Congress is fighting over an administrative proposal to expand the definition of switchblades so as to ban certain currently-legal pocketknives:
Opponents of the Obama administration’s plan to expand the definition of “switchblades” and block the importing of many common pocketknives suffered an early setback in Congress this week, but they vow the Capitol Hill knife fight isn’t over.
“Everyone from our first responders, law enforcement officials, Boy Scouts and hunters will be affected by this regulation,” said Rep. Bob Latta, Ohio Republican, after the House Rules Committee rejected his bill to block the change. “It is unacceptable to think that we as citizens cannot carry a pocketknife for work or recreation purposes.” . . .
Critics of the regulation – including U.S. knife manufacturers and collectors, the National Rifle Association, sportsmen’s groups and a bipartisan group of at least 79 House members – say it would rewrite U.S. law defining what constitutes a switchblade and potentially make de facto criminals of the estimated 35 million Americans who use folding knives. . . .
The new knife rules proposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would affect the interpretation of the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to include any spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knife.
The law defines a “switchblade” as any knife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle, or by operation of inertia or gravity.
Customs officials dismiss fears that the new language will outlaw ordinary pocketknives, saying the change was issued to clear up conflicting guidelines for border agents about what constitutes an illegal switchblade that cannot be imported into the United States. The rule could be imposed within 30 days if not blocked.
A review of case law “in consideration of the health and public safety concerns raised by such importations” prompted the agency to revoke the ruling that allowed the importing of knives with spring- and release-assisted opening mechanisms, CBP spokeswoman Jenny L. Burke said.
Customs officials argue the rule deals only with imported merchandise, and does not affect knives already in the country or that are manufactured domestically.
Beyond these specific knives in question–do any of you have one?–and the merits of these new regulations is another issue. The Second Amendment protects the right to “keep and bear arms.” Firearms aren’t the only kind of “arms,” so should it protect the right even to bear a switchblade?
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