Senate Passes Bill--Awesome

Phew, congrats to U.S. knife owners! One great battle in this war for their rights is won.
 
LX_Emergency said:
Congrats to you US guys!!
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say thanks. I know you guys from outside the States had
to sit back and watch, but all the same, we appreciate all your moral support. :thumbup:

Thanks to all that mailed/emailed your Reps. :thumbup:
 
Well, we got one piece of common sense legislation passed (seemingly). Maybe we can try for two in 2010.
 
Good news for sure. But the distinction between assisted openers and switchblades seems absolutely ridiculous to me. I mean, I'm glad that AO's remain legal, but what logic could possibly permit (or ban) one but not the other.
 
Congratulations to all of you, men!

Laws in other countries could be corrected in the same direction after the possible knife fault in US.
So we are here happy for you, guys and can breath deaper here some more time without the sad example.
 
FREAKIN' AWESOME, I'm stoked!!!! Way to go guys.....I'd like to personally thank everyone who took a stand, and wrote those letters. Remember....keep your powder dry, and the hammers cocked. More action may be needed.
 
Here was Senator Murray's reply.
Thanks to the forum members that helped to raise the concern and frame the letters of interest.

Dear Mr. T:



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 Prosser.
 
I have been furiously contacting all of my Congressmen & Senators about numerous issues that are driving me up the wall and today I got what is actually a little more than a form letter blow-off response about this Homeland Security BS.

I hope this is somewhat positive but I can see pluses as well as negatives in this but I wanted to share it with you guys.

This is from Senator Bob Casey from my home state of Pennsylvania.


"Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding Custom and Border Protection’s proposed rule change to the Switchblade Act of 1958. I appreciate hearing from all Pennsylvanians about the issues that matter most to them.

On March 19, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed a rule to change the Switchblade Act of 1958 to also prohibit the importation of all spring- and release-assisted knives. Currently switchblades or knives by which a button triggers the spring loaded blade are prohibited.

According to the CBP, the only knives this proposed rule would affect are those “constructed with a spring-assisted opening mechanism, not all knives with thumb studs or those designed to be opened with one hand.” No prohibition on common and special purpose knives such as jackknives, standard pocketknives, and scout knives will be imposed. This new rule would only affect those spring- and release-assisted knives that are imported as CBP does not have jurisdiction over knives produced in the United States.

The proposed rule change would to go into effect on July 21, 2009. I understand that many people have strong feelings on this issue. Please be assured that I will continue to examine this proposed change to ensure that it is in the best interest of the American public.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.

If you have access to the Internet, I encourage you to visit my web site, http://casey.senate.gov. I invite you to use this online office as a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,
Bob Casey
United States Senator"
 
Dear Mr. Garsson:

Thank you for contacting my office to express your views on a decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to expand the definition of "switchblades" to include any knife that can be opened with one hand - not just those that are opened by pressing a button. It is illegal to import switchblades into the United States, and this decision could potentially affect thousands of knife owners. On July 9, 2009, the Senate passed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R.2892) that would reverse the CBP's decision and allow assisted-opening pocketknives to continue to be imported to and used in this country. H.R.2892 is currently in conference committee. I will keep your views in mind when the Senate considers the final version of this bill.

I believe that all citizens should become involved in the legislative process by letting their voices be heard, and I appreciate the time and effort that you took to share your thoughts with me. One of the most important aspects of my job is keeping informed about the views of my constituents, and I welcome your comments so that I may continue to represent California to the best of my ability. Should I have the opportunity to consider legislation on this or similar issues, I will keep your views in mind.

For additional information about my activities in the U.S. Senate, please visit my website, http://boxer.senate.gov. From this site, you can access statements and press releases that I have issued about current events and pending legislation, request copies of legislation and government reports, and receive detailed information about the many services that I am privileged to provide for my constituents. You may also wish to visit http://thomas.loc.gov to track current and past legislation.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I appreciate hearing from you.


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator


Gotta say, it was better than I expected.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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