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The Public Policy
A Switch
Blade-running may no longer be necessary.
There may be 35.6 million Americans with knives in their pockets and thousands may be illegal, according to the U.S. Customs. Thereby hangs a story that is going virtually unreported by a media fixated on the hubbub health care has wrought. A couple of years ago there were some personnel changes in Customs that brought about a verbal re-definition of switchblades that would, according to its critics, “include all folding knives and make defacto criminals of millions of knife owners.”
“Assisted-opening knifes and/or those opened by inertia” would fall under the new switchblade definition.
The State of Texas swiftly produced a law to negate such a finding. The American Knife and Tool Institute was joined by the NRA, the congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and others in protesting and several sent complaints to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, whose outfit supervises U. S. Customs these days.
American Knife and Tool President Goldie Russell says her outfit is “committed to protecting the public’s right to carry those knives which are in daily use all over this country.” So far, the knife folks have one significant victory: the U.S. Senate passed the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill by 84 to 6 that contains an amendment (1447) echoing the Texas Law undoing the Customs folks’ switchblade characterization. The appropriations measure is in House committee, must still be approved by a Senate-House conference committee and eventually be signed by the President.
Mindful of Yogi Berra’s “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over” (that was Berra, wasn’t it?), American Knife and Tool’s communication coordinator David Kowalski says, “The customs fight over folding knives is not over.” For proof he offers a communiqué from an importer with 22 cases of assisted-openers that were seized by Customs.
The knife-fight on Capitol Hill will undoubtedly be overshadowed and whelmed by the ruckus over health care, as another of those little grabs for power that almost succeeded and was scarcely noticed.
About the Author
Reid Collins is a former CBS and CNN news correspondent.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (42) | Leave a comment
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Melvin| 8.13.09 @ 7:34AM
So typical, Iran is on the threshold of developing a nuclear bomb and our representatives are worrying about a lowly pocket knife.
Sadly, our politicians make a buffoon look smart.
Michael L. Hauschild| 8.13.09 @ 9:00AM
On my key ring was a P-38 (we used to have P-38 races with our C rations). It is a small, stamped metal, can opener with a folding blade 1/4 of an inch long. Using it would take nearly thirty seconds of concerted effort to open even a small can. While departing Houston on the way to Honduras as part of a university coral research team I was pulled from the processing, summarily lectured as to the danger of such implements, and my souvenir of the central highlands seized with no chance of recovery. The manner in which the airport personnel publicly lectured and chastised was unfathomable. One young woman said, "and I quote, "we are gong to let you go, but we are going to keep this." I only hope that soon, she too can use it to open pound cake in a war zone
Tim| 8.13.09 @ 9:08AM
Melvin you missed the point entirely. An unelected bureacrat arbitrarily decides to make a thing illegal. Typically these "questions" end up in front of a judge instead of a legislative body.
I carry a folding knife, about two inches long. I cut string on hay bales with it. One day a cop sees it clipped to my pocket while I'm walking to the store and suddenly I've been arrested for carrying a switchblade. Sound fair? Sound like America?
Tim| 8.13.09 @ 9:10AM
Mr. Hauschild did more, sacrificed more, for this country than every TSA guard in Texas-and what does he get? Disgusting.
L. Ross| 8.13.09 @ 10:52AM
Michael Hauschild:
Good news for you. You can get a replacement for your P-38 over the internet. I to have one on my keychain, and have never found a more useful tool for a keychain. Works as a blade screwdrive, phillips head screwdriver, canopener, and its half the size of a quarter.
http://4-star-military-surplus.amazonwebstore.com/GI-P-38-Can-Opener/M/B000EGHWXS.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
Big Leo| 8.13.09 @ 12:02PM
"They'll get my P-38 when they pry my cold dead fingers off it." There's a bumper sticker for the Obama age. Remember, it was airport security in Phoenix that took away General Joe Foss' Congressional Medal of Honor because it had sharp points on it. I wish we were making this stuff up, but who could have imagined it?
Dan| 8.13.09 @ 12:58PM
I'm pretty much convinced that Janet Napolitano is either an idiot or worse. First she says that Homeland Security needs to keep an eye on us military veterans. Now she wants to outlaw pocket knives. Where does Obama find these screwballs ?
Richard Baker| 8.13.09 @ 1:13PM
And we should give control of our lives to people like this government moron who is threatened by a P-38? I still have mine from '71 (by the way, I liked the pound cake) and getting another for Hauschild won't replace the sentimental value. Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Michael L. Hauschild| 8.13.09 @ 2:26PM
I feel honored for the attention given my comment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
dsammis| 8.13.09 @ 4:30PM
I carry a folding pocket knife (2 in. blade) as faithfully as I carry my wallet and keys. I find a daily use for it, or offer it to others who may need something cut. If I ever fly without checked baggage, I cant take it with me. What a pain.
Ken Roberts| 8.13.09 @ 5:11PM
I carry a buck knife it has a three inch blade and I carry it for protection against dogs on the loose that come at me with barred teeth, I saved my Daughter once and I will never travel with out it . I may never fly wither . I ain't going no where I can't drive. No I did not hurt the dog but the flashing of the knife was enough and the look in my eye was enough to send the dog on his way, away from me an my daughter. If it had come to me cutting the dog you bet I would . Never show fear to an animal that is poised to attack they will sense it and come at you. liberals, what can one say? By the way my knife is razor sharp.
c. j. acworth| 8.13.09 @ 6:26PM
I recently decided that the only option I had as a patriotic Italian-American was to carry an actual honest -to-goodness switchblade. My everyday piece has a 2 1/2 in. blade, and looks sort of like a small Buck knife. My Sunday go-to-meeting knife is a genuine Sicilian frog-sticker with stag grips. Google "switchblade knives" and have fun shopping!
Riochard Baker| 8.13.09 @ 8:24PM
Hauschild:
A P-38 is an institution like the Flag and apple pie. As you know, to military before MREs, the P-38 was an ESSENTIAL! Also the white spoon which was kept in your fatigue shirt pocket.
Richard Baker| 8.13.09 @ 8:44PM
Can't even spell my name because the loss of a P-38 is a Holy Thing!
Karl in Phoenix| 8.14.09 @ 11:40AM
I carry a sturdy knife with me at all times; mine is a CRKT Crawford/Kasper with part serrated blade. For me, this is both a rescue and utility tool. Did you know that, with your knife, you can break-out your car window to exit, after a collision? What about those pesky seat belts that have locked-up and cannot release because they are under tension. You need a knife to get out of the rolled-over car.
I read a case of an Arizona Highway Patrol officer who died in his car after the car was hit from behind by another driver. The HP car caught fire, the officer was unconcious and the flames were inside the passenger compartment. The onlookers did nothing but watch the officer burn to death. Nobody had a knife (or other tool) to break the window and cut the seatbelts to pull the officer out. Think about it. What would you do? What could you do?
Get a sturdy lockblade knife, keep it clean and sharp and know how to use it. Keep a P38, too.
Mr. Hauschchild, I am sorry for your loss to the morons.
Karl in Phoenix
Army Airborne Ranger &
American Nationalist
Jeff in NH.| 8.14.09 @ 2:27PM
I carry a Blackstone locking 2 1/2" half serrated blade all the time. It feels like that's what the little pocket in my jeans was made for. When do we stop letting morons run this country?
I have "Church Key's" I collected from the early 80's in the USMC.
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