KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- We have both good and bad news from Washington State.

Starting with the good, two companion bills, Senate Bill 6179 and House Bill 2347, would make it legal to manufacture spring-assisted and switchblade knives in the state of Washington.

These bills also clarify the definition of a switchblade, or what is referred to in Oregon law as a “spring blade knife,” so as to not include assisted-opening knives that are currently subject to adverse interpretation of the state statute making them technically illegal.

In addition, this bill would expand the existing law enforcement exemption for possession of “spring blade knives” to members of the military, full-time first responders and those citizens who hold a valid Washington concealed pistol license (WA is a “shall issue” state).

Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rather, will be in Olympia on Wednesday to testify in support of these bills on behalf of Washington’s knife owners. The bills are a big incremental step forward in a state where any knife with a spring assisted blade has been interpreted as being an illegal knife and where Washington knife manufacturers, such as Fox Knives USA and SOG, were prohibited from even manufacturing these knives in the state, sending those jobs to other states with more rational knife laws, including neighboring Oregon.

The bad news is that last year’s ridiculous anti-knife bill, HB 1006, that would make it illegal to conceal any knife over 3 1/2 inches long, even with a WA concealed pistol permit (since it is not a concealed weapon permit), has been resurrected. In a state where a long coat is a normal part of every outdoor enthusiast’s, fisherman’s and hunter’s attire for a good part of the year, this would turn honest citizens into criminals for carrying a modestly sized sheath knife on their belt, along with quite a few common folding knives longer than the arbitrary length limit. It’s time to put a stake through the heart of this asinine legislation and Knife Rights is working on that.

If you live, work or travel in Washington state, please contact BOTH your Senator and Representative in Olympia and ask them to support SB 1234 and HB 2347, respectively and ask your Representative to help kill HB 1006 for good. Click here to locate your legislators, or the legislators who represent where you work or travel.

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Indiana State Senator Jim Tomes has a holiday gift for us, Senate Bill SB06 which would repeal Indiana’s antiquated and irrational ban on the sale and possession of switchblades.

The bill is supported by Senator Brent Steele, Chair of the Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee that will hear the bill, and Senator Johnny Nugent.

Knife Rights will be present to testify in support of SB06 at the bill’s first hearing on January 10th. If you live, work or travel in Indiana, please contact your Senator and ask them to support SB06.

You can locate your Senator, or the Senator who represents where you work or travel, here: http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KNIFE CONTROL - You Can Fight It

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Knife Rights was organized to ensure that we here in the United States don’t lose our freedoms as others have around the globe.

In many other countries the knives we own and use daily are severely restricted or banned outright. Australia, which already imposed severe and often arbitrary restrictions on importing many knives has tightened their restrictions even further to ban fully 80% of the knives sold in America today.

The latest list of restricted and illegal “weapons“ items subject to control from Australian Customs and Border Protection includes “Single handed opening knives that have a blade recessed into the handle that can be opened with gravity, inertia or centrifugal force (including parts).”

We have been advised by our friends in Australia that this will cover any knife which can be opened with a thumb stud, thumb hole or flipper.This goes a step beyond traditional bans on so-called “flick” knives or a knife with a locking blade or one-hand opening, but not both.

If you don’t believe there are people and politicians working to implement bans such as these here in the U.S., you are not paying attention. Just look at what has happened in New York City and Boston. Knife Rights is the only grassroots organization working to stop such efforts.

Help Knife Rights protect your rights and freedoms. Join Knife Rights or make a donation (see below) TODAY!

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- The Knife Bigots on the Boston City Council have approved an anti-knife ordinance that licenses retailers of knives with a blade 2 inches or longer.

A revision of the original proposal exempts “cutlery” that is defined as “utensils used as tableware or used for cutting and eating foods.”

Regardless, this ordinance is still flawed in many respects,beyond the fact that it will be ineffective at its stated aim of reducing crime.

Knife rights still opposes this ordinance as unneeded, irrational and likely, illegal. You can read the ordinance here: http://bit.ly/vFD3Sy and the committee’s report and intellectually dishonest rationalization for the ordinance here: http://bit.ly/uiyF0L.

The next step is up to Boston Mayor Tom Menino, who can veto this insanity.

ACTION: Please email and call Mayor Menino at mayor@cityofboston.gov and 617-635-4500 and express your opposition to this ordinance. Click here for a model letter to the Mayor Menino. Modify the letter to suit your style, but be respectful and polite or it will not be effective.

We have no more than 15 days from this past Wednesday, and he could sign it sooner, so please, write or call TODAY!

S. E. Cupp Supports Knife Rights
Knife Rights is very pleased to welcome political commentator, author and columnist S.E. Cupp to our community. S.E first wrote on the subject of New York DA Cyrus Vance, Jr’s persecution of knife owners and retailers in a column back in July. She recently became a Knife Rights member and encourages others to join and support Knife Rights:

“A knife is more than just a utility tool. In a pinch, it can also serve as a defensive weapon, clearly protected by the Second Amendment. Disarming citizens never makes sense except to criminals who prey on those disarmed and politicians who cannot grasp the concept of freedom and liberty.”

“Whether in town or on a hunt, a knife earns its place at my side as an essential tool. I am a knife user and proud to be one.”

“Leave my knives alone! Knife Rights is standing up for our freedom. Join me in this fight; join Knife Rights today!”

– S.E. Cupp

Knife Rights is Making a Difference
It has been a busy year here at Knife Rights where we are certainly making a difference with your support.

This year we passed Knife Law Preemption in two more states and blocked anti-knife laws from being passed in two others. We filed a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit against New York City and DA Cyrus Vance, Jr., to stop their persecution of knife owners and retailers. We’re fighting an anti-knife ordinance in Boston and we’re supporting legal battles in three other states.

Whew! It’s not easy making a difference, but what a sense of accomplishment that you, as a Knife Rights supporter, can share in!

But, that’s not all! We have a knife law preemption bill running in Pennsylvania that will also eliminate bans on switchblades and other banned knives. We are close to filing bills in three other states. We are working with legislators in five more states on pro-knife legislation.

Times are tough, we get that. But, we’re still asked, “how can I help Knife Rights?”

Here’s the bottom line: fighting for a Sharper Future™ takes money. This is the time of year when many people make special gifts to non-profits to support issues that are important to them.

I hope you’ll consider Knife Rights important enough to include us in your year-end giving. We’re making a difference, but we can make a bigger difference with your help. Together we can preserve the freedoms we believe in for the next generation.

Every state where we run a bill costs thousands of dollars. Every time we have to stop a stupid legislator from passing another anti-knife bill takes thousands of dollars. Every court battle costs thousands of dollars.

Freedom certainly is not free when you’re talking about our political and legal system. Repealing restrictive knife laws or defending our civil rights in court does not happen overnight-and it can’t be done without money. This is the price of freedom.

Knife Rights needs your financial support. We need you to help us oppose and end restrictive knife laws that infringe on our freedoms to carry and use these versatile tools.

You can help us make a difference with a year-end donation or a monthly commitment (even a gift of $10 per month is a tremendous help).

You can donate using our online donation page at: www.KnifeRights.org/donate or to mail your donation just print out the page and mail to the address provided.

You can also call our office to donate or to set up a monthly automatic donation. Call 602-476-2702 or our toll-free number is 866-889-6268.

You can make a difference!

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

American Knife & Tool Institute

WASHINGTON, DC --(Ammoland.com)- A public hearing is scheduled by the Boston City Council for Friday, November 18, 2011 and AKTI will have representatives there to attend and provide expert testimony against a proposal that would require convenience stores that sell knives to obtain a license.

While new language to the current proposal is expected prior to the meeting, it is anticipated to still target convenience stores in an effort that Boston City Council members mistakenly believe would improve public safety.

“AKTI is aggressively fighting this proposal, but we need help getting word out to the small convenience store owners about this proposed restriction and potential penalty for not complying,” noted Jan Billeb, AKTI Executive Director, “and to individuals that their ability to purchase a knife where they prefer could be affected.”

AKTI is asking people in Boston to contact their City Councilperson (617) 635-4500 and Mayor Menino’s Office (617) 635-4500 and voice their concerns. Anyone that sells knives in the city of Boston, does business in Boston, or is a concerned Bostonian should make that call TODAY.

AKTI’s Position:
Based on the current language of the proposal before the Boston City Council, the American Knife and Tool Institute is opposed to and does not see that any changes could improve the proposal to a point that it would not continue to have an adverse impact on its members and those entities that its members do business with as well as individuals who desire to purchase knives legally.

Our members produce quality safe products that are part of daily life of people all throughout the world. These products are responsibly sold and purchased at many different retail outlets or through dealers.

AKTI and its members believe that the current regulations around the sale of knives go above and beyond what is needed in the City of Boston. AKTI does not in any way support or endorse the illegal sale of knives or any illegal use of a knife or tool under current law in the City of Boston.

Background information on the Boston situation is available on the AKTI website at AKTI Heads to Boston Again.

This is the second time that AKTI has gone to battle in Boston for the knife community. Details about the 2001 effort to restrict knife carry can be found in the News & Updates section at www.AKTI.org.

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Hearing scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, at 11:00 AM. Please join us in voicing your opposition to this anti-knife, anti-business and anti-freedom ordinance.

Meeting details here: http://1.usa.gov/v2FNb6

The proposed Boston ordinance “PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING OF STORES THAT SELL CERTAIN KNIVES” is now up for a full hearing and vote.

If you are a Boston citizen, please contact your Councilor IMMEDIATELY and POLITELY express your opposition to this unnecessary and discriminatory proposal: www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/councillors or you can call 617-635-4500 and ask for your Councilor.

Additionally, you can email Mayor Tom Mennio at mayor@cityofboston.gov or call his office at 617-635-4500.

Additional details on this ordnance at: http://bit.ly/vtymHc

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Knife Rights filed its response to NYC District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr’s Motion to Dismiss in our Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit against New York City and DA Vance.

The DA’s motion was expected and is pro forma in a case such as this. The Knife Rights legal team, led by attorney David Jensen, have done an exemplary job blowing the DA’s arrogant, ill-conceived and baseless motion to pieces.

To quote from the introduction: “Defendant District Attorney Vance (the “DA” or “DA Vance”) seeks to dismiss the Complaint for lack of standing and failure to state a claim. However, Plaintiffs clearly have standing because the DA’s actions result in substantial impairments to Knife Rights’ resources, and also because they impact the individual Plaintiffs’ ability to purchase lawful knives.

Moreover, the Complaint plainly states a claim, and consideration of the merits (as the DA implores) shows that the “standard” that Defendants use to apply the State laws at issue to common folding knives is wholly subjective and indeterminate. It is literally possible for one knife to be simultaneous legal and illegal, and a person has no means of conforming his or her conduct to the law’s expectations. While the DA’s motion necessarily fails because it relies on selectively construing the facts in the DA’s favor, rather than in the Plaintiffs’ favor (as Rule 12(b)(6) mandates), a consideration of the merits shows how far off the mark the DA’s self-serving characterizations are.”

The two documents make for interesting reading, if you are so inclined.

• Knife Rights Response in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss
  
• DA Vance’s Motion to Dismiss

Bear in mind that each side is limited to 25 double-spaced pages in the body of the document, and the manner of doing so is strictly prescribed in many respects, so crafting a response is a challenge when there is so much that could be said, but only limited space to say it. A special thanks to those companies who have been major donors to the Sharper Future Legal Fund and who also submitted declarations in support of Knife Rights’ standing as a plaintiff: Benchmade, Columbia River Knife & Tool, KA-BAR, KnifeWorks and Taylor Brands.

This is but the first step in the first round. There is a whole river of water to pass under this bridge and many hearings to be held as this lawsuit slowly works its way through the process. You can help support this effort to protect our rights with a tax-deductible contribution to the Sharper Future Legal Fund.

If you are arrested for possession of an “illegal knife” in New York, please contact Knife Rights at: nycity@KnifeRights.org

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- We might wish it were just a silly Halloween prank, but these politicians are serious, and that makes it a scary issue.

This proposal to license so-called “convenience stores” in order to be able to sell knives two-inches and longer doesn’t accomplish anything but to cost businesses additional hassle and money, which might well succeed in their ultimate goal of making it impossible for law-abiding citizens to buy a knife at their local convenience store.

That is discriminatory against both citizens and these businesses. These businesses may well decide it is too much trouble and expense to bother with knives anymore, which is obviously what these politicians want. But, this will not make a dent in crime or violence, their supposed excuse for this stupidity. This proposal is wrong on so many levels. You can review the poorly conceived and drafted proposed ordinance here: www.kniferights.org/BostonOrdinance.pdf. Try not to choke upon reading it.

You can pretty much guarantee that when politicians are talking about blaming inanimate objects for crime, that it is only the honest citizens and businesses that will be impacted by their proposed solution. Nobody wanting a knife will have much difficulty buying one someplace else, either at non-convenience (inconvenient?) stores, because most other stores except ill-defined “convenience” stores are exempted from this licensing (or perhaps not), or via the internet or from a somewhat less convenient convenience store across the city line. I recall living in a dry town some years ago. It was easy to find the town line; you just looked for the liquor stores with the big parking lots. No matter what these politicians do, they cannot and will not stop knives from being sold to those who might use them in criminal activity and no regulation of knife sales will stop violence.

Boston code already restricts sales of knives over two-inches long to minors and these, like all retailers, already must be licensed to do business in the city. Knife Rights continues to lead the fight against this absurd and unnecessary proposal. Our lobbyist is working hard to prevent what has happened with guns in Boston to be repeated with knives.

When Knife Rights stands up against an anti-knife proposal like this, even if it is not in your backyard, we need your support because if we lose, then we all lose, and when we win, we all win. No matter the result, the other side has to understand there will be no more easy rides when they try to take away our knives and our rights. Standing up for our rights does not come free, please consider donating to help pay for this effort. We need your donations and we need your voice to be heard by the Mayor and City Council of Boston.

If you are a Boston citizen, now it time to contact your Councilor and POLITELY express your opposition to this unnecessary and discriminatory proposal: www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/councillors or you can call 617-635-4500 and ask for your Councilor. Additionally, you can email Mayor Tom Mennio at mayor@cityofboston.gov or call his office at 617-635-4500.

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

American Knife & Tool Institute

BOSTON, MA --(Ammoland.com)- Once again, the City of Boston is in the center of the American Knife & Tool’s efforts to stop anti-knife and anti-business laws from harming the knife community.

AKTI has been monitoring recent discussions in the Boston City Council about issues with knives being illegally sold to minors. A public hearing was held in September, focusing on the idea of licensing retailers to curb knife violence, that heard public comments from concerned individuals, businesses and organizations.

After doing an analysis of the situation and key persons, AKTI hired a Boston firm to represent the interests of the knife industry and knife owners to oppose licensing of knife retailers. We believe that efforts to require additional licenses to retailers would restrict businesses’ ability to sell to Massachusetts citizens and limit what Bostonians could purchase locally.

After receiving a draft of the Knife Licensing Ordinance offered by Councilors Michael Ross and Tito Jackson, AKTI issued a Call to Action October 13, 2011, with AKTI President Bill Raczkowski noting:

“The timing is right to let the Mayor of Boston and the City Council know that this proposal does nothing to improve public safety for the citizens of Boston or stop illegal sales to minors.”

AKTI is aggressively fighting this proposal but, as Raczkowski stated, “we need the people that work on the ground in Boston to contact their City Councilperson (617) 635-4500 and Mayor Menino’s Office (617) 635-4500 and voice their concerns. If you sell knives in the city of Boston, do business in Boston, or are a concerned Bostonian, make that call today.”

“This Call to Action is just the first step in our effort to ensure that this anti-knife proposal does not become a reality,” added Raczkowski. Additional information about this Call to Action and future updates can be found at www.AKTI.org/alerts.

In 2001, a Boston Councilman, introduced a bill that would have banned carrying any knife with a blade longer than 2-1/2 inches. AKTI successfully worked with the Council and after testimony by AKTI members, was able to ensure that individuals could carry the knife of their choice. More details about that 2001 situation can be found at on the AKTI website at www.AKTI.org/news/boston-revised-ordinance-passes.

ABOUT AKTI: The American Knife & Tool Institute has been the advocacy voice of the knife industry and all knife users, protecting individuals who rely on knives on a daily basis from restrictive and unreasonable knife laws, since 1998. AKTI is recognized worldwide as a respected, credible and accurate source of knife legislation information, legislative input, and industry information. We have a successful, proven record of accomplishments in making effective changes to restrictive knife laws and promoting reasonable and responsible laws and enforcement.

Contact Jan Billeb
Executive Director
American Knife & Tool Institute
Phone | 307-587-8296
Email | akti@akti.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- As previously reported, the Massachusetts legislature was looking at proposing a law that would make purchasing a knife nearly as difficult as purchasing a firearm, which to date has not gained any traction in part due to Knife Rights’ efforts.

Now, anti-knife activists have turned to the city of Boston. Two Boston members of the City Council have proposed that knife retailers be licensed in a purported effort to prevent sales of knives to minors.

As noted in the article linked below, existing Boston law already prohibits knives with a blade two inches or longer from being sold to anyone under age 18. A number of stores were fined as a result of a recent sting operation for illegally selling knives to underage persons.

Knife Rights has a representative on the ground in Massachusetts and will be monitoring this proposed ordinance in case it grows legs. There is no indication that there has been any factual connection made between violence committed with knives in the city and these retailers, or that licensing would actually help the situation any more than simply enforcing the existing law on the books.

Video: www.bit.ly/p0TUmg
Article: http://bo.st/qBwsaZ

Your membership and support allows Knife Rights to oppose efforts such as this to restrict our freedoms. If you are not yet a member, please join Knife Rights and encourage your friends to join today!

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- We want all those affected by Irene this past weekend to know our thoughts and prayers are with you as you work to get your lives back to normal.

When viewing the damage Irene has left in its wake, it just reinforces how important knives and edged tools are to our survival and recovery after any disaster.

It may be the dog days of summer, but unlike some people who have been playing golf, for us here at Knife Rights there’s been plenty of work to do. We have been working non-stop all summer on both our Federal Civil Rights lawsuit against New York City and the New York District Attorney, as well as on our legislative efforts for next session.

In New York City, honest citizens are still being arrested on the streets and subways for carrying perfectly legal knives. In one particularly outrageous case an electrician was arrested standing on the front step of the home he was working at with his knife in his tool belt. He joined another person in the back seat of an unmarked police car that had been arrested for a so-called “illegal knife” just down the street. Our legal team is currently assisting a number of these victims even as our civil rights lawsuit is slowly moving forward.

Never carry your knife in New York City clipped to your pocket. Even when covered by a jacket, simply moving the jacket aside to get to a wallet has been enough to get folks arrested. Always ensure your knife is completely concealed at all times. If you are arrested for possession of an “illegal knife” in New York, please contact Knife Rights at: nycity@KnifeRights.org

The lawsuit to stop this persecution of honest New Yorkers carrying perfectly legal knives, filed in June, is at its early stages and proceeds apace. As to our legislative agenda, including our National Knife Law Preemption Campaign, we are working on numerous states to either pre-file bills for next session or line up sponsors to file at the earliest opportunity. We are laying the groundwork for a record breaking legislative year.

We cannot do all this without your support. As we have said before, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. Your contributions are needed more than ever. Please support Knife Rights with a Contribution!

Meanwhile, we hope to see many of you at two events coming up. Please stop by the Knife Rights booth/table and say hello:

Usual Suspects Network Gathering in Las Vegas, NV, September 2-3 www.usngathering.com
Knifemakers’ Guild Show in Louisville, KY, September 15-18 www.knifemakersguild.com/show.shtml

About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- So, you have your Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License (CWFL) and you know that Florida preempts all firearms laws throughout the state so that you don’t accidentally break some ridiculous local ordinance and end up in the hoosegow for carrying your weapon.

You have a license from the state and we fought hard to make preemption enforceable last legislative session!

Well, you are half right. Your pistol won’t get you in trouble but your pocket knife could put you away for a MINIMUM of six months, cost you a cool grand, and yeah… they’ll take your knife too.

But wait! I have a license from the state to carry that! Yep you do, but not from Miami-Dade County and your assisted opening pocket knife just violated their laws.

See: Sec. 21-14. – Dangerous weapons; penalty; trial court.

(a) Concealed dangerous weapons. It shall be unlawful for any person to wear under his clothes, or concealed about his person, or to display in a threatening manner any dangerous or deadly weapon including, but not by way of limitation, any pistol, revolver, slingshot, cross-knuckles or knuckles of lead, brass or other metal, or any bowie knife, razor, dirk, dagger, or any knife resembling a bowie knife, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon, except as hereinafter provided.
(b) Switch blades. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell, display, use, possess or carry any knife or knives having the appearance of a pocket knife, the blade or blades of which can be opened by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, or other mechanical contrivance. Any such knife is hereby declared to be a dangerous or deadly weapon, within the meaning of subsection (a) and shall be subject to forfeiture to the County as provided by subsection (c).
…
(e) Penalty. Every person who is convicted for a violation of subsection (a) shall for first conviction thereof be punished by imprisonment for not less than six (6) months and by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00); for a second or subsequent conviction of a violation of subsection (a) such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one (1) year and by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

Come on Sean, nobody gets arrested for a pocket knife! Pulino’s chef Nate Appleman arrested for pocket knife.

These Florida pocket knife charges still go all the way to SCOTUS ever after the Florida Supreme court said that knives with a blade length of 3.75″ or less are common pocket knives. See Bunkley v. Florida, 538 US 835 – Supreme Court (2003)

This gives us a bad mix of a patchwork of local laws and people thinking that they have a license that lets them carry the weapons that the license it good for statewide. We need a preemption statute to cover our other carry weapons and knives.

Florida Carry had just started kicking around language for a bill when out of the blue, Florida Carry Board Member Richard Smith ran smack in to our friends at Knife Rights. They just passed knife preemption in Arizona and are looking for help the rest of the states.

Time for round two of the preemption fight in FL. Hold on tight, it’s gonna’ be a bumpy ride!

About:
Florida Open-Carry.org is a grass roots organization of Florida residents who endeavor to raise awareness in the community of our second amendment rights. Our primary goal is to help educate others about their right to legally open carry and advocate for repeal of the general ban on open carry in Florida. Florida is one of only seven states where open carry is generally illegal. Visit: www.open-carry.com

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has signed into law the Knife Rights backed Knife Law Preemption Bill, HB 544. New Hampshire becomes the third state in the nation to enact Knife Law Preemption.

Congratulations to NH Rep. Jenn Coffey who sponsored this bill and who worked tirelessly with her colleagues, local advocates and our lobbyist to ensure the bill passed unanimously in both houses of the New Hampshire legislature. Rep. Coffey’s efforts enacted a strong preemption law which will protect knife owners from senseless local ordinances well into the future.

Rep. Coffey won Knife Rights’ Freedom’s Edge award last year for her successful effort to repeal New Hampshire’s prohibitions on switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos.

Knife Rights’ National Knife Law Preemption Campaign started successfully last year in Arizona. Earlier this year Utah enacted knife law preemption. Preemption prevents the creation of, or eliminates, a patchwork of ordinances and rules which serve to confuse or entrap those traveling within or through the state. A person traveling in a state without preemption laws could be charged with a violation of local law when they have no intention of violating the law. Preemption ensures citizens only have to know and abide by state law.

Preemption allows Knife Rights to focus its legislative efforts at the state level where it can more easily succeed in improving the legal environment for knife owners or opposing efforts to impose further restrictions on knives.

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

Wall Street Journal Article Features Knives NYC Citizens Can't Buy

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- How incredibly ironic that the May 14 edition of the Wall Street Journal, a New York City based publication, ran a piece in their “Off Duty” section titled “Stay Sharp.”

It commends to its readers five one-hand opening pocket knives, every one of which would be falsely deemed an illegal gravity knife by NYC District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Click to go to the article online

In a letter to the editor, Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter, wrote:

Editor, Wall Street Journal:

The irony of your May 14 article “Stay Sharp” is that a New York City based publication has commended to its readers pocket knives that are virtually impossible to purchase in the city because they have been wrongly demonized by New York County D.A. Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Vance has targeted these common, practical and perfectly legal one-hand opening pocket knives as part of a campaign to persecute and prosecute law-abiding knife owners and retailers, falsely claiming them to be illegal “gravity knives.” Vance has charged many people carrying knives indistinguishable from those shown in your article with 4th Degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, punishable by up to a year in jail. Vance has also targeted retailers selling these knives, seizing their inventory and intimidating them into paying involuntary “contributions” to a Vance-administered slush fund to avoid prosecution,–to the tune of almost two million dollars.

Unjustly persecuting honest citizens and businesses over a common, everyday tool is an extraordinary waste of taxpayer dollars that clogs up the courts and costs the city badly needed income and business. Virtually all the criminal charges brought in this scam end up being dismissed. You would think that Vance could find enough real crime in the city worthy of his attention, rather than trying to turn innocent citizens into criminals by picking on one of man’s oldest and most useful tools.

Respectfully submitted,

Doug Ritter
Chairman and Executive Director
Knife Rights

We need your help to fight DA Vance. Donate today to support Knife Rights Sharper Future Legal Fund

Join or Renew your Knife Rights membership today! http://bit.ly/2QEVMP

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- As a result of Knife Rights’ lobbying, the Nevada Senate Committee on Judiciary has removed all references to knives in SB171.

This includes removal of the proposed new definition of “Dangerous Knives” as any knife under 2-inches long and prohibitions on possession of knives on school grounds.

This is a big victory for knife owners and all citizens of Nevada.

Thanks to everyone who went responded to Knife Rights’ action alerts and went online to voice their opposition to SB171. Your numerous comments in opposition were a key element to convincing the Senators to amend this bill.

Knife Rights will continue to keep an eye on SB171 to ensure that the anti-knife measures do not reappear in a floor amendment or in the House.

We need your support to continue to oppose anti-knife legislation such as this. Donate today to support Knife Rights.

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- The Nevada Senate Committee on Judiciary has placed the anti-knife bill, SB171, on their Thursday morning agenda.

Knife Rights’ lobbyist is headed to Carson City to work against this bill, BUT WE NEED THE SENATORS TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Go to this link to vote Against this bill: http://bit.ly/i224SF

The Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association proposed amending the bill in an attempt to ensure that “it does not apply to a person who is carry (sic) a legal knife on campus for a legitimate reason,” limiting it only to minors and students. However, the proposed amendment language is itself problematic and, in our view, would not solve the basic problem, that there is no need for such state regulation of this issue and it sets very bad precedent. The amendments would make the bill a bit better for knife owners, but certainly do not improve the bill enough to stop opposing it.

We must continue to put pressure on Senators to stop this bill. Please vote “Against” SB171 and provide comments to support your opposition: http://bit.ly/i224SF

Below are some examples of the type of comments you can leave. PLEASE BE POLITE and RESPECTFUL! This makes all the difference in how these comments are received and we need them to count. Put these you’re your own words to carry the most weight. A continued strong showing of public opinion against this bill will help us defeat it.

If you are not a resident of Nevada, but do business or recreate there, make sure to include that in your comments. The Senators only care about their voters and those who can affect their voters. Other comments and votes will be ignored for the most part.

* There is no reason to add “dangerous knife” to NV statutes because there are already definitions for dangerous weapons in Nevada law.

* The legislature should only legislate against bad behavior not the victimless possession of common, everyday tools. * Schools already have broad authority to regulate what does or does not come onto their campuses.

* Many rural school children carry a small pocket knife for everyday chores, should they really face criminal charges for this?

* A two inch bladed knife may easily fit on a key ring. Do we really want to criminalize that?

* If you are a UNION member: I am a member of xxxx Union and am very concerned that this law will jeopardize me personally because I carry a knife every day for work.

You can read the proposed bill here: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/SB/SB171.pdf

An overview:

Nevada State Senator Sheila Leslie (D, Washoe 1) has introduced SB 171, to add to the list of weapons that the state prohibits in schools, including a so-called “dangerous knife,” meaning, in her bill, any knife with a blade 2 inches or longer. Among the many problems with this bill, this new definition of a so-called “dangerous knife” would set very bad precedent in Nevada state law

Sen. Leslie’s bill adds to the list of weapons that the state prohibits in schools, including a sword, axe or hatchet, machete and so-called “dangerous knife,” meaning in her bill, any knife with a blade 2 inches or longer. Nevada is one of the few rational states where common pocket knives are not mandated to be treated as weapons prohibited by the state from schools. Schools are free to determine for themselves what restrictions, if any, they will make.

Apparently not everyone in Nevada is willing to allow schools to deal with this issue as they see fit.

We need your support to oppose legislation such as this. Donate today to support Knife Rights

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

New York, NY --(Ammoland.com)-The following Letter to the Editor was submitted to the New York Times referencing the article that was published in the Sunday New York Times, December 5th. It was not selected for publication.

Dear Editor:

Thank you for focusing attention on the overreaching of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., and his assault on knife-owners (“Pushing a Right to Bear Arms, The Sharp Kind,” The New York Times, Sunday, December 5, Page 1).

The accompanying photo, of knives seized by Vance’s office, shows how badly he is misreading New York law.

While pointy edges can be intimidating, not one of the knives depicted are illegal in New York, which forbids only switchblades, gravity knives and stilettos. Each of the knives in the photo is a perfectly legal “one-hand opening” knife — as are 80 percent of the pocketknives sold in the U.S.

Besides being legal in New York, Congress last year specifically exempted them from the provisions of the Federal Switchblade Act, after the Customs Service proposed redefining these knives as switchblades and gravity knives.

Knife Rights is committed to representing honest, law abiding citizens of New York in opposing DA Vance’s overreaching and abuse of the law.

Yours,

• Read the article at the New York Times online. (FREE registration required)
• View a PDF (photos) of the article from the paper.

Pushing a Right to Keep and Bear Arms, The Sharp and Pointy Type

Benchmade Model 201-91 Activator Knife with a 3.63" Blade Length

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- A Washington state representative has introduced a bill amending Washington law to outlaw concealed carry of knives with blades longer than 3 1/2 inches.

While Arizona, New Hampshire and other states are making progress in the personal choices law abiding citizens make regarding the type of knives they carry, Rep. Sherry Appleton (D – LD23) is looking to set her state’s knife laws back decades.

Rep. Appleton bill would mean that the average fisherman, fishing one of Washington’s many coastal areas or rivers whose jacket falls over their 6-inch filet knife would suddenly be committing a crime. Washington has many hunters and is a popular hunting destination for those who travel to hunt.

The average hunting knife is considerably longer than the arbitrary 3 1/2- inch limit, exposing hunters to committing an unintentional crime as well. But, the most egregious aspect of this proposed law will be to render illegal many simple pocket knives that law-abiding citizens carry everyday for work and recreation.

“Why anyone would go back to this 1950’s legislative mentality is beyond me,” said Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights.

“While many states are modernizing or eliminating restrictive laws coving the essential tools millions of Americans carry for everyday chores, we now have a legislator in Washington State who thinks it’s a good idea to go backwards.”

Read the proposed bill: http://bit.ly/fCACxE

Now is not the time to roll back the clock; now it the time to move forward and enhance our knife rights.

Knife Rights is already hard at work laying the groundwork to fight this ridiculous proposal, but we can’t do it without your help.

Please contribute to the Second Front Legislative Campaign so we stop this bill in its tracks: http://bit.ly/foA0QA

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

American Knife & Tool Institute Website

American Knife & Tool Institute

Cody, WY --(Ammoland.com)- Locate up-to-date information on legal issues that affect knife users, research laws in all 50 states and learn more about the activities of leading knife advocacy organization American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI) on the redesigned AKTI.org website.

Knife advocates will find extensive legislation updates, educational materials and other current knife information at the new site. While some of the material is available only to members, much of the site caters to all knife users and provides resources for everyone who uses a knife as a tool – whether for work, recreation or as part of their everyday lives.

“For more than a decade, AKTI has used its website to keep the knife advocacy community updated about important issues that affect us all, in all 50 states, and at the federal level,” said AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb.

“This new design makes it easier for knife users to easily find the information they need, from knife safety resources to legislative updates to stories about how knives have been used in challenging work and recreational situations to save lives.”

Through its new website, the American Knife and Tool Institute shares information about state and federal knife laws and legislation. The organization has also added sections to the AKTI.org website specifically for legislators, law enforcement officers and media.

“We want to build on the work we’ve done and the reputation we have as the organization for those who work with or benefit from knives, and to support those who have questions about legal knife usage,” Billeb said.

Knife users who wish to support the work of AKTI will find it more convenient to become members or make contributions with an online payment option. Visitors to the site are also encouraged to sign up as Grassroots Supporters of the knife advocacy work that AKTI does; newsletters detailing the latest legislative and legal issues and updates are free to those who enroll.

AKTI worked with Visual People Design (www.visualpeople.com) in Corvallis, Oregon, to design and develop the new AKTI.org website.

The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is a non-profit organization (501(c)6) representing all segments of the knife industry and all knife users. Formed by concerned industry leaders after considerable discussion with individual knifemakers, knife magazine publishers, and a broad section of the knife community, AKTI has been the reasonable and responsible voice of the knife community since 1998. For updates on this issue and more about AKTI, please see our website at http://www.akti.org.

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Given New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.’s campaign to shakedown and prosecute those selling or possessing so-called “illegal knives” (locking one-handed and assisted openers) in New York, one has to wonder when his goons will show up on Stephen Colbert’s doorstep to arrest the self-proclaimed liberal TV satirist.

On the August 18 Colbert Report, which is produced in New York City, Colbert flicked open a Benchmade Barrage assisted opening knife, which would be a switchblade according to DA Vance’s self-serving distortion and abuse of New York State’s switchblade and gravity knife statute. You can watch Colbert demonstrate his knife skills here: http://bit.ly/c1WWER (at the 38 second point of the video segment).

We aren’t holding our breath for that to happen, however. Vance clearly operates to a double standard when it comes to his prosecutions and your civil rights. Which explains why Paragon Sports in NYC is still displaying and selling its hundreds of thousands of dollars of custom knives, many or most of which are locking one-hand openers that operate exactly the same as the lower cost production knives that Paragon handed over to Vance when they paid a six-figure “contribution” to Vance to avoid prosecution for selling so-called “illegal gravity knives.” Apparently it’s only illegal to sell these so-called “illegal knives” when the customers are just plain working folks. If you are wealthy enough to afford a high-end custom knife from Paragon, then that’s fine. The hypocrisy is apparently lost on Paragon which seems perfectly comfortable with the DA’s double standard on civil rights.

NYC Knife Persecution Developments
Ace Hardware has apparently been targeted by Vance and in furtherance of another one of those deferred prosecution agreement shakedowns, has sent a memo to all of its dealers and co-op members in New York State, not just New York City, requiring that they “must remove all one-handed opening knives from their shelves.” They will no longer ship such knives to their dealers and co-op members in New York State.

When I spoke to Ace Hardware’s attorney at their headquarters, he didn’t argue that Vance’s interpretation of New York law was flawed, but rather he noted that they were protecting their many independent dealers and co-op members, a unique business model compared to others Vance has shaken down, none of which could have stood up to Vance had he attacked them each independently. He declined to explain why they agreed to restrict one-hand openers from the entire state, which clearly falls outside Vance’s jurisdiction. Once again, Vance’s mafia-like shakedown scheme scores a win because the major retailers will not risk the potential for harassment by Vance and his goons. Knife sales simply do not represent enough business to be worth it to them.

In this case, his reach outside the city itself to take a swipe at your rights is even more troubling.

DA Vance’s assault on folders has also driven the 32-year-old New York Custom Knife Show out of New York City. It’s moved across the river to Secaucus, New Jersey. For more information: http://bit.ly/9SWJgN

Industry Waiting for DA Vance’s Second Wave
Meanwhile, the knife industry awaits DA Vance’s “second wave” of prosecutions, this time against online retailers selling into New York City, which he threatened in his original press conference and press release. A number of online retailers have simply ceased shipping to New York City, and in some cases, to the entire state, clearly cowed by DA Vance’s threat. Others have been more selective, only stopping shipments of the locking one-hand openers and assisted openers that Vance appears to be targeting. Given the DA’s enormous resources and clear lack of ethics, we can understand that response, even while we find it tragic. For Vance, every one of those is a victory against your freedoms and rights that he clearly holds in contempt. With the summer vacation season winding down, we have every reason to believe that we won’t have to wait much longer for Vance to take his act on the road, so to speak.

We have received a number of emails and phone calls recently asking what we are doing about this revolting mess or why we haven’t done something already. Please do not assume that nothing has been happening regarding the NYC situation, just because we haven’t been saying much about it. The nature of the problem with DA Vance is a legal one, and one that is pretty complicated in some respects given the issues and tactics involved. As such, we cannot reveal much about what we are working on and our strategy as we would prefer. At this point there is little we can report to our membership and little we can ask of you to do other than imploring you to contribute as generously as you can.

Knife Rights is working hard to ensure that when Vance next tries to attack honest knife retailers, he will not catch us by surprise or defenseless. You can be assured that Knife Rights has been working closely with some of the nation’s foremost legal minds who are veterans of numerous other battles to protect the rights of law abiding citizens. Beyond that, I trust you can appreciate that we cannot say anything more at this time.

All this effort does take resources and we do need your continued support. Please help us stop this insanity. Make a Contribution to our fight against the DA’s assault on our pocket knives: http://bit.ly/Scvp9

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
If you are a retailer or individual who finds yourself targeted for the sale or possession of so-called illegal knives (one-hand opening and assisted opening knives), we urge you to immediately contact Knife Rights at: nycity@KnifeRights.org or toll-free: 1-866-889-6268. You have a constitutional right to seek help and counsel.

• Make a Contribution to our fight against the DA’s assault on our pocket knives: http://bit.ly/Scvp9
• Join or Renew your Knife Rights membership today! http://bit.ly/2QEVMP
• 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

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Jackson County, Wisconsin --(AmmoLand.com)- District Attorney Gerald R. Fox has concluded that last week’s Supreme Court decision in McDonald v. Chicago invalidates a number of state statutes regulating firearms and knives.

As a result, Fox has concluded that the states anti-switchblade and anti-gravity knife statute will no longer be enforced by his office.

The following is from the Press Release issued by Fox:

Yesterday, in a resounding victory for all freedom-loving Americans, the United States Supreme Court confirmed that the Second Amendment’s protection of our right to keep and bear arms applies everywhere in America, and serves as a rampart against state infringement of this fundamental individual liberty. In its ruling, the Court declared that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right, and that self-defense is at the core of the freedoms protected by the amendment.

This Supreme Court ruling is binding on all states and local governments, and immediately renders some of Wisconsin’s current laws unconstitutional. Therefore, in keeping with my oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, I hereby declare that this office will no longer accept law enforcement referrals for violations of the following statutes:

Section 167.31, prohibiting uncased or loaded firearms in vehicles; Section 941.23, prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons, including firearms; Section 941.235, prohibiting the possession of firearms in public buildings; Section 941.237, prohibiting the possession of firearms in establishments where alcohol may be sold or served; and, Section 941.24, prohibiting the possession of knives that open with a button, or by gravity, or thrust, or movement.

Read the complete Press Release here.

It appears that this is one District Attorney who gets it. Perhaps New York’s Cyrus Vance, Jr. will take note.

We won’t hold our breath…

• Make a Contribution to our fight against the DA’s assault on our pocket knives: http://bit.ly/Scvp9
• Join or Renew your Knife Rights membership today! http://bit.ly/2QEVMP

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

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. Invest in a Sharper Future. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org

KnifeRights.org

Gilbert, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- It is Independence Day. A day we celebrate throwing off the chains of tyranny for liberty and the many freedoms we hold so dear. A day to celebrate with family and friends, a day of parades, picnics and fireworks.

It is also a day of reflection, a day to consider how precious those freedoms are, a day to remember that those freedoms are not free.

Our freedoms were paid for in blood by America’s founders. Today our servicemen and women continue to sacrifice to keep those freedoms alive. Despite those sacrifices, these freedoms would wither and die were they not tended continuously by the sweat and toil of those who fight to keep those hard won and precious freedoms. They toil in the halls of city and county governments, legislatures, Congress, courtrooms and everywhere else that enemies of freedom lurk.

On the masthead of the Knife Rights web site is a quote from Thomas Jefferson, “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

Those words were never truer than they are this Independence Day.

This week saw an important, if imperfect, victory for freedom as the United States Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is a fundamental right. Yet, those who prefer the tyranny of power rather than liberty and freedom immediately countered with absurd new laws aimed at undermining as much as possible that fundamental right.

And, so, the fight continues–eternally.

When we started Knife Rights in 2006 I noted that our aim was to not end up like England and other places across the ocean where knives are demonized to the point that most wouldn’t be caught dead carrying the same pocket knives we take for granted here in the U.S. Those who do risk harsh legal repercussions.

In 2006, not everyone took the threat seriously. Four years later, a small-minded tyrant in New York City is trying to do just that. His goal appears to be to bring those same draconian restrictions to a country where personal freedoms are a part of the very fabric of our existence. The very tyranny we fought to escape from 234 years ago is being reconstituted on our soil again.

Knife Stores Assaulted By NY District Attorney Image added by AmmoLand.com

Today, you’ll be hard pressed to find a one-hand opening lockblade knife for sale in New York City (Manhattan). Retailers who submitted to the New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr’s shakedown in the past month have removed them from their displays. Most other retailers in the city have done so in hopes of avoiding prosecution in another unjustified sweep by the DA. Few Internet retailers are willing to send knives to New York City due to the DA’s specific threats to go after them and many have simply written off the entire state, at least for now.

Most distressing of all, not a single retailer has actually broken the law, not a one.

Citizens didn’t vote to change the law or amend the Constitution. No retailer broke the law. An opportunistic politician, who wanted to make headlines and fund an anti-knife slush fund, decided to bastardize the law by fiat– declaring that perfectly legal knives are now illegal and selling them was a crime.

Sad to say, not a single one of those corporate citizens has so far stood up to that tyrant. They capitulated even though they did nothing wrong, even though they were perfectly innocent.

They made unfortunate decisions under the intimidating threat of criminal prosecution and all that fighting it involves, both personally and corporately. They chose to put short term interests ahead of fighting for their rights–and the rights of their customers, their employees and even their children.

They didn’t lose the right to sell a few types of knives; they surrendered their freedom. All because a District Attorney decided to declare himself the single individual who set the rules for everyone else. By definition, he declared himself ruler-or tyrant.

I call him a tyrant because only a tyrant would ignore the Constitution and the laws of the state and country that he swore a solemn oath to the people of New York to uphold. A tyrant forgets that we are not subjects, we are citizens. A tyrant abuses the law and the legal process to his own ends.

The United States has never had much patience with tyrants.

One day, in court, this District Attorney will be shown to be the two-bit bully and would-be tyrant that he is. Unfortunately, a lot of unnecessary damage will have been done before that happens.

But, that day in court will come. We are working day and night with our legal team; we are gathering our resources; we are strategizing and planning. We will find citizens with the backbone to do what’s right, to not be intimidated and to allow us to fight this battle for our precious freedom.

This Independence Day, Knife Rights rededicates itself to protecting our precious freedoms. This day is a reminder of why this fight is so important to preserving our way of life.

We are citizens, we have rights, we will fight for those rights.

The companies that capitulated in New York may not fully appreciate the harm they did, but we certainly do. It sets the stage for even more widespread loss of freedom, as well as more raids on their corporate accounts to fund slush funds elsewhere. If they think this is the end of their problems, they are sadly mistaken.

The DA is working hard to spread this cancer, in order to support his usurpation of the law. He must be stopped. To be stopped will require your financial support. Otherwise, this is the beginning of the end. Please give generously to protect our freedom; for yourself, for your children, for your grandchildren.

• Make a Contribution to our fight against the DA’s assault on our pocket knives: http://bit.ly/Scvp9
• Join or Renew your Knife Rights membership today! http://bit.ly/2QEVMP

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

New York Assault On Supposed Illegal Weapons Targets Legal Knife Retailers

American Knife & Tool Institute

New York, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- AmmoLand readers should be aware of a new assault on retailers who carry legal knives, happening now in New York City’s Manhattan District.

The Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr., has targeted knife retailers including Eastern Mountain Sports, Home Depot, Paragon and Orvis and has confiscated these stores’ inventories including legal knives, which they claim are outlawed switchblades and gravity knives.

At a press conference on June 17, Vance stood in front of tables displaying the 1,300+ knives his office has taken from retailers. AKTI has identified many of those knives, and determined that they ARE NOT opened by gravity. Vance’s claim is a blatant distortion of the intent of the statute and a total misunderstanding of the knife design mechanisms involved.

What the DA is not telling the public is that his office’s interpretation of a gravity knife is ANY folding knife that can be opened with one hand – no matter how difficult.

Instead of understanding that such knives are used daily for activities including hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as well as by electricians, construction workers and emergency personnel, New York is presuming all knives are carried only as weapons for unlawful use against another person.

The DA’s office claims homicides and knife use in non-fatal stabbings to be a serious problem in Manhattan. Yet according to the National Safety Council – in your lifetime you have a greater chance [1 in 81,701] of getting killed by lightning than residents of Manhattan had last year of getting killed with a knife [1 in 90,503].

What’s worse: The retailers have been forced by the DA’s office to pay more than $1.9 million – an estimate of their profits on sales of these knives in the past four years times 10! – in exchange for deferred prosecution. Failure to make these “contributions” also would mean that the targeted retailers would have almost certainly been made to turn over to the government their customer records and detailed sales records for each knife from their inventories.

“As part of the agreements and Office policy, nearly $1.9 million will be distributed to the City and State: 10 percent will be given to the State ($190K); 51 percent will be given to the City ($969,000); and the remainder ($741,000) set aside for our law enforcement partners,” reads a press release sent by Vance’s office. “Those funds will be available to other DA’s offices who want to partner with the Manhattan DA’s Office to continue this fight against illegal (sic) knives.”

(Quote from Cyrus Vance Jr.’s press release dated June 17, 2010.) We strongly urge AKTI members to review the entire press release from the DA’s office, available at http://www.manhattanda.org/whatsnew/press/2010-06-17.shtml)

In this blatant grab for funds, Vance’s office is even pursuing knife retailers in other New York communities. The DA is offering to share these funds with other DAs in the Empire State if they will apply the same “shakedown” tactics in their own cities and counties.

But this doesn’t just impact New York-area knife advocates! AKTI has heard from an Internet retailer in a Western state who has been contacted by the New York County DA and told to make a “contribution” to the DA’s office or face being reported to the federal government for possible violation of interstate commerce laws.

AC TION: What can you to do help stop this government grab for control and funds from legal knife sales?

First, the American Knife and Tool Institute is actively seeking methods to counter-act these actions. We will be looking for sponsors for a legislative solution along the lines other states and the 2009 Federal Switchblade Amendment. We may also be left with no alternative but to seek legal action.

These steps require time and money to implement effectively, and we need your help. Please contribute to our efforts and support what we do by becoming a member of AKTI, if you are not already. Our website also accepts contributions for this and other important work we do to stop on-going assaults on knife rights throughout the United States. See www.akti.org/membership for more information.

Second, if you are a citizen of New York state, we ask that you flood the office of the Manhattan District Attorney with letters, emails and phone calls of protest and outrage.

• Protest that government resources are being used against legitimate businesses selling knives to law-abiding citizens who use them as tools, instead of finding fiscally responsible ways to solve their financial problems.
• Outrage about the tactics used to intimidate and extort from New York citizens.

Individual letters played a major role in our success in defeating U.S. Customs’ effort to classify over 90% of all folding knives as switchblades last year. If you’d like a sample letter, go to www.akti.org.

The Chief Assistant District Attorney in charge of supervising this case is Daniel R. Alonso. His email is: alonsod@dany.nyc.gov.

Assistant District Attorneys involved in the investigation:

• Dan M. Rather – ratherd@dany.nyc.gov
• Hilary Rosenburg – rosenburgh@dany.nyc.gov
• Mike Kitsis – kitsism@dany.nyc.gov

District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan) – Cyrus R. Vance Jr. – vancec@dany.nyc.gov

The main office phone number is: 212-335-9000.

Mailing Address is:

These emails, phone calls and letters will make it obvious that the American people are not going to take this kind of abuse of power without fighting back.

Want to learn more?

We recommend these links for more information about the case.

• New York Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_honed_depot_hW62UJ4nGJsohGk7E096kM
• NY1 (video clip): http://www.ny1.com/content/120560/manhattan-d-a–busts-illegal-knives-ring
• Manhattan DA’s Office full press release transcript:http://www.manhattanda.org/whatsnew/press/2010-06-17.shtml

Responsible and law-abiding knife owners and sellers need your help to overcome the latest abuse of an overzealous government agency. Please join AKTI in fighting against the Manhattan DA’s office misinterpretation of the law. We will continue to update you about this situation; please also visit our website, www.akti.org, to learn more.

American Knife & Tool Institute

NEW YORK, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- Law-abiding citizens in Manhattan who carry knives for a variety of everyday activities may now find it difficult to purchase those important tools in local retail establishments.

New York City’s Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr., has been on a campaign to burnish his crime-fighting credentials and replenish the city’s coffers with an attack on retailers who sell pocketknives. In the past two months, companies including Eastern Mountain Sports, Home Depot, Paragon and Orvis have seen their inventories of folding knives confiscated and have been forced to make payments totaling $1.9 million – an estimate of their profits on sales of these knives in the past four years that retailers say is grossly overstated – in exchange for deferred prosecution.

At a press conference on June 17, Vance stood beside tables filled with more than 1,300 confiscated knives, claiming they were outlawed switchblades and “gravity knives” – an overzealous interpretation of a 1950s New York state law that bans such knives.

The American Knife and Tool Institute, a knife advocacy group, has identified many of the knives featured in Vance’s press conference and confirms that they ARE NOT opened by gravity. Instead, they must be opened by a practiced and pronounced movement of the wrist. This is a blatant distortion of the intent of the statute and a total misunderstanding of the knife design mechanisms involved.

“The DA is applying the gravity knife prohibition to a wide variety of knives that can be opened with one hand,” said AKTI president Goldie Russell.

“Even the federal government amended the 1958 Switchblade Act last year to confine the gravity knife prohibition to the intent of legislators.”

Instead of understanding that such knives are used daily for activities including hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as well as by electricians, construction workers and emergency personnel, New York is presuming all knives are carried only as weapons for unlawful use against another person.

“The DA’s office claims homicides and knife use in non-fatal stabbings to be a serious problem in Manhattan,” Russell said.

“Yet according to the National Safety Council – in your lifetime you have a greater chance [1 in 81,701] of getting killed by lightning than residents of Manhattan had last year of getting killed with a knife [1 in 90,503].”

While knives are being removed from the shelves of lawful retail establishments, and thus not available to law-abiding consumers for purchase, the district attorney’s office is profiting handsomely from the issue.

“As part of the agreements and Office policy, nearly $1.9 million will be distributed to the City and State: 10 percent will be given to the State ($190K); 51 percent will be given to the City ($969,000); and the remainder ($741,000) set aside for our law enforcement partners,” reads a press release sent by Vance’s office.

“Those funds will be available to other DA’s offices who want to partner with the Manhattan DA’s Office to continue this fight against illegal (sic) knives.”

(Quote from Cyrus Vance Jr.’s press release dated June 17, 2010.) Review entire press release available at http://www.manhattanda.org/whatsnew/press/2010-06-17.shtml)

According to retailers in New York and even in other states who have contacted AKTI, Vance’s office has given them the choice of making a heavy “contribution” to the DA’s office or face being reported to the federal government for possible violation of interstate commerce laws.

“It is obvious that Mr. Vance intends to make up for the city’s short fall of funds and at the same time build his political career on the backs of companies who make available to the citizens of New York a common everyday tool that is no more dangerous as a weapon than a ball bat, an ink pen or a brick that can picked up on almost any street in New York City,” Russell said.

“Even an automobile can easily be used to intentionally kill someone. When do we stop making the object the criminal and not the person using the object? Disarming law-abiding citizens never results in a decreased crime level.”

One notable concern voiced by retailers is that the DA’s office has not shown the kind of good faith that would be evident if their only desire were to remove “illegal” knives from the marketplace. The DA should have notified retailers that they believed were selling illegal merchandise so those stores could remove the offending items without having them seized or having to pay six-figure “contributions.”

The American Knife & Tool Institute is actively seeking methods to counter-act these actions by the Manhattan DA. The organization is currently seeking sponsors for a legislative solution in New York that is more along the lines of other states and the 2009 Federal Switchblade Amendment.

“We hope that citizens of New York will flood the offices of the Manhattan District Attorney with letters, emails and phone calls of protest and outrage,” Russell said.

“Protest that government resources are being used against legitimate businesses that sell knives to law-abiding citizens who need them as a useful tool, instead of finding fiscally responsible ways to solve their financial problems.”

The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is a non-profit organization (501(c)6) representing all segments of the knife industry and all knife users. Formed by concerned industry leaders after considerable discussion with individual knifemakers, knife magazine publishers, and a broad section of the knife community, AKTI has been the reasonable and responsible voice of the knife community since 1998. For updates on this issue and more about AKTI, please see our website at http://www.akti.org.

Jan Billeb Executive Director American Knife & Tool Institute akti@AKTI.org www.AKTI.org

Browning Knife Model 111D & C

KnifeRights.org

New York, NY --(Ammoland.com)- New York District Attorney Vance’s dramatic press conference on Thursday was quite a show with a very impressive array of so-called gravity knives and switchblades displayed, but political grandstanding doesn’t change the fact that the claims made by Vance had little basis in truth.

Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “the outrageous claims made by Vance to rationalize his shakedown of honest knife retailers during his press conference were all misrepresentations or half-truths, if not outright lies. If the general media in attendance wasn’t so unfortunately uninformed of the issues and the law, as well as the technical aspects of folding knives, he might have had a more difficult time getting them to swallow the unmitigated fabrications he was dishing out.”

Since the industry’s numbers put the pocket knife-carrying population in the area of forty million, and 80% of the knives sold in America are one-handed openers of one design or another, for certain the majority of these millions understand just how absurd the DA’s claims are when they see a display of the same knives they carry and use everyday deemed to be illegal. The increased practicality and safety of these commonly used tools over more traditional pocket knives accounts for their widespread popularity.

Said Ritter, “It’s hard to imagine how Vance could be further out of touch with both the law and mainstream America.”

Vance claimed in the press conference and on their propaganda video shown and distributed that arrests for knife possession were up to 3000 last year. That appears to be a quite an exaggeration as the DA’s own press release put the figure at 2,269.

“In any case, the number is meaningless,” said Ritter. “Whichever number is used, it simply represents the increased abuse of New York’s law against gravity knives. In virtually every case where those accused have competent legal representation, the charges are dropped or dismissed. Unfortunately, not all plaintiffs get attorneys well-versed in the issue. That doesn’t change the fact that overly broad application of New York’s law is indefensible.”

In the most egregious example of this outrageous abuse of the law at the press conference, on display were Husky folding utility knives. In the landmark knife law case of U.S. v Irizarry (2007), involving an essentially identical knife originally purchased from Home Depot and an arrest on a knife possession charge by a New York cop, these knives were specifically found to not be a gravity knife.

Senior Federal District Judge Weinstein’s findings are so commonsense and clear that it is difficult to imagine that even a DA couldn’t help but to understand them. Judge Weinstein wrote:

“The prevalence of this instrument and its everyday use by law abiding mechanics makes unreasonable any inference of illegal activity drawn merely from the observation of such an instrument clipped in an individual’s pocket.

… The instrument which defendant had in his possession is a common tool. Its open possession is the equivalent of a carpenter carrying a hammer or an individual in the street carrying a cellular phone. The law cannot define as criminals tens of thousands of mechanics who are required to carry such tools in order to earn a living. Claw hammers, used by carpenters, can be used to smash skulls, screwdrivers, used by electricians, can be used to stab bodies and wall board cutters can be used to cut jugular veins, but those are not the intended or designed for uses of such instruments.”

The entire commonsense judgment makes for interesting reading here: http://www.KnifeRights.org/USvIRIZARRY.pdf

The import of this decision is all the more significant when you consider Judge Weinstein’s record of extreme adverse decisions on Second Amendment and weapons issues.

Despite such clear precedent, the DA seized these knives and displayed these knives at the press conference as examples of gravity knives, which is a complete fabrication with no basis in fact.

“Judge Weinstein’s decision relating to the ubiquitous and generally useful nature of the tool,” says Ritter, “equally applies to all of the widely available and commonly used pocket knives that were seized and displayed.”

“Is Vance simply ignorant of such a precedent-setting case which is so specifically applicable to New York City, or is Vance simply ignoring the law to serve his own political agenda?” asked Ritter. “Either way, it doesn’t cast the DA’s actions in a very good light.”

That Home Depot caved in to the DA’s shakedown is itself difficult to understand given their own history with the Irizarri case. Clearly, the DA’s abuse of power can be intimidating to even a major corporation which apparently either let business exigencies override principle, or perhaps were simply ill-served by their counsel. Knife Rights continues to try and make contact with senior management of Home Depot in an effort to understand their actions in this matter.

Vance also made much of the fact that 19 of the 59 homicides in Manhattan in 2009 were stabbings, yet somehow failed to mention how many of those were attributed to the very knives he wrongly claims are illegal gravity knives or switchblades.

It would be very surprising to discover that New York was so far different from the rest of the country where the vast majority of such crimes are committed with common kitchen knives. Where folding knives are used, they are often traditional, old-fashioned pocket knives designed for two-handed opening.” We’d love to hear from someone who has time and experience to research this for us as we’re a bit preoccupied with more pressing issues right now.

One of the most notable beyond-the-pale moments was when Vance claimed that possession of these so-called illegal knives should be become a “DNA eligible” offense. That would involve taking a DNA swabbing from anyone arrested for possession so that they could be identified if their DNA is recovered at a crime scene.

“All this for a simple misdemeanor charge, which itself is being so blatantly abused?” asked Ritter. “Vance’s absurd suggestion for making possession a DNA eligible offence only shows the depths of civil rights abuse that this DA is willing to encourage in order to pander to his supporters and discourage legal possession and use of these legitimate tools by law-abiding citizens.”

• You can view a video report on the Press Conference here: http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/120560/manhattan-d-a–busts-illegal-knives-ring
• You can view the DA’s propaganda video in full here: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheManhattanDA
• You can read the full press release from the DA here: http://www.manhattanda.org/whatsnew/press/2010-06-17.shtml

This is hardly the entire scope of Vance’s lies, misrepresentations and half-truths, but time is limited and we have a good deal on our plate as we work on efforts to thwart the DA in the courts.

Knife Rights will continue to work at exposing the fallacies of Vance’s politically motivated claims and agenda. In the meantime, please spread this as far and wide as you can. Knife Rights is monitoring this situation in New York City vigilantly and will follow-up with more details as we can release them.

Knife Rights may be contacted at: nycity@KnifeRights.org or toll-free: 1-866-889-6268

KnifeRights.org

New Hampshire --(Ammoland.com)- The New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney’s office appears to be engaged in a shakedown of local businesses, forcing them to pay six-figure so-called “contributions” or risk unwarranted criminal penalties, in a move more like that of organized crime than the agency charged with protecting citizens, said a national group representing the rights of Americans who own and use pocket knives.

Knife Rights Chairman, Doug Ritter, said, “the New York County District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. appears to have targeted legitimate, honest knife dealers, accused them of selling illegal ‘gravity knives,’ and threatening criminal prosecution if they don’t pay up. The so-called “gravity knives” in question appear to be conventional one-handed and assisted-opening knives, which represent 80 percent of the pocket knives sold in the U.S. today.”

Some of the major retailers have reported agreed to six-figure settlements and have netted the DA millions of dollars.

Knife Rights was instrumental in passing legislation last summer, in response to a misinterpretation of law by U.S Customs and Border Protection, that specifically excepted these common pocket knives used daily by millions of Americans from the definition of a switchblade under the Federal Switchblade Act. The legislation was supported by Customs and was passed by U.S. Congress, with strong bipartisan support, and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009.

Ritter said, “Given the passage of this legislation, the DA is attacking people who sell knives that were clearly defined by Congress as simple pocket knives, legislation that was supported by leading Democratic lawmakers such as Henry Waxman (D-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), David Obey (D-WI) and others. This action is not only unethical; it places Mr. Vance at odds with even liberal urban lawmakers and outside the mainstream on this issue.”

Knife Stores Assaulted By NY District Attorney

Among the dozen or so businesses that have reported to have been targeted in New York City are Eastern Mountain Sports, Orvis, Paragon Sports, Lowe’s and Home Depot. At least one out-of-state Internet retailer has been targeted. No public release of details has yet been made

The six-figure so-called “contributions” are being made to a “public education fund” controlled by the DA in order to secure “deferred prosecution” agreements to avoid threatened criminal charges. Additional outrageous and over-reaching demands have also apparently been made to avoid prosecution.

Said Ritter, “This appears to be little more than extortion on the part of a District Attorney who appears determined to shake down honest businesses and remove from the New York market common tools used daily by New Yorkers in their homes, in business and while recreating. These are simple pocket knives, legitimate tools used every day by millions of law-abiding Americans.”

Knife Rights’ attorneys have been in contact with some of these companies and their lawyers. The DA seems primarily interested in bludgeoning these knife dealers into submission. Not all his targets have agreed to terms and Knife Rights is working to protect these retailers and their customers from this outrageous abuse of power.

The businesses shaken down so far have agreed to “cooperate,” agreed to onerous terms of dubious merit and agreed to pay substantial so-called “contributions” to avoid further difficulties and risk even more significant defense costs and potential criminal penalties and fines, as unwarranted as they might be. To these corporations and business owners, it appears they view this shakedown by the DA as simply a cost of doing business in New York City.

Said Ritter, “we expect to see this sort of corrupt behavior by the government in third-world countries, not in America. New Yorkers and all Americans should be outraged by this behavior.”

Knife Rights urges any knife dealer who has already been served by the New York County DA to contact us immediately.

Based on information obtained so far, Knife Rights believes this may be only the first wave of such attacks on knife dealers by this DA, both in New York and elsewhere. We urge any knife dealer who is served papers, arrested or whose stock is seized by the DA to please contact us immediately. Knife Rights is prepared to assist dealers in fighting this reprehensible action by the DA.

Knife Rights is monitoring this situation in New York City vigilantly and will follow-up with more details as we can release them.

Knife Rights may be contacted at: nycity@KnifeRights.org or toll-free: 1-866-889-6268

New Hampshire Governor Removes All Restrictions on Knives

KnifeRights.org

New Hampshire --(Ammoland.com)- May 18, 2010. New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has signed Rep. Jenn Coffey’s Knife Rights Bill HB1665 into law, removing restrictions on switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos in Hew Hampshire and essentially removing all restrictions on knives in New Hampshire state law.

New Hampshire now has no state knife laws which stop law abiding citizens from buying, selling, owning, carrying, possessing, transporting, collecting, or lawfully using any type of knife. This is the first complete repeal of a state’s knife restrictions ever.

It is worth noting the bipartisan appeal of this legislation; a bill introduced by a minority member of the legislature passed with unanimous consent in both Democratic controlled houses and signed by a Democratic Governor. Proof of what can be accomplished when you have a well-conceived plan and combine a passionate and effective legislator; a professional lobbying effort supported by Knife Rights and organized, hard-working and involved citizen support.

Rep. Coffey will be honored with Knife Rights’ Freedom’s Edge award at Knife Rights’ Sharper Future Awards Breakfast at BLADE Show in Atlanta on June 5th (see below). Special thanks to New Hampshire Knife Rights member Evan Nappen for his local leadership and hard work toward getting this legislation passed.

About:
Knife Rights. The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member program, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

American Knife & Tool Institute

New Hampshire --(AmmoLand.com)- Rep. Jennifer Coffey, an EMT and New Hampshire representative, has bipartisan and multi-organizational support for a bill (HB 1665) which she recently introduced in the New Hampshire legislature.

This bill will end the 1955 state ban on the carry of “switch knives”, stilettos, daggers and dirks.

In 1992, New Hampshire legislation ended the ban on gun canes and sword canes that was a part of that same law. HB 1665, if passed, will keep law-abiding citizens from being criminals for carrying knives they use as tools in their everyday lives.

Visit Rep. Coffey’s website www.knifelawonline.com, read her petition, and make a contribution to her efforts if you can, particularly if you live, work or travel in New Hampshire.

AKTI will be providing documentation for her presentation before the New Hampshire Senate in a few weeks.

About:
AKTI – The American Knife & Tool Institute represents the entire knife community and all knife owners as we have since 1997. We have successfully won every legislative effort so far. AKTI continues its mission to “Keep Knives in American Lives” Visit: www.akti.org

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- The President has signed into law the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that includes a new exception to the Federal Switchblade Act protecting our assisted and one-hand opening pocket knives. You’ll find the text of the amendment and an explanation of how this solves the problem below.

Knife Rights is very pleased to acknowledge the efforts of the many dedicated knife owners and organizations who joined together to oppose U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s attempt to redefine what is a switchblade. It is worth noting that this represented the first ever collective campaign at a national level to enhance the rights of knife owners.

We not only responded effectively to the surprise attack on our knife rights, turning aside a blow that would have done a great disservice to all knife owners and could have crippled our domestic knife industry, we were able to turn it into a clear victory for all citizens of our great country. This change to the Federal Switchblade Act is the first affirmative Federal knife law ever! We hope it portends great things for the sharper future™ we are working towards at Knife Rights..

Knife Rights would especially like to thank our coalition partners who worked together to get us to this point: National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the knife industry’s American Knife and Tool Institute. I’d also like to specially acknowledge Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose major financial contribution helped to support our efforts.

I cannot possibly list all the many others, individuals and businesses alike, who donated money to the fight, in amounts from $10 to $5000, but I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of myself and knife owners everywhere. We could not have done it without your support.

The cost of this victory was substantial; mind boggling really. It’s really not a complete victory until we are done paying the bills. Please help us retire our debt for this fight with a generous contribution: http://bit.ly/Scvp9

To help you celebrate and commemorate this incredible victory, please purchase one of our collectible “WE STOPPED Customs Pocket Knife Grab” coffee mugs, t-shirts or sweatshirts, available for a limited time only: www.cafepress.com/KnifeRights Proceeds will help pay off the incredibly high cost of this victory.

The Amendment as Passed

H. R. 2892, page 42

SEC. 562. Section 4 of the Act entitled ”An Act to prohibit
the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate
commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes” (commonly
known as the Federal Switchblade Act) (15 U.S.C. 1244) is
amended-
(1) by striking ”or” at the end of paragraph (3);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4)
and inserting ”; or” and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
”(5) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism
designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade
and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist,
or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening
the knife.”.

An explanation of how this new exception will protect assisted and one-hand opening knives can be found here: http://bit.ly/Mwd5E

About:
The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

American Knife & Tool Institute

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s Law! The President signed the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2892) for FY 2010 late yesterday (Oct. 28, 2009) that includes a permanent “fix” so that any folding knife with a bias toward closure cannot be declared a switchblade by U.S. Customs.

The significance of the legislative victory that was led by AKTI and supported by several other organizations cannot be overstated.

If U.S. Customs had succeeded in broadly redefining a switchblade, domestic manufacturers and all owners of folding knives would have been in jeopardy.

That’s because an import restriction becomes an issue for interstate commerce. And where local law enforcement might be uncertain about how to correctly apply their state law, they often turn to U.S. Customs to provide guidance.

However, knife owners should realize that they are still bound by the knife laws of their state. And if you travel to another state, you are bound by their state laws.

AKTI continues to monitor federal and state laws and to work to protect knife rights for all, introducing reasonable and responsible changes.

About:
AKTI – The American Knife & Tool Institute represents the entire knife community and all knife owners as we have since 1997. We have successfully won every legislative effort so far. AKTI continues its mission to “Keep Knives in American Lives”

National Rifle Association

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Back in June, we reported on a proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rule change that would have expanded the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to include spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives, and would have directly targeted the importation of “assisted opening” folding knives.

Assisted opening knives are frequently used by hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel and anyone else who may need to open a knife with only one hand.

The proposed regulations would have designated all such knives as “switchblades” — despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of “switchblades” — and would have made them illegal for import into the United States.

Fortunately, in July, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. This NRA-supported amendment then headed to a House-Senate conference committee.

Last week, the U.S. House passed the amendment. We are happy to report that this week, the U. S. Senate passed the measure as well.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

National Rifle Association of America

KnifeRights.org

Washington, Dc – -(AmmoLand.com)- On September 16th Knife Rights participated in a lobby day on Capitol Hill, along with representatives of the American Knife and Tool Institute, the NRA and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation. Representing Knife Rights were Doug Ritter, Pete Brownell and Jason Kunkler (from www.knifecenter.com).

While it was an exhausting, and at times frustrating, experience, it was clearly beneficial that House Committee and Member staff heard from us why it was so important to retain the Senate Amendment 1447 in the final Homeland Security Appropriations bill. I am confident that had we not made this effort, we might not succeed in the end.

As for that, we are all still waiting. We remain cautiously optimistic, but it isn’t a done deal by any means.

Today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) indicated on the floor that he hoped to have the DHS Appropriations Conference Committee report on the House floor next Thursday. That is no guarantee, but at least gives notice of what they are aiming for.

Also today, the Speaker of the House appointed House Conferees for the DHS Appropriations bill.

If any of the Representatives below represent your district or you are from their state, please contact them immediately and ask them for their support to keep Senate Amendment 1447 in the final bill. If you operate a business that is involved in the knife industry or if knives are an integral part of your business’ or employee’s operations or activities, tell them that this amendment protecting assisted opening knives is critical to your business. Keep your call POLITE, SHORT and TO THE POINT! Do NOT ramble, do NOT discuss any other issues. This call should take no more than a minute or two, total, except for any time on hold. If you cannot follow these simple rules, please don’t call. Again, keep your call POLITE, SHORT and TO THE POINT!

At this point, PHONE Calls are BEST, FAX next, emails last. You can call their local district office; you don’t necessarily have to contact the D.C. office.

You can find your Representative’s web site with office phone numbers at: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

DHS Appropriations Committee Conferees:

• David R. Obey (D-WI)
• David E. Price (D-NC)
• Jose E. Serrano (D-NY)
• Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX)
• C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
• Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
• Nita M. Lowey (D-NY)
• Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
• Sam Farr (D-CA)
• Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ)
• Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
• Harold Rogers (R-KY)
• John R. Carter (R-TX)
• John Abney Culberson (R-TX)
• Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL)
• Ken Calvert (R-CA)

CALL TODAY!

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. This latest fight against Customs Pocket Knife Grab has validated the power and importance of a dedicated grass roots organization in defending your knife rights. Invest in a Sharper Future™. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight against Customs Pocket Knife Grab.

Join or Renew your Knife Rights membership today! http://tinyurl.com/qnu988

Ireland Bans Samurai Swords

AmmoLand.com

Ireland --(AmmoLand.com)- The order, brought in by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern as part of measures to tackle knife crime, makes the sale, importation, purchase or possession of the swords illegal.

Those caught manufacturing, importing, selling or hiring the potentially deadly weapons could face up to seven years in prison. The ban does not apply to hand-carved swords made before 1954.

Those swords made before 1954 or at another time by traditional hand-made methods will be exempt.” the minister said.

The Justice Minister has also recently increased the penalty for possessing a knife in a public place from one to five years.

“Legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is extremely robust and heavy penalties are in place,” the minister said.

Last month Mr Ahern described a recent spate of knife attacks as ‘very worrying’, but he said the Government was working to try to raise awareness in an effort to reduce knife crime.

Mr Ahern recently increased the maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a public place from one to five years.

Gardaí have also been given stronger powers to carry out searches.

The Government said the new laws will target cheap, easily-obtained swords most likely used by criminals.

Official figures have shown 100 people were killed in knife attacks in the five years up to 2007.

Boy Scouts Of America

KnifeRights.org

Britain --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s a sad day for Scouts in Britain as all knives are officially banned in virtually all circumstances, “neither Scouts nor their parents should bring penknives to camp except in ‘specific’ situations.”

Here’s a very scary quote from the article linked below:

Last night a Scouts spokesman defended its policy, saying: ‘The Scout Association plays a key role in helping young people develop the confidence, maturity and self-esteem they need to play active and responsible roles in their communities, and to resist the peer pressure that may attract them into local gang culture.

We believe that young people need more places to go after school and at weekends, where they can experience adventure without the threat of violence or bullying and the need to carry weapons.

Scouting helps to prepare young people with valuable life skills, while keeping them safe by not carrying knives.’

Read it and weep:
http :// www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211475/Britains-blade-culture-claims-victim–Scouts-penknives.html#ixzz0QLldqYql

or http://bit.ly/4h9CBy

This action is a reflection of the intense anti-knife culture that has developed in the U.K. in the past few years. There are numerous causes, not the least of which is a media all too happy to feed the flames and politicians who would rather attack the tool rather than the root causes. In any case, it should serve as a warning to America’s knife owners.

The anti-knife hysteria in the U.K, Europe and elsewhere was one of the reasons why Knife Rights was founded just under three years ago, to give knife owners an effective voice against those who would take away our knives if we don’t oppose them.

About:
Knife Rights has quickly grown to become America’s largest grassroots knife owners organization. This latest fight against Customs Pocket Knife Grab has validated the power and importance of a dedicated grass roots organization in defending your knife rights. Invest in a Sharper Future™. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight against Customs Pocket Knife Grab.

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Knife Rights is pleased to announce that Pete Brownell has joined the Knife Rights Board of Directors. Pete is President of Brownells, Inc., the “world’s largest supplier of firearm accessories, gun parts and gunsmithing tools.”

Pete has been a supporter of Knife Rights since early on as a Cornerstone Charter Member. Brownells is a Cornerstone Corporate Charter Member.

In accepting the position as a Director, Pete noted, “in the firearms industry and as a gun owner I have battled for decades over issues that knife owners and the knife industry are now facing. I am honored to put my experience to use in support of Knife Rights and to serve its grassroots knife owner members.”

Chairman of Knife Rights, Doug Ritter, explained, “the ongoing fight over Customs Pocket Knife Grab has validated our original concept of Knife Rights as the grassroots knife owners’ organization.

Pete Bownell brings to Knife Rights a lifetime of involvement and connections in support of Second Amendment issues and organizations as well as his success in operating and growing a successful business. Pete’s knowledge and commitment will be a huge asset as we grow Knife Rights to expand our services to our grassroots supporters, America’s knife owners.”

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies armorers, gunsmiths, and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. For more information, or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com .

About:
Knife Rights. The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- We are still over a week away from Congress returning from recess, but we’ve been receiving an increasing number of emails, so an update seems to be in order. While Congress has been home being beat up in Town Halls and the like, Knife Rights has been diligently lobbying key Congressional staff and conferring with our coalition partners, as we indicated we’d be doing in our last News Slice email, “Customs Officially Backs Off” http://tinyurl.com/nzvxw3. This effort is ongoing and we will continue towards the final push when Congress returns to get the Amendment to the Switchblade Act that was passed in the Senate retained in the final Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

Our meetings with staff have been productive and encouraging. I believe we have been successful at conveying the critical importance of this legislation to the millions of knife owners, their constituents and voters (YOU!), which we represent. We have also been encouraging the Administration (meaning Customs) to communicate their support for this amendment directly to the House Conference Committee leadership. Our meeting with staff of Senator Inouye, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key player in this battle, gave us a good deal of encouragement that the Senate leadership of the committee is solidly behind keeping this amendment in the final bill. I’d like to especially thank Knife Rights Knifemaker member Ken Onion for his help with Senator Inouye’s office. Personal relationships are always a critical part of legislative solutions and this is but one example where that has helped get us to this point.

Time to call yet?
I have received numerous emails asking if it’s time to write letters to House members and in our opinion, and that of most of our coalition partners, it is not yet the right moment to do so. It isn’t yet clear that inundating House or Conference Committee members with letters will be helpful and the timing certainly isn’t yet optimum for a letter writing/emailing campaign, even if that is required. Congress isn’t even back from recess until Sept. 8th. Congress needs to get back to work and actually schedule a date for the Conference Committee to meet before we should make that effort. Timing is critical and we do best to keep our edges sharp, but wait to use that edge to best advantage. If and when we need you to write, we will let you know, along with providing model letters.

As the return of Congress approaches, we’ll be starting up again the regular telephone conferences with our coalition partners that we originally initiated in an effort to streamline and coordinate lobbying efforts and develop strategy, a crucial effort that helped to get us this far. Knife Rights is proud to have provided the leadership in developing this cooperative approach; encouraging collaboration and partnership in this fight for our rights.

We will be in touch as soon as anything critical occurs or if we need your assistance in writing your Members of Congress. Things won’t really start popping until Congress returns. Follow Knife Rights on Twitter and receive the latest updates and notices as soon as they occur: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

About:
The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- In a letter to Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Customs and Border Protection has officially backed off their proposed revocations and rulemaking in recognition of the Amendment that was passed by the Senate which would add a new exception to the Switchblade Act covering assisted and one-hand opening knives, at least until the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill is acted upon in Conference Committee.

You can read the letter here but the key paragraph reads “The amendment would effectively obviate the need for CBP’s proposed revocations and render the current issue moot. Additionally, due to the numerous comments received in response to the proposed revocation, it is unlikely that CBP will take any further action prior to passage of the Appropriations Act.

This is about as close to a victory as we can come at this time. It may not be over until the fat lady sings, and we actually get the Amendment through Conference Committee, but for all practical purposes, we shouldn’t have to worry about Customs reaching into your pockets for your pocket knives anytime soon. Do take note that Customs has included some ambiguous wording in their letter, leaving their options open, no surprise. But, make no mistake, they have gotten the message; don’t mess with our pocket knives!

You’ll note mention of the “numerous comments received.”  That is entirely because of all your efforts to write and mail those comments in. You got their attention, and you got Congress’ attention with all your emails, letters and faxes to your Senators and Representatives. We are very pleased to have been a part of the coalition of advocacy groups that have helped bring this effort to this point.  None of us could have done it alone and everyone involved made key contributions.  We want to thank AKTI, NRA, the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms for their cooperation and support for this intense fight. I’d also like to give recognition to Les de Asis and Benchmade’s own legislative team who have played a significant role in the coalition efforts.

We still need to get this Amendment through the Conference Committee, but that becomes much easier with each passing day as the pieces, such as this, fall into place. We’ll continue to work in cooperation with the other advocacy groups to line up support in the House to accomplish that after the August Recess. As we noted in an email earlier this week, for the moment, just sit back, celebrate this victory and bask in the knowledge that we have come together to overcome great odds to get to this point. YOU did this, the voice of the people; the system sometimes still works.

About:
The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

Operation Switch Hunt

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- July 21, 2009 loomed large on the calendar for the edgencia. That was the date U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) was to announce whether it would move to outlaw assisted openers and other one-handed operation knives.

Although Customs had an extra 30 days to come to a decision, the agency did not make a ruling.

In typical Customs fashion, the agency did not release a statement as to why.

The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI), however, did.

“[Customs] will not pursue their revocation proposal, they have told us and Senators involved in Amendment 1447 in the Senate, as long as there is legislative action pending,” David Kowalski, communications coordinator for AKTI, said in an e-mail.

The amendment Kowalski referred to passed the U.S. Senate on July 8. If signed into law, it would add assisted openers as an exception to the 1958 Switchblade Act. This would negate any attempt by Customs to reclassify assisted openers as illegal switchblades.

The next step for Amendment 1447 is the Conference Committee. The amendment will be prepared for introduction into the U.S. House of Representatives. If the measure passes in the House, it will go to President Barack Obama for signature.

For knife advocacy groups, this is the “wait” part of the “hurry-up-and-wait” style of Washington politics.

“The Conference Committee will not meet until after the August recess,” a statement on Knife Rights‘s Web site read. “As such, you probably will not be hearing too much until September, if then.

“Our legislative consultants tell us that it makes no sense to write your House Member at this point, with any action over a month away. Politics is often a case of hurry up and wait. We did the hurry up, now we wait.”

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- I’m sure you are wondering what was happening now that Amendment 1447, which solves the Customs switchblade ruling issue, was included in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill by the Senate.

The simple answer is, for the moment, not much. The next and final hurdle is Conference Committee, where the Senate and House conferees hammer out the two different versions of the bill, and that includes whether or not our amendment survives. The House is currently focused on other business, in case you haven’t been watching the news, so the Conference Committee for this bill on the House side hasn’t even been officially named (though we have a pretty good idea who will be on it).

The Conference Committee will not meet until after the August Recess. Their goal will be to finish work by end of the fiscal year, September 30. As such, you probably will not be hearing too much, nor is there likely to be any call to action, until September, if then. Our legislative consultants tell us that it makes no sense to write your House Member at this point, with any action over a month away. Politics is often a case of hurry up and wait. We did the hurry up, now we wait until its time to hurry up again. Thanks very much for your patience. Don’t forget that we got to this juncture in large part because of all your efforts. Just one more hurdle to go.

That the conference committee won’t meet until after the recess doesn’t mean we’re not working with our friends in the House and Senate to shore up support. In fact, we are working very hard at that behind the scenes. Together with our colleagues in the other advocacy groups we are talking with key players who will be leading the effort to retain the amendment in conference. We’ll keep you advised of any important news.

For those who have noticed (and emailed us) that the deadline for Customs to act has come and gone, let’s just say you might consider that no news is good news at this juncture, and you might do best not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

For those who have asked how Amendment 1447 would solve the Customs switchblade issue, we’ve got your answer here:  http://bit.ly/Mwd5E

About:
The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org

KnifeRights.org

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- Many have asked how this Amendment 1447 would solve the Customs switchblade issue.

We have received numerous requests to explain how Amendment 1447 would solve the problem with Customs & Border Protection’s proposed revocations and rulemakings along with their novel interpretation of what a switchblade is. We have laid out the reasoning below. This just covers these particular issues. The new exception may also offer additional salutatory benefits to knife owners that we will examine at a later point.

There are two issues to be reviewed. First, the language in the amendment clearly covers virtually all non-automatic folding knife mechanisms, regardless of whether they have a spring assist or not, or whether they are designed to be opened with one hand or not. These style folders are biased toward closure as compared to a conventional switchblade in which the spring is constantly applying pressure on the blade when the blade is closed and thus it is biased toward opening, requiring only the release of the blade to open automatically.

Second is the question of how this applies to Customs and how it will regulate their actions vis-a-vis such knives and eliminating their most recent interpretation of the Federal Switchblade Act.

To fully understand the applicability of the amendment, it is necessary to understand its relationship to Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which is the regulation that describes those duties delegated to several government agencies, including the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency.

The applicable text is codified at 19 C.F.R. § 12.97, and directly concerns switchblade knives and makes their importation illegal. However, the drafters of Section 12.97 created an exclusion that permits the importation of certain types of knives that might otherwise be captured by the provision. These exceptions are codified in statute at 15 U.S.C. § 1244, and are deemed “exceptions” because the specific types of knives described do not fall under the purview of Section 12.97′s restrictions. For these reasons, if Section 1244 is amended so as to incorporate the assisted-openers and one-hand openers, these knives will not be considered unlawful under the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. § 1241 et seq.), and consequently, their import into the United States will be permissible.

Read the complete discussion here: http://bit.ly/Mwd5E

We still have one more significant hurdle to overcome, Conference Committee. We’re working very hard, hand in hand with the other advocacy organizations involved and our friends in the House, to try to ensure it makes it through the Conference Committee. Expect more on that next week.

NEWS FLASH: Just in. Our representative who went down and hand counted the letters reports that the final count of Comments letters mailed to Customs is 5,200!!! That is incredible; more than two and half times the original Customs estimate. It is a testament to your outrage over Customs’ heavy-handed actions and your dedication. That flood of letters put Customs on notice that they were not going to get away with this without a fight. Thanks to everyone who made that effort to mail their letters to Customs!

Review Knife Rights’ original announcement: http://bit.ly/Vg6Y6

You can read relevant announcements from some of the involved parties here:

NRA-ILA: http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=5043

Sportsmen’s Caucus: http://tinyurl.com/lnvahb

Senator John Cornyn [R-TX]: http://tinyurl.com/nbnuh9

Senator Mark Pryor: [D-AR] http://tinyurl.com/ldjk9v

Senator Orrin Hatch [R-UT] http://tinyurl.com/l4zess

About:
The first step to building an effective advocacy group is building the membership. Power comes from numbers. Knife Rights offers a range of Charter Memberships and there’s one that will suit you perfectly. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future. JOIN NOW!

Encourage your friends to join Knife Rights and you can win a custom knife in our Member-Get-A-Member progam, as well as free annual memberships.
Email: dritter@KnifeRights.org