Customs Says "NO EXTENSION!" - They Want Your Pocket Knives NOW!

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flashlife said:
To me, the 2nd Amend. acknowledges my right to anything I classify as a weapon (arm). The 2nd is about defense, so whether it's a gun, a knife, or a Louisville Slugger, if I have to use it for defense, the 2nd covers it.
Almost every state constitution has a "lethal-force for self defense" clause, and they don't say what weapon you must use in that defense.
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The 2nd ammendment isn't about self defense. It's about making sure people are allowed to keep firearms. Thus the "Right to keep and bear arms."

Would you also advocate the availability of full auto guns, grenades, high explosives, etc? All which can be viewed as a method of self defense?
 
Why are you all discussing the definition of the 2nd amendment? I understand that many here fear that if they can take away our knives, they will try to take away our guns and such as well. How about we stop bickering amongst each other and try to fix the problem at hand. Arguing the meaning of the 2nd amendment is going to get us nowhere.
 
I would prefer to think that the second amendment doesn't apply because a pocketknife (AO or otherwise) isn't a weapon, it's a tool. Like many other tools (hammer, screwdriver, et al) it can be used as a weapon, but the primary nature of a pocketknife is not that of a weapon.
 
Josh K said:
Would you also advocate the availability of full auto guns, grenades, high explosives, etc? All which can be viewed as a method of self defense?
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if you say that to some extreme conservatives/ extremely "pro gun" people they will flip out on you and call you a crazy anti gun socialist stupid liberal ;) (had it happen to me the other day). i dont think anyone can justify those things for self defense until they take the step to saying defense against an evader and/or our government. people will argue that the 2nd amendment is there to keep the people able to be as armed as well as the military incase they have to fight against our own government. they will also go as far as saying that a class 3 license is just restricting our god given rights.

personally i have no issues with the classification to class 3 and how it works.


as to this being a gun issue. again, yes it can be made a 2nd amendment issue but if you want to convince those against knives to allow them, we need to show them that the main use of knives are not as weapons. we use them as tools every day so we should defend them as tools. if that effort fails fully then you can pull out the 2nd amendment but i think it should be used as a back up plan seeing as the main point we are trying to fight in the CBP's thing is how they say that these knives are used to commit crimes (as weapons). if you can kill that point, you kill the argument. the 2nd amendment argument does nothing to kill that point, in fact it can support it to some

-matt
 
ras said:
I would prefer to think that the second amendment doesn't apply because a pocketknife (AO or otherwise) isn't a weapon, it's a tool. Like many other tools (hammer, screwdriver, et al) it can be used as a weapon, but the primary nature of a pocketknife is not that of a weapon.
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In the 65 page document by Customs, they talk about how there's no evidence other than a "bald assertion" that the Gerber EZ-Out is not primarily a weapon.

Seriously? If you're using the Gerber EZ-Out as a weapon, it's probably because your hammer and screwdriver are both broken and you're in a desperate situation. It's a great little pocket knife, but it's not a weapon.

So, I'm going to agree with the you - while I think that the Second Amendment thing is pretty clear cut as well - in this instance, the main problem is that they're not banning weapons, they're banning everyday tools.
 
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dan oliver said:
In your letters, please mention to your Congressional delegation that Customs....an Executive agency, is usurping Congress's authority by their rule. Congress didn't vote on a change in the definition of "switchblade". Rather, the Executive branch has taken it upon itself to legislate....a power not granted it by the Constitution. That cannot sit well with Congress.
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Hi all,
I have been hesitant to post anything regarding this particular piece of news on these forums 'cause I have to admit I haven't delved too deep into the subject to be able to contribute much.... But upon seeing this little piece, I had to say something...
I haven't read all 320 or so posts, so if this is redundant, sorry... I only have access at work and breaks are few and far between...

The above quote is possibly the more salient of two points I feel should have been made in public, yet I've not heard anything regarding either...

1 - where the heck does an Executive Agancy get off in redefining and implementing Federal Law; and, where is it written they have the authority to restirict free trade??? (if this is in deed what appears to be happening...)

2 - Why has nobody mentioned that a prohibition, should it arise, on owning a one-handed-opening knife is actually a violation of the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act? Tell a one-handed vet who lost his arm protecting these people, or anyone else who can't manipulate a slip-joint, that he/she can't have a one-handed-opening knife?

Just my thoughts... Or am I totally off base??? :confused:
 
joeshredd said:
1 - where the heck does an Executive Agancy get off in redefining and implementing Federal Law; and, where is it written they have the authority to restirict free trade??? (if this is in deed what appears to be happening...)
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In the law that estabilished CBP it would have specifically stated their purpose and powers as well as what posistions would be appointed by the executive branch. It is their job to enforce the law, which is what they are doing; they are changing how they interpret the law. They arent redefining what a switchblade is per se; that can only be done by changing the switchblade act of 1958. Rather, they are chaning their opinion on whether a feature of a knife is in line with the guidelines set out in the original act.

2 - Why has nobody mentioned that a prohibition, should it arise, on owning a one-handed-opening knife is actually a violation of the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act? Tell a one-handed vet who lost his arm protecting these people, or anyone else who can't manipulate a slip-joint, that he/she can't have a one-handed-opening knife?
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The switchblade act has a provision that allows americans without the use or utility of both arms to own a switchblade knife with some conditions that I cant remember off the top of my hand.
 
A switchblade is classified as a non-utilitarian knife... a "weapon". The CBP is now trying to say that AO's also fall into the same category as switchblades... thus, CBP is trying to classify AO's also as non-utilitarian knives ("weapons).

We may not consider them weapons but the CBP IS considering them weapons ...THEY have already decided that AO's are weapons (in my mind my knives are tools first, and weapons last).

Since THEY have decided that AO's are "weapons", then shouldn't they fall under the 2nd amendment (from THEIR perspective)?
 
timcsaw said:
Since THEY have decided that AO's are "weapons", then shouldn't they fall under the 2nd amendment (from THEIR perspective)?
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Then theyll just say that switchblades were considered a reasonable restriction when the law was passed and no court has overturned that line of reasoning.
 
p_mcmanis said:
While I am making assumptions about your background, I would be willing to be that solider is much tougher than you.

Soliders are unbelievably tough guys and gals.
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Not so much, seen too many to the contrary, even those who deployed. Though most of them are more than ok with knives. Still, people are people, and the military is an eclectic group.
 
If you want to see a brilliantly drafted, cogent and persuasive letter to Customs, please take a look at the one Doug Ritter's group filed through their lawyer. If your Congressional delegation were to read and study it carefully, they would be forced to conclude that Customs is overreaching and improper in their attempt to redefine a "switchblade".
 
dan oliver said:
If you want to see a brilliantly drafted, cogent and persuasive letter to Customs, please take a look at the one Doug Ritter's group filed through their lawyer. If your Congressional delegation were to read and study it carefully, they would be forced to conclude that Customs is overreaching and improper in their attempt to redefine a "switchblade".
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That's a very large "IF", my friend.

My Congressman and both Senators, while all seemingly pro-gun and anti-nanny state government, have yet to do me the honor of a reply to my contact via their web forms. I would have expected even a generic "thank you for contacting me" response by now, but they don't seem inclined to reply. Guess I'll just have to try again.
 
elkins45 said:
That's a very large "IF", my friend.

My Congressman and both Senators, while all seemingly pro-gun and anti-nanny state government, have yet to do me the honor of a reply to my contact via their web forms. I would have expected even a generic "thank you for contacting me" response by now, but they don't seem inclined to reply. Guess I'll just have to try again.
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My guys dont respond for a while usually but i know Jim Webb has my back here at least

-matt
 
flashlife said:
PC and 'soccer-mom' go hand in hand.
??!! :barf:
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Not the soccer mom's I'm seeing. They'll kill your a$$. And the soccer girls, they are down right violent. I've seen them kick, elbow push and even saw one girl reach out and jerk another girl down by her ponytail.:D
 
dan oliver said:
If you want to see a brilliantly drafted, cogent and persuasive letter to Customs, please take a look at the one Doug Ritter's group filed through their lawyer. If your Congressional delegation were to read and study it carefully, they would be forced to conclude that Customs is overreaching and improper in their attempt to redefine a "switchblade".
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It is a great letter. I attached the Knife Rights response to an email and forwarded it to my congressman.
 
SR_matt said:
My guys dont respond for a while usually but i know Jim Webb has my back here at least

-matt
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Not so sure of that. Both Webb and Warner have yet to reply. Goodlatte's office called me. But then again we are friends, and I know his admin assistants. He is on board for a Nay vote should it come up in the House.
 
It's been over a week, and I've received nothing from any of those I've contacted (CBP, one Republican, two Democrats, and a ton of media outlets). Disappointing.

I've still not seen anything about this from the MSM. Disappointing.

Tomorrow is the 20th.... the CBP "drop dead date" if I recall correctly. Disappointing.

I picked up an AO Kershaw at Walmart yesterday. The guy behind the counter didn't have a clue about this. He's up on the NRA, his gun rights, and the 2nd amendment, but hadn't heard a thing about this knife issue. He wasn't happy when he realized what was going on. I asked him to contact his reps. and to tell as many customers as possible about the issue.

What more can we do?
 
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