URGENT ACTION ALERT: Write your Senators NOW!

Dear Mr. Samsel:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency's proposal to modify the definition of a switchblade under the "Switchblade Act of 1958." (P.L. 85-623) I appreciate hearing from you.

On May 21, 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency proposed a revision of the definition of a switchblade knife for importation purposes. This new interpretation would prohibit assisted opening knives, as well as those featuring one-hand operations, from being imported under the "Switchblade Act of 1958." The proposed changes should not affect knives currently in the United States, only a portion of imported knives.

The public comment period ended June 21, 2009. The agency will review the comments and make a final determination on the proposal within thirty calendar days. It will be effective for all affected imports made sixty days after publication. I will keep your comments and views in mind as this matter moves forward.
If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: www.chambliss.senate.gov. Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance


thanks marekz

It is always amazing that some in Congress are more than happy to not trust the administrative agencies about almost anything, except when its convenient. :rolleyes: Suggest you email them back and suggest to them that they are being bamboozled by CBP and send them to review the Comments filed by Knife Rights that explains why what Customs is telling them is definitely not the whole truth. That document can be found here:

http://www.kniferights.org/KNIFE RIGHTS CBP COMMENTS.pdf

or

http://tinyurl.com/KRComments
 
It is always amazing that some in Congress are more than happy to not trust the administrative agencies about almost anything, except when its convenient. :rolleyes: Suggest you email them back and suggest to them that they are being bamboozled by CBP and send them to review the Comments filed by Knife Rights that explains why what Customs is telling them is definitely not the whole truth. That document can be found here:

http://www.kniferights.org/KNIFE RIGHTS CBP COMMENTS.pdf

or

http://tinyurl.com/KRComments

Having dealt with politicians extensively in the last couple of years, my read on his reply is that his mind is made up and its not looking good for the cause. I would highly suggest some focused phone calls to his office to sway him before its too late. I'll be doing it today.
Has anyone contacted the NRA to ask for some backing in this? I'm a member and haven't heard anything from them. Make no mistake, this is only the beginning. We need to take a page from the NRA handbook, no backing down on any issues. Our knife laws are as restrictive as they need to be and no additional laws are needed.
To all the folks living outside the US, thank you for the kind words. Sometimes we forget that people outside our borders are fighting the same issues that we are. Your support is appreciated.
 
Having dealt with politicians extensively in the last couple of years, my read on his reply is that his mind is made up and its not looking good for the cause. I would highly suggest some focused phone calls to his office to sway him before its too late. I'll be doing it today.
Has anyone contacted the NRA to ask for some backing in this? I'm a member and haven't heard anything from them. Make no mistake, this is only the beginning. We need to take a page from the NRA handbook, no backing down on any issues. Our knife laws are as restrictive as they need to be and no additional laws are needed.
To all the folks living outside the US, thank you for the kind words. Sometimes we forget that people outside our borders are fighting the same issues that we are. Your support is appreciated.

The NRA has been actively cooperating and supporting our efforts on this issue. They submitted comments to CBP in support and are working on the legislative side as well. We are very pleased to have them as an ally.

If you are signed up for their Grassroots Alerts, you should have rec'd one on this subject. See here:

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4972
 
Senators Cornyn, Wyden, Vitter, Crapo, Enzi, Merkley, Roberts, and Risch's have introduced an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill to restrict funding. This would prevent Customs from implementing their proposed ruling that would prohibit the import of assisted and one-hand openers and in the process would broadly re-defined what a Switchblade is to cover almost all pocket knives, with potential far-reaching consequences. We need your help NOW to rally Senate support for this amendment to stop funding for this Customs rulemaking.

We have gotten this far in large part due to your letters that have flooded in to Senate offices. We now need you to write AGAIN in support of this Amendment. Contacting your Senators is critically important to get this Amendment into the appropriations bill.

Please note that multiple members of a household can and should each write separately.

We encourage you to use the sample letter below and copy and paste into the Senators' email forms. If you want to further personalize your letter, please be POLITE and NON-PARTISAN. We can only succeed with the support of both parties. DO NOT yell, don't rant and don't be rude! Stay focused and stay on message. This is NOT the time or place to express your frustrations or make any other political points or complaints.

Locate YOUR OWN Senators and their email forms here:


http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here is a Sample Letter to your Senators (copy and paste into the email form). If your Senator is one of those listed at the end as co-sponsors, change the closing to THANK them for their efforts co-sponsoring this amendment.:

RE: Amendment Number 1408 to DHS Appropriations H.R. 2892

Dear Senator [Insert Senator’s Name],

As a pocket knife owner, I am extremely concerned about the recently announced Customs ruling, which wrongly interprets federal law and would prohibit the importation of many of the sporting and utility knives that I use and enjoy. Their overly broad and novel new interpretation of what a Switchblade is could make me a felon for carrying a simple pocket knife. Additionally, the economic impact of the ruling on the knife trade would be severe. Pocket knives utilizing assisted or one hand opening technology are the dominant share of the market, and prohibiting the use of the technology would force significant job losses, and the potential loss of entire businesses.

This type of Federal regulation is totally unnecessary. I strongly urge you to accept Senators Cornyn, Wyden, Vitter, Crapo, Enzi, Merkley, Roberts, and Risch’s funding restriction amendment, Number 1408, to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, that prevents Customs from implementing this ruling.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Individual Signature]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Knife Rights on Twitter

Follow Knife Rights on Twitter and receive the latest updates and notices as soon as they occur:

http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

Join or Donate to Knife Rights

Your membership dues help support our efforts to protect your rights. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future™. Join at the Benefactor level to help us even more.

JOIN NOW! http://tinyurl.com/qnu988

PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS FIGHT FOR YOUR KNIFE RIGHTS!

We need your help: http://bit.ly/Scvp9

Copyright 2009, Knife Rights, Inc.
This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.


Doug Ritter
Chairman and Executive Director
Knife Rights, Inc.
a 501(c)(4) Member Organization
dritter@KnifeRights.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights
 
I got a nice meaningless reply from one of my local senators today:

Dear Dave:

Thank you for contacting me. I am always glad to hear from you.

I appreciate having the benefit of your views and concerns regarding proposed import restrictions on knives. Your input on this matter is helpful to me. As I examine this issue, I will certainly give your views every consideration.

Again, thanks for sharing your views with me. Please don't hesitate to let me know how you feel on any issue that concerns you.

Sincerely,

Tom Harkin
United States Senator

I was a little disappointed - clearly he doesn't think this is much of an issue at all. Compared to other correspondence I've gotten from him this was terribly lame. Of course, I did just send him a form letter - but I phoned and sent email as well. I'd hoped he would have gotten a bit of a burr in his chair. Guess not.
 
I got a nice meaningless reply from one of my local senators today:



I was a little disappointed - clearly he doesn't think this is much of an issue at all. Compared to other correspondence I've gotten from him this was terribly lame. Of course, I did just send him a form letter - but I phoned and sent email as well. I'd hoped he would have gotten a bit of a burr in his chair. Guess not.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660953

;)
 
Back
Top