Canadians Push Back on Imported Folding Knife Ban

As businesses continue to reel from the effects of Canada’s ban on importing folding knives, a petition urging the government to reconsider the prohibition is picking up steam.

While many petitions, especially those organized online, tend to go nowhere, this one has a fighting chance. KnifeNews.com, which is based in Canada, did a nice job running down the specifics:

A petition, sponsored by Alberta Conservative Member of Parliament Matt Jeneroux, calls on the government to repeal the Canadian International Trade Tribunal’s (CITT) ruling on AP-2017-012 last November, which prompted the change in CBSA’s policies. The petition has already been signed by nearly 2,000 Canadians and will be tabled in the House of Commons later in the year. Once tabled, the Liberal government will have 45-days to issue a response.

The petition can be viewed here.

Other petitions are now redirecting support behind this one due to Jeneroux’s endorsement.

It’s unclear how much support this will receive with Canada’s lawmakers, but a comparison could be made to a similar situation in New York state. That’s where a repeal of a prohibition on “gravity knives” (basically any folder) was met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s veto on two separate occasions, most recently in October 2017. That’s despite votes of 128-1 in the Assembly and 61-1 in the Senate, according to Knife Rights.

Canada isn’t New York, obviously, but the point is that reform isn’t easy, even when the wind is at your back. 

Read the full article from KnifeNews.com here.

Will Louisiana Decriminalize Switchblades?

Louisiana could be the next on the list for loosening restrictions on switchblades/automatic knives.

From Knife Rights:

Louisiana Representative Mark Wright has introduced HB 200, Knife Rights’ bill to repeal R.S. 14:95(A)(4) which outlaws “the manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use of any switchblade knife, spring knife or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch or similar contrivance.” HB 200 also repeals the exception provided for so-called “rescue knives” which becomes redundant with repeal of the switchblade ban.

You can read the bill’s exact language here.

For the legal nuts out there, here’s how Louisiana defines switchblades. Remember that each state, and the federal government, use separate definitions.

[a knife] having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch or similar contrivance located on the handle.

Market Trend: Knifemakers at Craft Fairs

“Women use cutlery as much or more than any male in a given day.”

So says North Carolina knifemaker Danny Robinson. That’s why he’s focused on craft fairs, traditionally a female-dominated territory, to sell his custom knives.

From Asheville Made:

At craft shows, Danny Robinson becomes catnip for bored, restless husbands. Almost without fail, guys make a beeline for his booth when they catch a glimpse of Robinson’s finely crafted blades.

“[They] say, ‘I’m so glad to see you here, because this is men’s stuff!’” the knifemaker explains. And he’s fine with it — but he’s also aware of the irony. “I just find it funny, because women use cutlery as much or more than any male in a given day.”

Here’s an example of Robinson’s work. It wouldn’t look out of place at a craft fair.

This break from the traditional should come as welcome news. Custom-made goods are hot, and women manage the majority of household expenditures. Custom knives fit perfectly into that picture.

Read the full article here.

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