U.S. Government Trying To Take Away Your Pocket Knives!

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Maximum1

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The U.S. Government is after your Pocket Knives! In a sneak attack, U.S. Customs has proposed revoking earlier rulings that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. The proposal would not only outlaw assisted opening knives, its overly broad new definition of a switchblade would also include all one-handed opening knives and most other pocket knives!

Knife Rights was formed three years ago because we knew it was only a matter of time before there would be a major attempt to take away our knives, as has occurred in England, Europe and elsewhere. Little did we guess that the first major battle at a national level wouldn't come head on, but with government bureaucrats trying to sneak it by everyone, avoiding a more conventional legislative battle, which they know they'd likely lose.

Knife Rights is geared up to help win this fight, but we cannot do it without your help, your emails, your letters. The fight can only be won if we raise enough hell that they are convinced they will not get away with this. YOU are the most effective arrow in our quiver, the most powerful cartridge in our gun.

Click below for more on this knife grab and to find out how you can make a difference.

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=1

We need you to write CBP NOW!

Click here for a Model Letter you can send to CBP.

However, the reality is that CBP isn't required to listen to our demands, but they do have to answer to Congress. After you send a letter to CBP, giving them notice they are not going to sneak this by us, the next step is to inundate Congress with emails and letters.

If you want to be free to carry your pocket knives in the future, you need to write your Senators and Representative TODAY!


Knife Rights is geared up to help win this fight, but we cannot do it without your help, your emails, your letters. The fight can only be won if we raise enough hell that they are convinced they will not get away with this. YOU are the most effective arrow in our quiver, the most powerful cartridge in our gun.

http://www.kniferights.org/
 
first 2a attacks NOW KNIFES?? US GOV

Us Gov wants to remove our knifes@ :banghead::mad::mad:




US ATTEMPTS TO RE-DEFINE SWITCHBLADES – COULD MAKE MANY POCKET KNIVES ILLEGAL PDF Print E-mail

U.S. Customs has proposed revoking earlier rulings that assisted opening knives are not switchblades. The proposed new rule would not only outlaw assisted opening knives its broad definition could also easily be interpreted to include one-handed opening knives and even most other pocket knives.

Note that customs interpretation of the Federal Switchblade Act forms the basis for national, state and even local law and judicial rulings in many cases. The effect is NOT limited to just imports.

Knife Rights and AKTI are formulating a response and will each be asking for an extension to the ridiculously short 30 day comment period. PLEASE DO NOT WRITE JUST YET. Within the next week we will post a form letter and talking points for your use. We will then need you to write and MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!

In the meantime download the 63 page document and read it for yourself.
 
Folks,

While there's a lot of hyperbole in what is being posted about this the fact is that the US Customs service is trying to change the definition of the common assisted opening pocketknife that you, your family and friends carry every day so that they can call it a switchblade and ban their importation into the US. :fire:

There are discussions on this in NonFirearms Weapon, General and Legal and we've gotten several requests to open the discussions here in Activism.


We've been able to get some impressive things done when we worked together.

Go get'm.:evil:

Right now we need to write, email and call our congresscritters and let them know that we oppose the Customs decision to redefine these common pocket knives as switchblades. This isn't one bit different than the attempt to redefine common firearms like the AR15 and the AK as somehow being the same as machine guns.

Be civil. Ranting doesn't get anyone's attention like a calm well written brief note. Also, be brief and state clearly at the beginning of the note that you oppose US Customs current attempt to change the definition of the common assisted opening pocket knife to being equivalent of a switchblade.

Explain that you, or your friends/family, carry one of these knives that Customs would change the definition of so they could ban importation of it and scores of others just like it.

Point out that redefining these common pocket knives as switchblades after years of treating them as common pocket knives would harm the US economy taking money out the pockets of small and large retailers, wholesale distributors, US companies having the knives made and imported, and ultimately US citizens who work for these companies. This is not acceptable during these hard economic times.

Explain that these knives were invented here in the US and that they are as natural an evolution in design as the introduction of the starter motor was to the original hand crank automobiles our grandfathers and great grandfathers had to deal with. There is nothing more sinister about them than putting a key in the ignition of a car instead of cranking by hand.

Send these letters to the US Customs as well (remember we have just until June 21 to get them in).

Here's the link to congress.org so you can get addresses and email to send your letter protesting this circumventing of congresses authority to create legislation.

Now bury them in complaints about this.
 
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BTW, Activism isn't like General or Legal or any other forum on THR. It is not a discussion forum. Instead it is a "workshop" where plans in support of RKBA and the 2A are provided so members can work to restore our lost right to bear arms and preserve those under assault.

Extraneous posts get deleted to keep the workshop moving.
 
Folks,

We have until June 21 to make US Customs retreat from this decision. Just 6 more days!
Ironically, the days leading up to Father's Day is one of the biggest knife sales periods in this country. How many of you remember giving your Dad a new knife in thanks for trying to raise you right?

Let's honor our fathers, and our Founding Fathers, and make Customs and our elected officials hear our disgust at these sorts of stupidity! Write and mail a letter today telling them that changing the definition of knives we've owned for years to that of a switchblade is unacceptable.

Keep it brief, keep it civil and clearly say up front that you are OPPOSED to Customs' attempt to redefine knives currently commonly in use as switchblades.

You can find the addresses for your specific congresscritters at http://www.kniferights.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=150

US Customs can be reached -

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade
Regulations and Rulings
Mint Annex
799 9th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

Attn: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch

RE: PROPOSED REVOCATION OF RULING LETTERS AND REVOCATION OF TREATMENT RELATING TO THE ADMISSIBILTY [sic] OF CERTAIN KNIVES WITH SPRING-ASSISTED OPENING MECHANISMS
 
Lightninstrike,

Could you post your letter so others could get an idea of what to send?
 
http://akti.org/

AKTI Opposes U.S. Customs' attempt to classify assisted-opening
knives and all one-hand opening knives as switchblades.

Customs' proposal will make criminals of 35.6 million Americans
The definition of a switchblade or automatic knife has been clear and explicit in federal law
since 1958. There have been several state court cases in California, Texas, Illiinois and
Michigan on the issue of assisted-opening knives. Every judge in every case has ruled they are
not switchblades because they do not possess an activating button on the handle.

In fact, AKTI' s bill on the Texas governor's desk now clarified their statute, reaffirming the 50-
year old federal definition, and clearly distinguishing one-hand openers and assisted-openers
from knives classified as switchblades or automatics.

Be warned … AKTI fears that all folding knives will be at risk. U.S. Customs’ proposal indicates
it is directed at only the importers of assisted-opening knives. However, the language used in
their revocation document is so broad and uses virtually every term ever applied to any knife that
opens with one hand. We fear that they are attempting to bypass the will of Congress and that
once they succeed in getting assisted-openers defined as switchblades, they could move
against all folding knives. These include multi-tools, traditional pocket knives, one-hand
openers, and assisted-openers.

If you want to view a video of what AKTI fears about this situation and about your being branded
a criminal if you carry a folding knife, go to … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5KINtCajwI

AKTI's Knife User Data documents that at least 35.6 million folding knife users would become
de facto criminals if Customs has their way. AKTI's Talking Points tells you in simple language
what Customs is really trying to do. Share these documents with other knife owners and your
elected representatives at the federal and state level. . When you are write letters or emails on
this issue, you can use this data.
Read the U.S. Custom's
Proposal 19 CFR Part 17

Switchblade Knife Act

Are switchblades legal
in your state?

AKTI's Knife User Data

AKTI's Customs Talking
Points


Click for more
information how you
can help
Save Our Knives
Your Help is Needed!

AKTI learned, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on June 10, 2009, that U.S. Customs has denied the
AKTI request for an extension of the comment period.

We must now ask our national lawmakers to help us. That should be
the first letter you write.
You can find out who your lawmakers are and their email addresses by going to …

Find your congressional officials
Review our communication suggestions

This is the absolute # 1 action step you must take TODAY.
Please use one of the following letters to email your lawmakers
(You can also follow up with a copy sent via regular mail or fax to help reinforce your request. If
you know the lawmaker, please call them. Even if you don’t know them, an assistant will make a
note of your concern and convey it to the lawmaker.)

Be sure to personalize your letters
Individual Letter to Legislators as Word Document (.doc)
Individual Letter to Legislators as Rich Text File (.rtf)

Company Letter to Legislators as Word Document (.doc)
Company Letter to Legislators as Rich Text file (.rtf)



Now … if you have the time, please also voice your objections to U.S. Customs itself. You can
only use regular mail to them. Your letter must be received in the Washington Customs
office officially by June 21st (but that’s a Sunday, so shoot for June 20 or sooner).

Address your letter to …

19 CFR Part 177
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings
Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch
Mint Annex, 799 Ninth St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229

Please send a copy of your email or letter to AKTI so we can keep track of totals. This will be
powerful information that allows us to tell Customs we know how much opposition there is to
their proposed action.

While U.S. Customs has officially denied our request (on June 10) for an extension of the
comment period, we believe that letters sent to them objecting to their proposed action would
still be helpful. You can use the following short models. Please make sure they get to the U.S.
Customs office in Washington, DC by Saturday, June 20 (Note that Customs will only accept
letters sent via regular mail.)

Be sure to personalize your letters
Individual Response to Customs as Word Document (.doc)
Individual Response to Customs as Rich Text file (.rtf)

Company Response to Customs (as Word Document) .doc
Company Response to Customs (as Rich Text File) .rtf

Click for more information on how you can help Save Our Knives
 
Letter

hso, I did not keep a copy but it was short FWIW, here is the gist. I tend to write short and sort of compact letters.

Started by referring to the specific issue:

"Dear Senator Roberts,

I am writing in reference to the proposal below.

19 CFR PART 177
PROPOSED REVOCATION OF RULING LETTERS AND
REVOCATION OF TREATMENT RELATING TO THE
ADMISSIBILTY OF CERTAIN KNIVES WITH
SPRING-ASSISTED OPENING MECHANISMS

I am not an attorney, but as I understand it the proposed rule change could eventually lead to redefining common, assisted opening pocket knives as switchblades. The bulk, as much as 80%, of the knives made, sold and owned in the US fall into this category. Aside from the obvious economic impacts, this proposal is a bad idea that does nothing to improve security. There is nothing sinister about an assisted opening knife. It is as natural an evolution for knives as replacing hand cranks with electric starters for automobiles. I strongly urge you to work to prevent this rule change.

Thanks you for your time and service.

My Name"

Something like that. Not as good as your examples I am afraid but FWIW.
 
Ok, folks, Customs didn't pay any attention to the letters to them so now we need to get our congresscritters to kill funding for Customs to implement this change.

Here's the scoop from Doug Ritter at Kniferights.org, but I encourage each of you to point out that Customs is making legislation, reserved to Congress, by redefining common pocket knives with no resemblance to switchblades as somehow being switchblades after years of acceptance of them as common pocket knives. Since Congress already has a law on the books clearly defining what a switchblade is how is it Customs' place to change the definition already codified by federal law? It isn't. Encourage your congressmen to not fund this change!

rite your Senators NOW to STOP funding for Customs' Pocket Knife Grab. As you are aware, Customs is proposing to prohibit the import of assisted and one-hand openers and in the process has broadly re-defined what a Switchblade is to cover almost all pocket knives, with potential far-reaching consequences. Our best bet to stop Customs in the short term is for Congress to prevent them from spending a dime to implement their proposed ruling. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Bill will be taken up by the Senate on Tuesday, July 7th. We need your help NOW to rally support for an amendment to stop funding for this Customs rulemaking.

Timing has not worked in our favor as D.C. has become a ghost town due to the July 4th recess. We will have two days to make this work upon their return. Your emails to Senate offices will get their attention and be a huge help as our lobbyists and legislative representatives work Monday and Tuesday to get an amendment introduced and voted into the DHS Appropriations Bill. Contacting Senator Patty Murray [D-WA] and Senator George Voinovich [R-WV] is particularly important because they are ranking members on the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Still, contacting your own Senators is also very important and their support is needed as well.

Pass this Action Alert to everyone you know and urge them to ACT NOW! Post on every online forum and social networking site you can. We need to generate thousands of emails before next Monday. If you have a personal relationship with any Senators or their staff, now is the time to call (well, maybe Monday since nobody is in the office now). Personally know a radio or TV talk show host? Please have them contact me (http://bit.ly/vo1uA ) so we can reach out to a wider audience. Help save our Knife Rights; STOP this ridiculous and illegitimate rulemaking by Customs. WRITE TODAY!

Please note that multiple members of a household can and should each write separately.

We encourage you to use the two sample letters below and copy and paste into the email forms. If you want to further personalize your letter, please be POLITE and NON-PARTISAN. The "enemy" is Customs, not the Administration. We can only succeed with the support of both parties. DO NOT yell, don't rant and don't be rude! Stay focused and stay on message. This is NOT the time or place to express your frustrations or make any other political points or complaints.

Just four simple emails can make a BIG difference!

NOTE that there are TWO different letters, one for Senators Murray and Voinovich and one for your own two Senators (unless Murray or Voinovich happens to be your own Senator):

Email forms for Senators Murray and Voinovich can be found here:

Senator Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
Senator Voinovich: http://tinyurl.com/2rpu4p

1. Sample Letter for Senators Murray and Voinovich:

RE: U.S. Customs & Border Protection Proposed Revocation of Ruling Letters and Revocation of Treatment Relating to the Admissibilty [sic] of Certain Knives with Spring-Assisted Opening Mechanisms

Dear Senator [Murray or Voinovich, as appropriate],

As a pocket knife owner, I am extremely concerned about the recently announced Customs ruling, which wrongly interprets federal law and would prohibit the importation of many of the sporting and utility knives that I use and enjoy. Their overly broad and novel new interpretation of what a Switchblade is could make me a felon for carrying a simple pocket knife. Additionally, the economic impact of the ruling on the knife trade would be severe. Pocket knives utilizing assisted or one hand opening technology are the dominant share of the market, and prohibiting the use of the technology would force significant job losses, and the potential loss of entire businesses.

This type of Federal regulation is totally unnecessary, and I strongly urge you to work with representatives from Knife Rights and other and advocacy organizations on an appropriate restriction to prevent Customs from implementing this ruling.

Knife Rights and other advocacy organizations will be contacting your office to discuss with you concrete ways to prevent Customs from acting on their intention to reclassify sport/utility knives as switchblades.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Individual Signature]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2. Locate YOUR OWN Senators and their email forms here:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Sample Letter to YOUR Senators:

RE: U.S. Customs & Border Protection Proposed Revocation of Ruling Letters and Revocation of Treatment Relating to the Admissibilty [sic] of Certain Knives with Spring-Assisted Opening Mechanisms

Dear Senator [Insert Senator’s Name],

As a pocket knife owner, I am extremely concerned about the recently announced Customs ruling, which wrongly interprets federal law and would prohibit the importation of many of the sporting and utility knives that I use and enjoy. Their overly broad and novel new interpretation of what a Switchblade is could make me a felon for carrying a simple pocket knife. Additionally, the economic impact of the ruling on the knife trade would be severe. Pocket knives utilizing assisted or one hand opening technology are the dominant share of the market, and prohibiting the use of the technology would force significant job losses, and the potential loss of entire businesses.

This type of Federal regulation is totally unnecessary, and I strongly urge you to support efforts by Knife Rights and other advocacy organizations to prevent Customs from acting on their intention to reclassify sport/utility knives as switchblades.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Individual Signature]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Be a Knife Rights Spokesperson on the 4th!

Attending a July 4th party or celebration over this holiday weekend? Talk to everyone you meet. Ask them to write their Senators and Representatives. Send them to Knife Rights for more information and the sample letter. YOU can make a difference in this fight. Speak up and be heard.

It's worth noting that virtually every Member of Congress heads home for the July 4th holiday, in large part to attend celebrations and meet with their constituents. If you happen to run into one of your Senators or Representative at a July 4th event, please take a moment to ask them to help stop funding for Customs' Pocket Knife Grab. Be polite, non-partisan and sincere, and if they tell you it's nothing to worry about, suggest to them that they are being bamboozled by Customs and to take a closer look. Nothing beats a personal, one on one, request for action. All the facts are available in our Comments submitted to Customs: http://bit.ly/1NqNYi

NEW: Show Off Your Support for Knife Rights

Celebrate Independence Weekend by supporting this fight for our freedoms with a "STOP U.S. Customs' Pocket Knife Grab" t-shirt, mug or any of the other clothing or accessories from the new Knife Rights Online Marketplace on Cafe Press: http://www.cafepress.com/KnifeRights 100% of the profits go to support this fight.

If you are graphically talented, please submit your own design and/or slogan for possible use on a shirt, etc. Designs must be in good taste and be 10x10 in., 300 dpi, JPG or PNG format. All designs submitted become the property of Knife Rights, Inc. Email to: [email protected]

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

Join or Donate to Knife Rights

Your membership dues help support our efforts to protect your rights. Invest a modest sum in A Sharper Future™. Join at the Benefactor level to help us even more.

JOIN NOW! http://tinyurl.com/qnu988

PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS FIGHT FOR YOUR KNIFE RIGHTS!

We need your help: http://bit.ly/Scvp9

Copyright 2009, Knife Rights, Inc.
This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.


Doug Ritter
Chairman and Executive Director
Knife Rights, Inc.
a 501(c)(4) Member Organization
[email protected]
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

Have you signed up? Go to: www.KnifeRights.org
Protecting your right to own and carry knives and pocket tools
 
Immediate Action Needed: US Customs and Common Pocket Knives

From Kniferights.org on the current effort on the part of US Customs to redefine common pocket knives as switchblades. Our only remaining option is to block funding to implement Customs' ruling to prohibit one-hand openers and assisted openers by redefining them as switchblades.

This requires immediate action on our part.

Senators Cornyn, Wyden, Vitter, Crapo, Enzi, Merkley, Roberts, and Risch's have introduced an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill to restrict funding. This would prevent Customs from implementing their proposed ruling that would prohibit the import of assisted and one-hand openers and in the process would broadly re-defined what a Switchblade is to cover almost all pocket knives, with potential far-reaching consequences. We need your help NOW to rally Senate support for this amendment to stop funding for this Customs rulemaking.

We have gotten this far in large part due to your letters that have flooded in to Senate offices. We now need you to write AGAIN in support of this Amendment. Contacting your Senators is critically important to get this Amendment into the appropriations bill.

Please note that multiple members of a household can and should each write separately.

We encourage you to use the sample letter below and copy and paste into the Senators' email forms. If you want to further personalize your letter, please be POLITE and NON-PARTISAN. The "enemy" is Customs, not the Administration. We can only succeed with the support of both parties. DO NOT yell, don't rant and don't be rude! Stay focused and stay on message. This is NOT the time or place to express your frustrations or make any other political points or complaints.

Locate YOUR OWN Senators and their email forms here: www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm



Here is a Sample Letter to your Senators (copy and paste into the email form). If your Senator is one of those listed at the end as co-sponsors, change the closing to THANK them for their efforts co-sponsoring this amendment.:

RE: Amendment Number 1408 to DHS Appropriations H.R. 2892

Dear Senator [Insert Senator’s Name],

As a pocket knife owner, I am extremely concerned about the recently announced Customs ruling, which wrongly interprets federal law and would prohibit the importation of many of the sporting and utility knives that I use and enjoy. Their overly broad and novel new interpretation of what a Switchblade is could make me a felon for carrying a simple pocket knife. Additionally, the economic impact of the ruling on the knife trade would be severe. Pocket knives utilizing assisted or one hand opening technology are the dominant share of the market, and prohibiting the use of the technology would force significant job losses, and the potential loss of entire businesses.

This type of Federal regulation is totally unnecessary. I strongly urge you to accept Senators Cornyn, Wyden, Vitter, Crapo, Enzi, Merkley, Roberts, and Risch’s funding restriction amendment, Number 1408, to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, that prevents Customs from implementing this ruling.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Individual Signature]
 
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Here's a slightly different wording if you'd prefer.

Dear Senator XXXXX,

With you being from [state name] I have no doubt that you're familiar with how useful the common pocket knife is to most of us as we go about the great variety of outdoor activities we enjoy in [state name].

As a pocket knife owner myself, I am extremely concerned about the recently announced Customs ruling, which wrongly reinterprets existing federal law and would prohibit the importation of many of the sporting and utility knives that we {state name residents} and millions of other Americans use and enjoy. This overly broad and novel new interpretation of what a Switchblade is could effectively override existing federal law in 15 and 18 USC making you or me a felon for carrying a simple pocket knife while hiking or fishing or farming.

Additionally, the economic impact of the ruling on the knife trade would be severe. Pocket knives using assisted or one hand opening designs that were originally developed here in the USA are the largest share of the market, and prohibiting the use of these knives that have been common for the past 20 years would force significant job losses, and the potential loss of entire businesses.

This type of Federal ruling is totally unnecessary and changes existing federal law outside of Customs' scope. I strongly urge you to join with Senators Cornyn, Wyden, Vitter, Crapo, Enzi, Merkley, Roberts, and Risch in supporting funding restriction amendment, Number 1408, to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, that prevents Customs from implementing this ruling.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
 
And now it appears that opportunity knocks for us to change the definition of a switchblade in 15 USC 1244, the "Federal Switchblade Act", with an amendment to H.R. 2892 so that one hand openers and assisted openers are specifically defined as not being switchblades. This would federally protect one hand openers and assisted openers from being included in the definition of a switchblade.

RE: Amendment Number 1447 to DHS Appropriations H.R. 2892

Dear Senator [Insert Senator's Name],

As a pocket knife owner, I support Amendment Number 1447 as a fair and reasonable solution to Customs' rulemaking which would expand the interpretation of what a Switchblade is. I am pleased that Customs has endorsed this amendment as a solution.

I strongly urge you to accept Senators Cornyn, Pryor, Hatch, Vitter, Risch, Chambliss, Corker, Enzi, Barrasso, Graham, Roberts, Wyden and Crapo's amendment, Number 1447, to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Individual Signature]
 
Emails sent; thanks for the heads up; that couldn't possibly have been easier - everyone needs to do this. Just follow the link to find your Senate critters, then cut and paste the sample letter to the form!
 
Remember that family can send the same letters. My wife made a slight modification to them and pasted it into the mail for our two senators.
 
Talking points.

One hand operation is crucial for the disabled.

Just because someone has only use of one hand does not mean they should suffer.

How a blade is opened does not change the length, or use.

At one point in time the Boys Scouts of America had an official switchblade knife that could be ordered at the District office for disabled boys or scoutmasters, this was before the days of political correctness and the fear of a blade because of how it is opened.
 
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