or does that magically transform the legal kitche knife into a dangerous weapon?
And to write a law that prohibits knives that are opened and operated by gravity or by motion of the hand or wrist... are you kidding me? What were they thinking? How else would one open a knife? Ever tried opening a knife without gravity or a motion of the wrist or hand? I guess you could do it... if you wanted to be on America's Funniest Videos.
As knifemakers, your products fall on one side or the other of the legal boundary line. When you set up your internet shop and offer to sell products in other states, are you held liable if you sell a product that is illegal in the state you'll send it to? And just how dilligent are knifemakers about checking the laws in the customer's state/city/county?
Even assuming you never plan to sell a knife with "marginal legality", you still may be breaking the law.
Sad, really... something our forefathers took for granted, the right to keep and bear knives, is trampled upon so readily and so thoroughly... and for what?
- Greg
In another thread we've talked about some materials you can't use in knife making, even if you obtain the materials in legal and moral ways. Ostensibly the purpose is to protect endangered species, but the laws are written such that even utilization of material that in no way harms the animals (or encourages harm to animals) is banned. What were they thinking?
And blade length... okay to have a kitchen knife with an 8 inch blade, but any OTHER type of knife with a 4 inch blade or larger is considered a dangerous weapon? So every bush knife and chopper is a crime? What were they thinking? Should I take kitchen knives on camping trips, or does that magically transform the legal kitche knife into a dangerous weapon?
And to write a law that prohibits knives that are opened and operated by gravity or by motion of the hand or wrist... are you kidding me? What were they thinking? How else would one open a knife? Ever tried opening a knife without gravity or a motion of the wrist or hand? I guess you could do it... if you wanted to be on America's Funniest Videos.
As knifemakers, your products fall on one side or the other of the legal boundary line. When you set up your internet shop and offer to sell products in other states, are you held liable if you sell a product that is illegal in the state you'll send it to? And just how dilligent are knifemakers about checking the laws in the customer's state/city/county?
Even assuming you never plan to sell a knife with "marginal legality", you still may be breaking the law.
Sad, really... something our forefathers took for granted, the right to keep and bear knives, is trampled upon so readily and so thoroughly... and for what?
- Greg
