Proposed Law makes rigging knives illegal

Hermit Scott · Jul 7, 2009

Is there anything that can be done about this? You just have to suffer the loss of freedom while we are made safe from ourselves.
The brakes are out, the car is going over the cliff, just sit back and enjoy the ride.:dance:

jackhartjr · Jul 7, 2009

Should we change the old saying to this; "they will have to pry my rigging knife from my cold bloody fingers?!"
It is unbeleiveable what homeland security is trying to do in the name of 'security! I quit flying because of their stupidity!
Have you read the controversy going on about aviation in the smaller aircraft arena?
Jack

Roger Long · Jul 7, 2009

The knife thing has been in the works brought to you by the same people working to make us safe from nail clippers in the hands of little old ladies.

My point though (hold off on the delete key, Phil) is not that this is conservative instead of liberal. This kind of foolishness oozes up from the slime of non-electoral bureaucracy regardless of which party is in power. Arguing about whether it is liberal or conservative is like arguing whether hurricanes are liberal or conservative. The distraction created by getting the public to identify everything bad and foolish as being part of the political spectrum opposite the one they identify with makes it harder for us to constructively resist.

The knife bill will pass tomorrow because no politician can vote against “security” unless it is a gun issue. It’s going to be a huge headache for Canadians and others who want to cruise in the U.S. because customs will be enforcing it and they will have to sail knifeless to the nearest marine supply store to buy a straight sheath knife that you can actually kill someone with. The rest of us will just look a lot saltier with that big sheath knife with the marlinspike in it’s separate pocket strapped on our hip. We’ll also be a little bit safer in dark alleys but a little bit less safe in waterfront bars.

This is the least of threats to boating. Most of you probably don’t even know what a bullet we dodged last year with the EPA discharge permit business and that was just a temporary reprieve. The world is mad and it has nothing to do with right or left wings. If we don’t learn how to rise above the liberal vs. conservative red herrings on these issues, boating is going to get increasingly less enjoyable and practical.

Lee Coller · Jul 7, 2009

From http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov...l43_05222009_no21/43genno21.ctt/43genno21.pdf

9 CFR PART 177
PROPOSED REVOCATION OF RULING LETTERS AND
REVOCATION OF TREATMENT RELATING TO THE
ADMISSIBILTY OF CERTAIN KNIVES WITH
SPRING-ASSISTED OPENING MECHANISMS
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of proposed revocation of four ruling letters and revocation
of treatment relating to the admissibility of certain knives
with spring-assisted opening mechanisms.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 625(c), Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
§1625(c)), as amended by section 623 of Title VI (Customs Modernization)
of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation
Act (Pub. L. 103–182,107 Stat. 2057), this notice advises interested
parties that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
intends to revoke four ruling letters relating to the admissibility,
pursuant to the Switchblade Knife Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1241–1245 (and
the CBP Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto set forth in 19
CFR §§ 12.95–12.103) of certain knives with spring-assisted opening
mechanisms. Similarly, CBP proposes to revoke any treatment
previously accorded by it to substantially identical transactions.
Comments are invited on the correctness of the intended actions.
DATE: Comments must be received on or before June 21, 2009.
ADDRESS: Written comments are to be addressed to U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, Office of International Trade, Regulations
BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 5
and Rulings, Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise
Branch, Mint Annex, 799 9th Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20229. Submitted comments may be inspected at U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, 799 9th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., during
regular business hours. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments
should be made in advance by calling Joseph Clark, Trade
and Commercial Regulations Branch, at (202) 325–0089.

Napa Ed · Jul 7, 2009

fear mongering

Do you really think a coastie performing a vessel inspection is going to take away a rigging knife?

tsmwebb · Jul 7, 2009

Napa Ed said:
If you read the text of the document, you'll see several manufacturers submitting for and receiving exemption of specific knife models. By granting exemption for specific knives with described features, a precedent is made for any other knife with same features. My rigging knife will not be taken away from me as it is not spring assisted, and is utilitarian by design..

I'm no lawyer, but as I read it they are removing those exemptions you read in the letters. Thus, they will no longer be used as guidelines. I'm not sure if it follows that all knives in those letters will therefore become illegal to import which is what the knife lobby (who knew there was a knife lobby?) is claiming. I think it will give them freedom to revisit their interpretations and suspect that means restricting more knives. But, I'm skeptical that they will be arresting folks for sailing over boarders with a Leatherman Wave (which I use as a rigging knife).

--Tom.

Napa Ed · Jul 7, 2009

tsmwebb said:
I'm no lawyer, but as I read it they are removing those exemptions you read in the letters. Thus, they will no longer be used as guidelines. I'm not sure if it follows that all knives in those letters will therefore become illegal to import which is what the knife lobby (who knew there was a knife lobby?) is claiming. I think it will give them freedom to revisit their interpretations and suspect that means restricting more knives. But, I'm skeptical that they will be arresting folks for sailing over boarders with a Leatherman Wave (which I use as a rigging knife).

--Tom.

Yes I see. I was too busy scanning the text to understand what it was being said.

Gail R · Jul 7, 2009

Roger Long said:
This is the least of threats to boating. Most of you probably don’t even know what a bullet we dodged last year with the EPA discharge permit business and that was just a temporary reprieve.

Yes in fact I did know about that discharge business, even had a column published in the local rag about it.

Something else I learned in my research on E10 about the people in Washington "serving" us: The ethanol lobby is pushing for E15. Seems to me this could make the phase separation and other issues worse.

There's about a week left to submit comments to our friends in Washington.

Go to http://capwiz.com/nmma/home/ to learn more and take action.

MoonSailer · Jul 7, 2009

I wrote to them . Sailing it is not as big a deal as when I am Kayaking and SCUBA diving. Sometimes you just don't have two hands available!!!! Anything can be used as a weapon!!!! Next thing they will try to outlaw blunt objects. All of the rocks in the world will be illegal. We need to have reasonable people in charge of this country. I understand the fear of the coasties about being stabbed etc. Does this mean that they want to outlaw fillet knives??? A fillet knife is a much more dangerous weapon than a rigging knife!!!!

Roger Long · Jul 7, 2009

MoonSailer said:
Anything can be used as a weapon!!!!

Wait until they see my hook knife all rigged on the pole in my cockpit locker.

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/Pots.htm

It's there for the pot I might snag close to a lee shore. I haven't had to use it yet because of the other method on the page which works incredibly well.

sinnettc · Jul 8, 2009

We never had that problem with the old Bristol Corsair 24 up around MDI but then it had a full keel . . . wonder how many Dad's snagged since he got the Pearson 34 . . . 8^O

Ross · Jul 9, 2009

I have a whole rack full of kitchen knives, a couple of heavy dogwood mallets, a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, an ice pick, several spray cans of insectide and deep woods off, a fire extingisher, a cast iron skillet, and a variety of crockery that can be thrown with good effect. If somebody believes that a pocket knife is their only threat they need to wake up and smell the hot coffee before it hits them in the face.

Benny · Jul 9, 2009

The knife lobby are just whinning because instead of being able to bring their folding knives from China they would have to start manufacturing in your state. Some have tried to get away from the spring loaded definition by acomplishing the same thing through other mechanical means with the intent to make a buck by marketing a knife that does what a switchblade was banned for. The gov is just closing the loopholes. You will have no problems with your rigging knife, these are just scare tactics. The truly utilitarian knives have no need for fancy quick release mechanisms, it is the trash being sold on flea markets and discount stores. I guess if you are one handed sailor with no teeth that perhaps you could raise an argument. I have not met a single sailor of all those that their lives are saved every day by a one hand opening knife.

Hermit Scott · Jul 10, 2009

Has anyone noticed Ross has over 9000 posts?

jackhartjr · Jul 10, 2009

Ross, I am reminded of Walter Cronkite, in one of his books he tells of throwing something at a scumbag that was trying to take his boat. I can't for the life of me remember what is was he threw...however the cops laughed about it.
(I am 99% sure it was Walter.)
Jack

bffatcat · Jul 10, 2009

maybe im missing the point

I dont understand how they can outlaw a folding knife that can be opened with one hand and
allow a sheath knife that can be put into use with one hand, same effort. Its gotta be politics

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 10, 2009

Take a step back folks - this original post is very misleading and obviously not a result of a thorough understanding of the issue here.
No one is proposing to take anyone's knife away, declare it "illegal", trample on anyone's "rights", etc..

This is a proposed reg intended to do only one thing - limit importation of so-called swithcblades and similar weapons. The definition of what constitutes a sanctioned import is clearly written and this post serves only to mislead some to believe otherwise.

tsmwebb · Jul 10, 2009

Don S/V ILLusion said:
Take a step back folks - this original post is very misleading and obviously not a result of a thorough understanding of the issue here.
No one is proposing to take anyone's knife away, declare it "illegal", trample on anyone's "rights", etc..

This is a proposed reg intended to do only one thing - limit importation of so-called swithcblades and similar weapons. The definition of what constitutes a sanctioned import is clearly written and this post serves only to mislead some to believe otherwise.

I don't have a thorough understanding of this issue. In fact, I find the whole thing pretty confusing. But, importation could well be an issue if you are traveling across US boarders (eg. Canada and Mexico cruisers). Too, there is an argument that if the definition of "switchblades" is broadened in federal statute then states may use the new, broader definition and that could result in more knives becoming illegal to possess. The confusing thing for me is that the opinions they are removing allow for importation of knives that are clearly not "switchblades" as laid out in the original statute. What is the motivation for that? Are they just cleaning up the books or do they really intend to define pocket tools with one hand openable blades as "switchblades".

--Tom.

Paul J. Rusyniak · Jul 10, 2009

Benny said:
The knife lobby are just whinning because instead of being able to bring their folding knives from China they would have to start manufacturing in your state.

I work for a domestic cutlery company that will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year (I will have been with them for 40 years next year).

We still manufacture folding knives in the United States, but the percentage being imported creeps up every year. We didn't just decide one day to take this route - the American retail purchaser forced us into it.

Even items that we've expended much time and money developing and producing domestically are now sourced overseas because the American consumer demands it.

Very sad, but very true!!!
Paul