Why are switchblades illegal? Ridiculous??

[dandyrandy]

Okay switchblades have been illegal by the Feds by the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 and followed closely by the UK Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act of 1959 in England... My question is why? To me it seems such restrictions of rights seemed to be enacted or spawned by law makers that played upon peoples fears. What do you think?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Switchblades are legal to possess in Missouri, and there is no federal restriction on the sale or possession of a switchblade . . .

 

[A10]

State by state thing. Legal to possess but not carry in Washington State. And I think its rooted in 50s gang lore. Kinda ridiculous since there is no problem with carrying a fixed blade.....

 

[dandyrandy]

Switchblades are legal to possess in Missouri, and there is no federal restriction on the sale or possession of a switchblade . . .

So whats illegal about them exactly?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Nothing, as far as I'm concerned . . .

 

[HARDWARE]

Legal in Texas. Though I think dagger type blades are the exception...at least for carry

 

[HARDWARE]

 

[HARDWARE]

 

[Flattop5]

Okay switchblades have been illegal by the Feds by the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 and followed closely by the UK Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act of 1959 in England... My question is why? To me it seems such restrictions of rights seemed to be enacted or spawned by law makers that played upon peoples fears. What do you think?

The law is stupid. Street gangs were using them, so Congress banned them.

By the way, the federal law only applies to interstate commerce. If you buy a switchblade in "X" state, and you don't transport it/ship it across state lines, then the federal law does not apply. Only state law applies. Here in Arizona, they are legal.

Also, concerning the shipping of switchblades, the federal law is written against the SHIPPER, not the SHIPPEE. If he sends it, he's potentially in trouble. But if you receive it, you're not. NOTE: don't receive switchblades via U.S. mail under ANY circumstances. They are "non-mailable" items and you could serve 1 year in jail. Probably you wouldn't, but you could, if the right prosecutor wanted to make an example of you. Use a common, private carrier.



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[ImprovedModel56Fan]

It was the result of a fifties movie starring Sal Mineo. It would be like outlawing 9mm pistols today because, based on movies some years back, they are "the weapon of choice" for blowing grown men through windows.

People who view motion pictures should not be permitted to run for the legislature, or even to vote. We have to keep up with the times. After all, there were no motion pictures back when the founding fathers had the idea that all free men (or was it all landowners?) should be able to vote.

 

[505Gibbs]

I'm surprised that by now the liberal idiots 'in charge' haven't gone after the multitude of assisted opening knives out there.
Maybe not quite as fast as a 'switch blade' but damn close.
Just my $0.02!

 

[Hamster65]

There are ways to get around that. Anything list as a "spring assisted" knife is still legal in most states. If it has a "push button" like your average switch blade

or stiletto

it's illegal but, if it merely has a "thumb tab", either on the back or side of the blade to start the initial movement of the blade which is then finished by the "spring assist", it is perfectly legal.


It's odd how this one is classified as legal and the others are not but hey..........if it works, use it. Right?

 

[fr3db3ar]

I'm glad that assisted open is legal here. Thumbs get old and don't work as well as they once did.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

 

[gunnails]

Okay switchblades have been illegal by the Feds by the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 and followed closely by the UK Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act of 1959 in England... My question is why? To me it seems such restrictions of rights seemed to be enacted or spawned by law makers that played upon peoples fears. What do you think?

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Yes, and what about brass knuckles? Are tjhose also illegal where you live?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Knuckles are a problem here unless possessed under very regulated circumstances, and anything I'd do with them wouldn't fit . . .

 

[Comrad]

Any knife big enough to make a switchblade in NJ is already a problem because of size.

Oh the land of the free and the home of the heavily regulated.

 

[dandyrandy]

The law is stupid. Street gangs were using them, so Congress banned them.

By the way, the federal law only applies to interstate commerce. If you buy a switchblade in "X" state, and you don't transport it/ship it across state lines, then the federal law does not apply. Only state law applies. Here in Arizona, they are legal.

Also, concerning the shipping of switchblades, the federal law is written against the SHIPPER, not the SHIPPEE. If he sends it, he's potentially in trouble. But if you receive it, you're not. NOTE: don't receive switchblades via U.S. mail under ANY circumstances. They are "non-mailable" items and you could serve 1 year in jail. Probably you wouldn't, but you could, if the right prosecutor wanted to make an example of you. Use a common, private carrier.



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Good advice! The man always tryin to bring ya down..

 

[dandyrandy]

There are ways to get around that. Anything list as a "spring assisted" knife is still legal in most states. If it has a "push button" like your average switch blade

or stiletto

it's illegal but, if it merely has a "thumb tab", either on the back or side of the blade to start the initial movement of the blade which is then finished by the "spring assist", it is perfectly legal.


It's odd how this one is classified as legal and the others are not but hey..........if it works, use it. Right?

LOL goofy laws.. Like I said law makers praying on peoples emotions.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Same reason Tommy guns got heavily restricted by the NFA in 1934. They got a bad reputation.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I'm surprised that by now the liberal idiots 'in charge' haven't gone after the multitude of assisted opening knives out there.
Maybe not quite as fast as a 'switch blade' but damn close.
Just my $0.02!

I used to carry a Spyderco Endura in my right pants pocket, using the clip. Much later, I purchased a Benchmade Emerson design auto, but never seriously considered carrying it, because it is illegal to carry in MA (legal with CW permit in FL). Since I had it, though, I played with it some. Very nice knife, but I can actually get the Spyderco out and open faster.

I don't carry either nowadays.