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Daddystouch -> Knife Play/Bondage - US To Ban Pocket/Folding Knives - NEED ACTION (6/14/2009 10:41:52 PM)
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I post this here because this is directly relevant to both knife play and bondage. Obviously, to play with knives you need a knife. With bondage, I like to keep a knife on hand to cut my partner out if need be, as I suspect a lot of people do.
ACTION IS NEEDED ASAP BEFORE JUNE 21st
For the quick newsflash click HERE.
A number of days ago US Customs seized a small shipment of folding knives entering the United States. The knives were of the 'assisted opening' kind, and made by Gerber - a company you may well have heard of and a popular manufacturer of multi-tools, camping gear and sporting goods. For an explanation of the different kind of folding knife, see the bottom of this post. Assisted opening knives have previously been ruled in court and by US Customs to not be switchblades, and thus legal for import into the United States and for introduction into inter-state commerce. This seizure was the first instance of a sudden shift in US Customs policy. US Customs have now decided that assisted opening knives are switchblades and thus illegal to import and to introduce into inter-state commerce.
This does not, however, only apply to assisted opening knives. The US Customs ruling appears to apply to ALL knives that can be opened with one hand. That means the vast majority of pocket/folding knives. And it is not just knives. Many multi-tools and even modern Swiss Army Knives are designed to be opened one-handed. Even traditional thumb-nick knives like the ubiquitous Buck 110 can be flicked open one-handed.
This is not limited to just imports. This ruling will also ban transport of knives between states. US Customs definitions are also used as the basis for the interpretation of many state and local laws. Most states control switchblades in some form or another, banning their sale and in some cases possession. You may find that even possessing the knives you already own will become illegal.
There is a chance to reverse this decision, however. There is a comment period within which interested parties can contact Customs to make their voice heard. This period expires on June 21st when Customs will either reverse their decision, or ratify it. KnifeRights.org applied for an extension to this very short period for comment, but their request was denied. US Customs does not seem in the mood to listen. So you need to take action.
Visit KnifeRights.org to read about what is happening, find out how to take action and join/donate to KnifeRights.org.
There are four things you can do to fight this.
1) Write to US Customs voicing your opposition to this move and telling them that they will not sneak this past you or Congress. A model letter is here.
2) Write to your Congressman voicing your opposition and asking for their support and efforts to reverse this decision. US customs must answer to Congress. Before you write, please read this page about contacting Congress - it is extremely useful. A model letter is here.
3) Email 'customs at kniferights.org' to let them know you have sent emails to US Customs and Congress. It is important they know how many emails have been sent.
4) Join KnifeRights.org to help support the fight.
Write to Customs
Write to Congress
Join KnifeRights
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Different Types of Knife
A switchblade is a knife that opens automatically, entirely by the action of a spring that is activated when you press a button on the handle of the knife. They are tightly controlled within the United States. Federally, they are illegal to import or to send between states. At the state and local level they are often illegal to sell, carry and even own. Here is a video of a switchblade.
Assisted opening knives are opened manually by pushing them open with a thumb stud or a section of tang that pokes out the back of the handle. When the knife is partially opened in this manual fashion a spring inside the knife takes open and 'assists' the blade in opening the rest of the way. Until recently these knives have been free from regulation federally, and treated no different at the state and local level to 'traditional' folding pocket knives. They have previously been ruled not to be switchblades because there is no button that activates their opening and they are opened manually before they are 'assisted' the rest of the way - they do not open automatically like a switchblade. Household name brands such as Leatherman and Gerber make assisted opening knives, and you can buy them in WalMart and popular sporting goods stores. They are extremely common. Here is a video of an assisted opening knife opened with a thumb stud, and another with a flipper.
Non-assisted opening knives must be opened entirely manually by pushing a thumb stud, thumb hole, or 'flipper'. Their legality has never been questioned before but they could now become illegal. Here is a video of a a manual knife opening with a thumb stud, and another with a flipper.
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Please take action to stop this so that we can continue to enjoy knife play, safe bondage and for a wide variety of other reasons (utility, camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, sailing, fire/ambulance/police/military, self-defense, martial arts etc ad infinitum).
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