Customs Definition

[zignal_zero]

i have one question about the (proverbial) bullet we recently dodged. there was a big scare about U.S. Customs re-defining what constitutes a "switchblade" and banning the importation of any knife that could be opened with one hand.

i REALLY REALLY am NOT trying to start a political debate in the wrong section, this is a legitimate question about KNIFE LAW that really can be answered "yes" or "no" : was it really and decision by Obama that stopped that from happening? because i read, somewhere, that it was an EO by Obama that prevented them from calling assisted openers switchblades.

 

[Daniel]

http://www.kniferights.org/

 

[joe-bob]

Obama can't claim any credit fot this one, it was the people speaking out that made the difference. As it should be.

 

[glistam]

Not an executive order, but rather he signed the bill into law without any fuss. He did not veto it, did not pigeon-hole it, but signed it into law. Sponsors for the bill were bi-partisan.

The bill is called HR 2892 and can be found in its entirety here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h2892enr.txt.pdf

Page 42 is the relevant part, altering the existing 15 U.S.C. 1244 (a portion the infamous so-called Federal Switchblade Act) to add the following exemption to the law:

‘‘(5) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.’’

The wording does more than just change Customs rules; it changes the very definition of a switchblade under Federal law and protects US-based merchants who sell inter-state. It not only exempts AOs and most folders from the federal law (not state), but has implications to exempt many other knife types (possibly even Balis) and serve as an inspiration to the states in their legislation and judicial decisions. And we hold out hope it is another nail in the coffin for Chapter 29 to be repealed entirely.

 

[OldDude1]

Had the President declined to sign the bill there would have been a delay in funding for Homeland Security.

By attaching the knife amendment to this Homeland Security Funding bill, it reduced, what some may have perceived as a chance of presidential veto.


Quoted from the Kniferights.org site:

"The President signed into law the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill on October 28, 2009, protecting our pocket knives. The bill included our amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act that clearly exempts assisted and one-hand opening knives. "