I know this should probably go in political or in knife laws, but as this is something that effects all of us I thought I would post here. I just received this email from Senator Patty Murray as I am sure many others did:
Dear Whitney:
Thank you for contacting me regarding a proposed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) interpretation of the Switchblade Knife Act to expand its list of prohibited knives. It is very good to hear from you.
In fall 2008, CBP started the process to revoke past rulings governing the importation of certain types of knives. If completed, the new CBP rule would have barred knife makers from selling a number of modern knives that open more easily than traditional folding knives. Many of these modern knives are commonly used by hunters, backpackers, fishermen, and law enforcement officers for utilitarian purposes in Washington state and across the country. This interpretation threatened to make it more difficult for owners to carry or use these knives after July 21, 2009.
During Senate consideration of H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced an amendment to focus enforcement of the Switchblade Knife Act on dangerous weapons and exempt from coverage modern utilitarian knives that had never previously been barred. I supported this amendment and you will be happy to learn that this amendment was agreed to unanimously and that H.R. 2892 has passed the Senate. It will now be considered by members of the Senate and House of Representatives in a conference committee.
You should know that I will continue to monitor this legislation as it is considered and keep your thoughts on this issue in mind. Laws on importation and ownership of knives should not be used to needlessly ban modern pocketknives and similar knives used routinely for work and recreation. Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue and please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Spokane.
I know it isn't a complete victory because they are still needlessly persecuting switchblades, but this keeps the majority of our knives safe for the moment.
--Whitney
Dear Whitney:
Thank you for contacting me regarding a proposed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) interpretation of the Switchblade Knife Act to expand its list of prohibited knives. It is very good to hear from you.
In fall 2008, CBP started the process to revoke past rulings governing the importation of certain types of knives. If completed, the new CBP rule would have barred knife makers from selling a number of modern knives that open more easily than traditional folding knives. Many of these modern knives are commonly used by hunters, backpackers, fishermen, and law enforcement officers for utilitarian purposes in Washington state and across the country. This interpretation threatened to make it more difficult for owners to carry or use these knives after July 21, 2009.
During Senate consideration of H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced an amendment to focus enforcement of the Switchblade Knife Act on dangerous weapons and exempt from coverage modern utilitarian knives that had never previously been barred. I supported this amendment and you will be happy to learn that this amendment was agreed to unanimously and that H.R. 2892 has passed the Senate. It will now be considered by members of the Senate and House of Representatives in a conference committee.
You should know that I will continue to monitor this legislation as it is considered and keep your thoughts on this issue in mind. Laws on importation and ownership of knives should not be used to needlessly ban modern pocketknives and similar knives used routinely for work and recreation. Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue and please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Spokane.
I know it isn't a complete victory because they are still needlessly persecuting switchblades, but this keeps the majority of our knives safe for the moment.
--Whitney
