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

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Guys the reason that nordicman2 was jumped on is not the political base its that its turning into a political fight between members over the laws/bill of rights/constitution/etc as apposed to the issue at hand. im not pointing fingers at anyone or anything like that but that is why his post was jumped on.

the point is if theres going to be debate on what an amendment means then it should be else where but if the debate is on if said amendment is useable in the fight against this decision or what not then that is fine (as to my understanding from how the discussions have gone so far)

-matt
 
As promised earlier: We have been working closely with Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) and are pleased to announce that Reps. Latta and Walt Minnick (D-ID) have co-sponsored an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to Restrict Funds to Implement the proposed CBP rule.

Our thanks to Reps. Latta and Minnick for taking a leadership role in this fight. This is just the first step in a complicated process, but it is important. We will post more information as soon as we get it.

As reported in an earlier News Slice, Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal. We have now posted the Congressional letter with signatures here: http://bit.ly/8mU3w

Start following us on Twitter to get news as soon as we have it: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights
 
It's more than "useful", it's the basis of this whole issue.
I understand that rules are put in place to keep the forum running smoothly.
Nordic's "political" addition to this thread, however, touches the key points of what should be our focus while we defend ourselves from this threat.
Regardless, a statement such as the one that we have a responsibility to the country to relinquish our pocket knives to the Government upon their request needs to be faced wherever it pops up.
If anything I'm disappointed that noone else found need to comment.
Nordic entered this forum with focus and the summation of what we should be talking about in our community in regards to this and he's told to avoid political issue?
This is a political issue.
I understand that the mods are attempting to keep this on track but the targeting of Nordic seemed more knee-jerk to me than of any real use.
While we're writing our respective congressmen we should also be ready to educate those in our immediate circles as it's pivotal to the greater awareness.
I'll get off this now, as I don't mean to contribute to a derailing of this important thread, but members should be allowed a little breathing room on this particular case.
It's a little ironic (and disturbing) to feel that one right is being stifled as we actively "discuss" the stifling of another one.
 
futant said:
It's more than "useful", it's the basis of this whole issue.
I understand that rules are put in place to keep the forum running smoothly.
Nordic's "political" addition to this thread, however, touches the key points of what should be our focus while we defend ourselves from this threat.
Regardless, a statement such as the one that we have a responsibility to the country to relinquish our pocket knives to the Government upon their request needs to be faced wherever it pops up.
If anything I'm disappointed that noone else found need to comment.
Nordic entered this forum with focus and the summation of what we should be talking about in our community in regards to this and he's told to avoid political issue?
This is a political issue.
I understand that the mods are attempting to keep this on track but the targeting of Nordic seemed more knee-jerk to me than of any real use.
While we're writing our respective congressmen we should also be ready to educate those in our immediate circles as it's pivotal to the greater awareness.
I'll get off this now, as I don't mean to contribute to a derailing of this important thread, but members should be allowed a little breathing room on this particular case.
It's a little ironic (and disturbing) to feel that one right is being stifled as we actively "discuss" the stifling of another one.
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it seems that there are 2 camps with this, those that think we need to use the 2nd amendment as the reason they cant take our knives away (yet that can give fuel to the fire of those that claim pocket knives to be weapons) and those of us that think it should be used as a last resort since we want to promote pocket knives as tools (but this might not be an argument that can be pushed as hard).

-matt
 
First, let's see where Critter's initiative with Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) and Walt Minnick (D-ID) leads with their amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. If successful, the issue of whether it's a Second Amendment issue becomes moot. . . for now.
 
Critter said:
As promised earlier: We have been working closely with Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) and are pleased to announce that Reps. Latta and Walt Minnick (D-ID) have co-sponsored an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to Restrict Funds to Implement the proposed CBP rule.

Our thanks to Reps. Latta and Minnick for taking a leadership role in this fight. This is just the first step in a complicated process, but it is important. We will post more information as soon as we get it.

As reported in an earlier News Slice, Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal. We have now posted the Congressional letter with signatures here: http://bit.ly/8mU3w

Start following us on Twitter to get news as soon as we have it: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights
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Thats great news Mr. Ritter. Im so glad both sides of the isle are on the side of common ****ing sense.

futant said:
Regardless, a statement such as the one that we have a responsibility to the country to relinquish our pocket knives to the Government upon their request needs to be faced wherever it pops up.
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Excuse me but I have to take exception to this. I said that if SOCIETY says that knives and guns must be given up we have a responsibility as citizens to do so. A government that does not represent the will of the people that asks such is to be told categorically "NO".

When did I suggest it was the government?

Never.

Nordic brought it up because he read what he wanted to read which was me being on the side of the big bad government. I dont know where he (or you really) get off on saying that Im saying something horrible and bad. Just like when I was called a socialist as if it was some kind of insult its not at all fair for anyone to say that I am against God/Nature/whatever because my point of view is different.

Where in this thread have I argued I thought a/o knives needed to be banned? That they were dangerous? That they were weapons? I challenge you to find a post of me saying anything other than the complete opposite.

I just want to sum up by saying that you may think society is dumb for thinking something, but they think you are dumb for not thinking that same something. Lets do our best to show our representatives that the will of society is still very much on the side of our favorite tools.
 
Critter said:
Just a quick update this Monday morning on the latest news regarding Customs' Pocket Knife Grab.

National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) submitted Comments opposing CBP proposal on behalf of the NRA's nearly 4 million members "most of whom carry at least one pocket knife on a regular basis," and requesting "the ruling reversal be abandoned."

Read their letter here: http://bit.ly/tyUA4

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal.

Read their media release here: http://bit.ly/rhqh1

We expect more news from groups opposing this Customs proposal later today. Start following us on Twitter to get news as soon as we have it: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

What Next?

There does seem to be some confusion, based on emails we have received and posts on various online forums, as to what happens next. So, just to clear up any questions, this proposal does NOT now take effect.

The comment period has ended. CBP now has 30 days to do something and there are a number of possibilities. 1) They can issue a final rule which may or may not be exactly the same as the proposal (they can make revisions based on comments received), 2) They can open the proposal for comment again with or without changes, or 3) They can kill the proposal entirely. Clearly, we would prefer the latter, but nobody is betting on that.

If they issue a final rule, then it becomes effective 90 days later. If that happens, you can expect that there will be legal challenges that could potentially delay enforcement, as well as legislative solutions being pursued. This is only the end of the first round. Lot's more to happen.

In the meantime, we are working with Congress on legislative solutions NOW and I hope to have some announcements in this regard this week. Of course, those can take time to have effect and may or may not actually end up being passed. I can assure you that all those emails and letters to Congress are having an effect, as is the support of NRA and other major constituent groups who have brought this issue to their attention. You can expect to be asked to write again on these specific legislative initiatives once that begins in earnest.

More letters to your Members of Congress cannot hurt. Just be sure to make them personal and be polite. A sample letter is still available on Knife Rights here: http://bit.ly/CtALi

Some of you opposing this CBP proposal have chosen to send copies of Knife Rights' Comments Letter along to your Members of Congress in an attempt to educate those who may not be seeing the big picture. If that's something you'd like to do, our letter can be found here: http://bit.ly/1NqNYi

You may want to review our Communicating with Congress page before writing or to find your Members of Congress here: http://bit.ly/QYkFz

Thanks again to everyone who has written and for your support of Knife Rights in this critical fight.
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Excellent update, and I'm glad to be hearing some good news. Thanks for your efforts.
 
p_mcmanis said:
Excuse me but I have to take exception to this. I said that if SOCIETY says that knives and guns must be given up we have a responsibility as citizens to do so. A government that does not represent the will of the people that asks such is to be told categorically "NO".
Click to expand...

Perhaps you missed the part about the fact that neither a "government" nor a "society" gives us the right to own knives (and guns). It isn't up to "governments" or "societies" to decide.
 
As far as warnings there are plenty here in this thread and in the sticky on the use of this forum at the top. It is each posters responsibility to read and follow the rules we have here. That can be done easily or ignored. If they are ignored then expect to be corrected.

There is a huge difference between contacting you political representatives which is the purpose of this thread and getting on a soapbox and espousing political opinion. If that is done this forum will degrade to political infighting. If you can not see the consequences of allowing the purely political posts to occur in this forum, I can not help there other than to say that precedent will not be allowed due to the fact that this thread and this forum will degrade.

I may agree with many of the opinions here, but people need to understand that this thread is not in this forum so they can get on their soapbox. That is a clear statement and it is well documented. People make choices, read our rules or ignore our rules. The choice is yours, but as the sticky thread title states at the top of this forum -

"Don't get mad at me if you ignore these General Guidlines Updated Sept 2008."

In there you will find the following:

"Political topics will not be tolerated in the General Knife Forums, expect an infraction should you decide to do so. Use the political forum for those types of comments,"

That is as clear as I can make it and that statement will be enforced. It is your choice. You can try to bend that rule if you wish or you can post within the rule.
 
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timcsaw said:
Perhaps you missed the part about the fact that neither a "government" nor a "society" gives us the right to own knives (and guns). It isn't up to "governments" or "societies" to decide.
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You are free to believe that if you want but that is a fundamentally flawed perspective that is rooted deep in religion wherein people are somehow guaranteed "rights" by some entity greater than themselves instead of reality which is that people acting in tandemn have alloted priveleges to each other in order to have acceptible living conditions for everyone in that society.

Critter said:
Reps. Latta & Minnick's DHS appropriations amendment restricting CPB from spending funds on their proposal is now posted: http://bit.ly/3PYQ2J
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I was glad to see this. I wish it would have gone further and prevented reinterpretation and the subsequent enforcement of those rulings.
 
p_mcmanis said:
You are free to believe that if you want but that is a fundamentally flawed perspective that is rooted deep in religion wherein people are somehow guaranteed "rights" by some entity greater than themselves instead of reality which is that people acting in tandemn have alloted priveleges to each other in order to have acceptible living conditions for everyone in that society.
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<shakes head>

p_mcmanis said:
I was glad to see this. I wish it would have gone further and prevented reinterpretation and the subsequent enforcement of those rulings.
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In this we agree and you are correct.
 
Bastid said:
There is a huge difference between contacting your political representatives which is the purpose of this thread and getting on a soapbox and espousing political opinion.
I may agree with many of the opinions here, but people need to understand that this thread is not in this forum so they can get on their soapbox. That is a clear statement and it is well documented. People make choices, read our rules or ignore our rules. The choice is yours, but as the sticky thread title states at the top of this forum -

"Don't get mad at me if you ignore these General Guidlines Updated Sept 2008."

In there you will find the following:

"Political topics will not be tolerated in the General Knife Forums, expect an infraction should you decide to do so. Use the political forum for those types of comments,"

That is as clear as I can make it and that statement will be enforced. It is your choice. You can try to bend that rule if you wish or you can post within the rule.
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Gus, These are good rules. If one is posting either here OR on the Political Forum, each of us needs to keep in mind that this MUST not become a political battle. Is there really anyone in this forum who cannot see that WE NEED as many friends on the left as we have on the right?

To each of you interested in our overcoming Customs' Proposed Ruling, please understand that we have perhaps more Democratic Congress persons as Republican Congress persons who are who are looking into this on the behalf of every one of us who love knives. Look at the names on letter that was signed by 77 members of Congress. Notice that there is a large number from both parties. This is a move by Customs, or someone within Customs. IT IS SUPREMELY STUPID to attack the party of the people whose help we need and are getting. Get off this Right/Left crap and get back to knives and knife friends.
 
Here is the response from one of my honorable representatives...

IMHO, clearly put together by a staffer, and showing no interest one way or the other. But hey, he's going to remember my comments and veiw's as this moves forward. COOL!

You know, but hey. At least I got a response.





"Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency's proposal to modify the definition of a switchblade under the "Switchblade Act of 1958." (P.L. 85-623) I appreciate hearing from you.

On May 21, 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency proposed a revision of the definition of a switchblade knife for importation purposes. This new interpretation would prohibit assisted opening knives, as well as those featuring one-hand operations, from being imported under the "Switchblade Act of 1958." The proposed changes should not affect knives currently in the United States, only a portion of imported knives.

The public comment period ended June 21, 2009. The agency will review the comments and make a final determination on the proposal within thirty calendar days. It will be effective for all affected imports made sixty days after publication. I will keep your comments and views in mind as this matter moves forward.

If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov. Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance"
 
p_mcmanis said:
I said that if SOCIETY says that knives and guns must be given up we have a responsibility as citizens to do so.
Click to expand...

Society can go pound salt as far as I'm concerned, at least on issues such as this.
Ever hear of a little thing called individualism?
It's the founding principle of North America.
 
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