Boston Mayor Quietly Signs Anti-Knife Ordinance

0

     Politicians rarely avoid publicizing the signing of a new law or ordinance into law unless they are embarrassed or don’t want to draw attention to an otherwise stupid new regulation. No surprise then that Boston Mayor Tom Menino signed into law “An Ordinance Providing for the Licensing of Stores That Sell Certain Knives” with absolutely no fanfare, no publicity and no public announcement.

     It is a disappointing, if not entirely unexpected, conclusion to this sordid, and likely ineffective, effort to restrict knife sales to youths. “We remain opposed to any and all such regulations that in any way restrict a citizens’ access to perfectly legal tools,” Knife Rights stated in its e-mail newsletter.

     This should serve as a warning to those who don’t believe it can happen “over here.” Knives are heavily regulated in Europe and those opposed to individual liberty are clearly aiming to expand these restrictions to U.S. shores. Licensing knife retailers is just one strategy that can be used and then abused.
      While it is easy enough to make excuses for Boston based on its left-leaning political climate, let’s not forget that many bad laws spread widely after just such an inauspicious start. The much reviled Federal Switchblade Act started out in just this way, at a local and state level. Just because it is stupid and unjust doesn’t mean that politicians won’t do it!

     The preceding was gleaned from the Knife Rights e-mail newsletter. For more info, contact http://kniferights.org/

 

For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb090112#BL1SU

 


Download BLADE's Knife Guide Issue!NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine

BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.

Get your FREE digital PDF instant download of the annual Knife Guide. No, really! We will email it to you right now when you subscribe to the BLADE email newsletter.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here