When Boston City Councilor Dan Conley proposed on October 1, 2001 to ban the carrying of knives with blades in excess of 2 1/2 inches, he only provided exceptions for hunters, fishermen or those who needed to use their knives on the job. And he added the stipulation such knives could not be transported in vehicles unless going to or coming back from a fishing or hunting trip, or going back and forth from work.
In a November 29 letter to Councilor Conley, AKTI pointed out that
" The proposed Boston ordinance 1145 [16-45] is currently too broad to be effectively used against any specific group of identified criminals. What it does is make de-facto criminals of virtually every responsible Boston citizen.
"Whether that person is having a snack while watching TV in their home, buttering their bread at breakfast, pruning their roses in the backyard, scraping a sparkplug gap in the garage, camping, rock climbing, hiking, biking, jogging, kayaking, canoeing, or attending a knife collector show to buy or sell, your ordinance would be making them criminals subject to fine. If they are carrying a carving knife to grandma's house to carve the Christmas ham, they would be criminals."
Furthermore, Boston-area retailers, notably Stoddard's and Chesapeake Knife & Tool were also concerned about their customers transporting knives they had just purchased, as well as liability issues.
The following people were in attendance in support of our industry:
1. Mr. David Marks, president and owner of Stoddard's Inc., Boston's fifth-oldest business selling fine cutlery and fishing tackle.
2. Mr. Anthony S. Fiotto Esq., attorney representing Stoddard's.
3. Mr. Mel Herman, owner of Chesapeake Knife & Tool Co. (an AKTI Premier Member), an 18-store chain with one outlet located within the Boston City limits and another in a Massachusetts regional mall.
4. Mr. Jerry Rinder, Vice President, General Manager of Swiss Army Brands, Inc. (an AKTI Advisory Member).
5. Mr. Walter A. Gardiner, President of Imperial Schrade Corp. representing both ISC and AKTI.
The input provided by these gentlemen was taken into consideration and the verbage provided in a brief by Mr. Fiotto was used almost verbatim in the final ordinance. Industry's goal was to temper the law enforcement desire to disarm criminals with protecting law abiding citizenry's ability to carry knives.
Individuals got this done and AKTI provided a rallying point as it was created to do.
Excellent work everyone...
Here is the actual ordinance as it was passed...
CITY OF BOSTON
Be it ordained by the City Council of Boston, as follows:
That CBC, Ordinances, Chapter 16 be amended by inserting the following new language:
16-45 PROHIBITING THE CARRYING OF KNIVES OR
SIMILAR WEAPONS
16-45.1 Carrying of Weapons Prohibited. No person, except as provided by law, shall carry on his person, or carry under his control in a vehicle, any knife having any type of blade in excess of two and one-half (2 1/2") inches, (except when actually engaged in hunting or fishing or [delete
in going directly to and/or returning directly from such activities, or any employment which requires the use of any type of knife),
end delete] any employment, trade or lawful recreational or culinary activity which customarily involves the carrying or use of any type of knife, or (b) in going directly to and/or returning directly from such activities, or (c) if the knife is being transported directly to or from a place of purchase, sharpening, or repair, and if packaged in such a manner as not to allow easy access to the knife while it is being transported), ice picks, dirks or similar weapons that are likely to penetrate through police officer's ballistic vests, or other object or tool so redesigned, fashioned, prepared or treated that the same may be used to inflict bodily harm or injury to another.
16-45.2 Distribution Exception. This section shall not apply to persons who, through entities or establishments engaged in a recognized retail or wholesale business, are involved in the sale, purchase or repair of knives for trade, sport, hobby or recreation, including without limitation persons engaged in the transportation to or form such entities or establishments.
16-45.3 Applicability. Nothing in this section shall be construed to enhance or diminish any duties of persons described in section 16-45.2, and this section shall not be introduced or cited in any proceeding as evidence of negligence, recklessness, or similar state of mind of such persons.
16-45.4 Penalty. Violators of any provision of this ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not more than three hundred ($300.00) dollars for each offense.
16-45.5 Severability. The provisions of this section shall be severable and if any section, part, or portion hereof shall be held invalid for any purpose by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining section, part or portion thereof.
Effective Date. This section shall take effect immediately upon its passage. [Ed. Note: Passed 12/12/01]