Holy Crap - now I know why they asked that question
A few days ago,
I posted about my second time through US Customs and the experiences of the journey. (the first trip was
posted here)
The thing that stood out (besides the having to wait for so long and the search of the truck without my being asked or being told) was the questions about sharp objects or weapons. I replied that I was carrying a pocket knife but nothing else.
This post at
Irons in the Fire explains why the question:
And, as a knifemaker, I now have to note that the President
is after your knife, too.Beware! That folding knife in your pocket may turn you into a criminal if the Obama administration gets its way. Although there has been a lot of fear and speculation that the new administration wants to take your guns, the most pressing threat now is actually to your pocket knives. With the changing of the guard at U.S. Customs, that agency has now embarked on redefining "switchblades" under federal law to include a wide variety of one hand opening knives that never were intended to be prohibited. In fact, many of the knives U.S. Customs now seek to prohibit under the Federal Switchblade Law had not even been invented at the time of its enactment! Furthermore, four previous U.S. Customs ruling letters (prior administrations) specifically determined "assisted opening" knives not to be defined as switchblades.
This new proposed U.S. Customs regulation is so broad that thousands of pocket knives will fall under its sweep and millions of knife owners will be affected. The problem is not simply that imports will be banned (which is bad enough), but that the "agency determination" will be used by domestic courts and law enforcement to determine what a "switchblade" is under both federal and state laws. Many states, including New Hampshire, fail to define switchblades and simply rely on the federal definition.
Just effing wonderful, isn't it?
They just keep grabbing and grabbing... The only good thing is that this will get a lot of quiescent people active. They push. We push back.
Posted by DaveH at June 5, 2009 9:05 PM