Oppressive Knife Laws

Bernard Levine Website ^ | 1998 | Bernard Levine

[Copernicus]

It would difficult to find a more concise, cogent, coherent summary of the State of the Union than found in this commentary about knife laws in the United States.

Best regards to all

[George from New England]

if you don't like the knife laws...get a gun.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Legal

Illegal

[Ma3lst0rm]

I love these trips through history. Maybe Cindy Sheehan can add it to her Department of History. lol Some knives are inherently dangerous? Nooooo. I just can't believe it. Sometimes you have to wonder how many moths have set up residence in the minds of such politicians.

[minus_273]

a few months ago a man got his clothing stuck on an escalator in the porter square T stop in boston. No one had a knife to cut him out and he was choked to death by the machine in front of a crowd that could only call 9-11.

[bvw]

I would love to be able to carry a switch blade. One-handed operation!

[Daralundy]

They are trying to ban knives in Britain. Are they puritans?

[R W Reactionairy]

Things are tough [and very stupid] all over --- possession of a slingshot is a felony in New Jersey.

[CrazyIvan]

"I would love to be able to carry a switch blade. One-handed operation!"

Try one of the "assisted opening" models. I have a Buck and love it. Gave one of he same type, but a different maker (they call theirs Onion, Scallion, etc.) to my one stepson who does cable work. The one handed operation is very handy when he's up a pole!

[Bear_Slayer]

I was in a local Army/Navy store last week and looked at switch blades. The cheapest was $50, the next up was $160 and the most expensive was $600. They were all well made knives and I coveted even the least of them. :-)

I don't know the laws for Montana. I suppose with CCW one could carry a switch knife, but I'm not certain.

[yarddog]

Several years ago I was reading on concealed carry in Florida statutes. I came across one which forbade the concealed carrying of "Buck Knives", and they used that wording.

Perhaps the law has been changed but I suspect thousands of people were or are in danger of being a convicted felon. I do suspect it wouldn't hold up in a serious court trial.

[Copernicus]

They are trying to ban knives in Britain. Are they puritans?

I believe the current technical term for the British Left is "idiot". (With apologies to congenital idiots everywhere)

Best regards,

[Anti-Bubba182]

I don't know myself about the various state laws, but under federal law switchbaldes were classified as, "Class III, Any other Weapon" requiring a trasfer tax.

This is really silly when criminals are using guns and a big kitchen knife is a better weapon.

[barkeep]

Takes a good bit of practice, but the "butterfly" blade is one handed. Quite a display watching someone who is really good work it. Picture a Leatherman tool with the blade folded inside the two handle halves instead of the pliers.

The puritan reference brought to mind an old Andy Capp comic strip. (Bit of Puritan there. Really witty English comic, rarely seen any more. Most papers dropped it after the domestic violence people got outraged. Andy and wife Flo would betimes roll about like Beetle Bailey and Sarge.) Anyway, Andy, speaking of his mother-in-law once; "She's the sort would have people arrested for walking around naked underneath their clothes."

[WTSand]

The Gerber "Gator" is the easiest to learn the "start with the thumb and flip of the wrist" method. The "old reliable" Buck knife works well too but takes a little more practice.

[buccaneer81]

From the Gospel of Bill: Bring Not A Knife To A Gun Fight.

[A. Pole]

Ever since its first European settlements, in the early 1600s, America developed as two completely different republics.

Have a look.

[Zon]

Very good article. It applies far beyond the narrow scope of knives. Many people on this forum would agree with its narrow scope but contradict themselves on it's wider application to issues such as the war on drugs, anti-smoking laws, pornography and other inalienable rights.

But puritanism's unbroken record of failure will not stop people from trying again and again. Every new generation is born with faith in the power of magic words -- written laws -- to prevent sin.

[bvw]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be on the hunt for one fitting to me, and non-stainless, unless someone knows how to keep a stainless blade sharp, which I do not.

[bvw]

Thanks also.