Legal forum doesn't get enough traffic, so...

Thanks Friend,

Yes indeed, thanks for the heads up! Staggering. Who would have thunk it? Well now I have to learn about the legislative process and find who to write to. This is what I've figured out so far.

Citizen Guide on Hawaii's Legislative Process
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/guide.asp

Anti Pocketknife Bill
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/bills/SB126_.HTM
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/bills/SB126_.PDF

BS126 Bill Status
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=126
The bill has been submitted and passed it's first reading. It has gone to the...

Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO) Committee.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/senate/comm/commJGO.asp

Apparently there are a minimum of 14 steps, http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/bill_to_law.pdf, a bill must go through before it can be passed. Thus far (as of 2/8/9) This has gone through the first two.

I'm not the political activist type, but I guess I better figure out who to write to. From my point of view there's the bill's author Les Ihara, Jr., http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/Site1/Senate/members/sen9.asp, the JGO committee members and my district representatives, http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/vstreet/voterinformation.asp. I guess if I get real nervy I could write a newspaper or two too.

Wish us luck, Phil
 
Last edited:
Okay, so I understand what the bill is... but WHY?!?!?!?!

So fellas like knifemaking hall of famer Ken Onion would be a criminal... that's just completely ridiculous!!!!
 
Nuts, just nuts. You would be a criminal if you make a pocketknife, sell one, import one or carry one.

So Suzy-homemaker would be breaking the law to have one in her apron for trimming the roses, Billy-Bob the fisherman, Timmy the cub scout, Sparky the electrician, Hank the carpenter, the computer geek with his Leatherman, my daughter with the little malachite scaled slipjoint (if I ever get it finished) in her purse to sharpen art pencils, etc, etc, etc.

I can only assume the why is to cut down on knife related crime. There are a fair number of stabbings, threats and assorted shenanigans perpetrated at knife point. The growing phenomena of tactical knives can seem spooky too I guess. Anyway, this surely isn't the way.
 
If anyone knows of a petition or something, please post it here. I'll gladly add my name to any list opposing this madness. I don't make folders but I do EDC one and own several. I certainly do not consider myself a criminal.

Thanks for the heads-up, okzj.
 
Hawaii is already the most repressive state as far as gun ownership (yes, worse than New York, Chicago, and California), so I guess they figure this is the logical next step. And not to be racist, because this is just the truth: They have a very high percentage of Japanese people living there, who were not raised in a gun and knife culture and are simply incapable of understanding why anyone would want to own either. In addition, Honolulu, for just a medium-sized city, has the mother of all gang and crime problems.

None of this justifies the wholesale banning of anything, of course, but it's easy to see how some numbnuts could come up with this. Let's hope more rational minds prevail and this never makes it into law.
 
You gotta be kidding me! "Politically Correct" bullsh*t! Chalk up another attempt by the Liberals to dis-empower the individual citizen.:grumpy:
 
Samael,
Very few of the folks here with Japanese backgrounds are first generation immigrants and the cultural influence is distant. Also, for a largely urban situation, the 'gang' and violent crime activity is relatively low. One quick look at voting trends though will tell the whole story. The state faces similar worries with many other areas of the country, but ideology trumps needs.

Take care, Craig
 
Hey, guys, back off on the wholesale labeling of nanny-state nuts as "liberals" please. I am a self-avowed liberal and I think this prospective ban is horse$hit of the worst kind. It's another example of politicians (of any sort) acting without good research or real justification. It's absurd. And do you note that there's no provision in the proposal as written for EMTs, cops or other first responders who need to carry folding blades in the line of duty? Ridiculous.
 
I'm with you slim, but it is what it is. Somehow I can't see a whole lot of improvement here if we can get your first responder provision in the wording. As mentioned a bit ago, if you look up the voting trends here, then it's not a far stretch to 'wholesale label'.

Respectful of other ideas, but wondering why the effort isn't being spent on the pressing economic crisis, Craig
 
jackrabbitslim said:
Hey, guys, back off on the wholesale labeling of nanny-state nuts as "liberals" please. I am a self-avowed liberal and I think this prospective ban is horse$hit of the worst kind. It's another example of politicians (of any sort) acting without good research or real justification. It's absurd. And do you note that there's no provision in the proposal as written for EMTs, cops or other first responders who need to carry folding blades in the line of duty? Ridiculous.
Click to expand...

+1 Let's leave the politics for another area of BF that I refuse to frequent ;) There are all walks of life who want to ban knives and many more who would just as soon keep them.

This bill is ridiculous, fortunately the buzz is that it doesn't stand a chance.
 
I didn't figure that this had much of a chance, but it always pays to be aware.
 
AcridSaint said:
+1 Let's leave the politics for another area of BF that I refuse to frequent ;) There are all walks of life who want to ban knives and many more who would just as soon keep them.

This bill is ridiculous, fortunately the buzz is that it doesn't stand a chance.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, 50 years ago, most of us thought a gun control law didn't stand a chance either. The problem is that if someone is against knives, they'll chip away and chip away, losing over and over.....but eventually they'll win a little battle that seems insignificant. Then they'll win another seemingly insignificant battle...and another....until one day they win a big one. Outlawing pocket knives seems as unlikely now as outlawing hand guns did many decades ago. Just because this time it doesn't stand a chance is no reason to sit back and not do anything. We have to stand up for our rights under the constitution. If we don't stand up for our rights, no one else will.
 
I don't see how there's a real comparison to what I'm saying. Sorry if there was a note of complacency, it was simply meant to reassure all of the people who are not Hawaiians and really have no say in the matter. The fact of the matter is, people are going to keep trying to push their agendas, from both sides, the best we can hope for is a give and take.
 
scottickes said:
Unfortunately, 50 years ago, most of us thought a gun control law didn't stand a chance either. The problem is that if someone is against knives, they'll chip away and chip away, losing over and over.....but eventually they'll win a little battle that seems insignificant. Then they'll win another seemingly insignificant battle...and another....until one day they win a big one. Outlawing pocket knives seems as unlikely now as outlawing hand guns did many decades ago. Just because this time it doesn't stand a chance is no reason to sit back and not do anything. We have to stand up for our rights under the constitution. If we don't stand up for our rights, no one else will.
Click to expand...

very well said
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top