Idiot Laws

N

NFMee

Joined
Oct 26, 1999
Messages
364
I've always known there were some rediculous laws out there, but this one really gets me. From New York City Code (I'm embarrased to say)

"It has been found that folding knives with a blade of four (4) inches or more that locks in an open position are designed and used almost exclusively for the purpose of stabbing or threat thereof."

It goes on to say that such knives are prohibited for sale in the City. Knives longer than four inches, of any type, are generally prohibited in New York City, with bunch of exemptions which allow things like the NECKS to occur.

Really, it isn't the implication law that chafes me so much as the suggestion that folding knives larger than 4" are DESIGNED and USED ONLY for stabbing or threatening. Preposterous! I guess we'd better tell Sal Glesser that his spyderco fisherman can ONLY be used to do ill -- I'm sure he'll pull it IMMEDATELY.
 
Laws along that lines are not unique to New York. The AFCK is 3.96 in. :D .
 
Not only is it preposterous, but I think that "finding" is a lie. I doubt NYPD measures all knives involved in crimes, so they literally wouldn't have the data necessary to arrive at such a conclusion.
 
Insane! The danish parliament has just passed a law that effectively makes carrying anything than a sub 2,75" slip joint a felony!
No one hand opening, no lock! Get caught once and pay a $ 500,- fine! Get caught twice and go to jail for up to two years!
At the same time, it also became illegal to even own "a knife made for carry around the neck or should which can be withdrawn with one hand from that position"!
Friggin idiot politicans! "Hey, we'll outlaw anything that looks or sounds threatening, then the people will think we have done something for their safety!" :mad:

Bo Hansen
Gisgruntled dane
 
I totally agreee. I just read the law too and thats why I am now loooking for a small slipjoint. The blade must under 2.4" so I can carry it on domestic filghts (yes thats still legal i Denmark!!!).
____
Carl
 
carl said:
By the way any recommendations?
____
Carl
Click to expand...
How about a Spyderco Pride...The 2.25 inch blade doesn't lock, and you can even get it with the flag of Denmark on the handle!.
 
Carl,
I'm thinking about a Lone Wolf City Knife. How unbelievable it sounds, it should be legal and seems to be pretty well made and resonably priced.

cgd160,
I would if it was a realistic option for me. I have a wife who wants to live here, family and good friends who I'll miss more than carrying a knife!
(Which I will regardless of our idiot politicans, BTW! :D )

Bo Hansen
 
Ooops!
Carl, the Lone Wolf is actually 2,7", so it won't go on the plane. Can't imagine anything else than the smallest SAK's or perhabs a LM Micra would do.

Glockman,
Would be perfect, but one hander are a big no-no here! :barf:

Bo Hansen
 
How about you guys from Denmark write letters of complaint.Start an organization or Knife rights group etc. Just don't sit there and take that crap.Perhaps when the Government hears all the outrage,maybe they will get a clue.Then again,as stupid as the legislation that they passed appears,they might not get the message. :rolleyes:
 
Tombstone,
We did! The original draft of the new law banned carrying any knife in public places, including small SAK's, LM Micra's etc.
The Ministry of Justice was actually flooded with e-mails, letters and phonecalls, which made them back down a bit and allow sub 2,75" slipjoints.
Members of a couple of knife, outdoor and hunting groups have pressed the authorities for years, but as you mention - they aren't getting the message.
And it doesn't help that the majority of the people here think that carrying a knife is anything from strange to pshychotic!

Bo Hansen
 
I can understand blade length restriction. But an edged tool with an under 5" blade can not be considered as a weapon. Under this blade length, a knife can be used as a weapon like a hammer, a screw-driver or a iron, but this kind of knife is not designed and doesn't have the characteristics required to be a weapon. Will any military technical expert give a 4" bladed fighting knife to a soldier ? It is simply common sense, you can injure or kill somebody with many usual objects including some knives. For me, under 4", a knife is only a cutting tool. Over 5" it may be a weapon.

In addition, it is totally incomprehensible to forbid locking mechanisms, simply because this kind of folding knives are the safest.

I have an anecdote... During a few years, I was working for a big French university and I was a member of its safety committee. One of the working accident investigations we were doing concerned an electrician who was seriously wounded by a slip-joint locking failure. The committee final recommendation was all knives which are not equipped with a locking mechanism are prohibited (to use in the university buildings or by the university agents).

The difference between this situation and political decisions is we had (the committee) only to be pragmatic and find the better solution : to give lock-back style knives to the employees. The politician needs to give the impression to do something against delinquency. Unfortunately this kind of stupid decisions will not save any lives, but cause many finger wounds because of accidental blade closing !!! :rolleyes:

I hope my post is understandable... :D
 
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