Knife News Wire

According to KnifeRights e-mail news, the Washington state House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass HB2347 that would clarify the definition of “spring blade” knives (automatic knives) so as to clearly make assisted-opening knives legal in the state. This allows for both the sale and manufacture of assisted-opening knives in Washington state. HB2347 also makes it legal to manufacture automatic knives in Washington state. In addition, it would expand the existing law enforcement exemption for possession of automatic knives to members of the military and full-time first responders.  

    Senate Bill 6179 was passed out of the State Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Session last week with a single no vote. An effort will now be made to conform the similar, but not identical, Senate bill to the House bill by a floor amendment, which would allow for quicker passage. Alternatively, the two bills end up crossing each other, but either way, KnifeRights officials stated they are hopeful a bill will end up on the desk of Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire for her signature soon.

    The bill was requested by Washington state knife companies Fox USA, Blade-Tech and SOG Specialty Knives & Tools. Knife Rights lobbyist Todd Rathner testified on the bill and assisted in making critical changes to assure the measure would free the hands of in-state knife companies.  

    While Knife Rights officials stated they do not believe there should be any distinction between citizens and government employees when it comes to possessing life-saving tools, the officials also seem to understand political reality. “We will be working with Washington state residents and officials to change this in the future when the political landscape is more favorable to such a rational move forward,” the KnifeRights e-mail news release noted.

    Meanwhile, the current bills are a huge step forward for Washington knife owners who might be subject to prosecution for assisted-opening knives and for the state’s knife companies.  

    If you live, work or travel in Washington state, please contact your state senator and ask him/her to support the measure.

    For more information click on www.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+ssfb021012#BL1SU

As reported Jan. 24, a member of the American Knife & Tool Institute won a USMC Marine bayonet by Ontario in a special AKTI drawing at the Ontario booth during the 2012 SHOT Show. AKTI member Ed Weeren wasn’t in attendance at the show, but was recently notified of his big win.

     Ed is the proud new owner of one of the first 200 OKC3s Marine Corps Bayonets, which is specially displayed and engraved with the AKTI logo and a quote from President Ronald Reagan  Ed also wins a stay in Western New York and private tour of the Ontario Cutlery facility.

     When responding to news of his win, Ed explained what being an AKTI member meant to him:

     “ I joined AKTI because of the respect I have for those who set it up and for the work AKTI is doing to allow citizens like me to continue to enjoy knives and to carry my pocketknives without fear of being arrested. I am an NRA Life Member and understand that each of us has to accept some responsibility and do what we can to help all of us continue the freedoms given to citizens when this country was founded. While I was not a Marine, I hold Marines in the greatest respect. I attended Texas A&M and received a commission in the U.S. Army in 1958. Keep up the good work you and your group are doing.”

    As a nonprofit association, AKTI’s role is to be the reasonable and responsible advocate for the knife-making and knife-using community, providing the focal point for sensible evolution, development, and the consistent enforcement of knife legislation.

For more information about the American Knife & Tool Institute, visit www.akti.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+ssfb020912#BL1SU

Police in Calumet City were defending their actions Wednesday after officers shot and killed a 15-year-old boy, who has a form of autism, after he threatened them with a knife.

     Stephon Watts’ family said he suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome — a high-functioning form of autism — and attention deficit disorder.

     According to the story at http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/01/boy-15-shot-dead-by-police-in-calumet-city/, some witnesses claimed the boy was only holding a butter knife. Police would only describe it as a “kitchen knife.”

     Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore said the boy cut a police officer through his shirt sleeve with a “kitchen knife.”

     “I think they did everything they possibly could to avoid this,” Gilmore said. “It’s unfortunate that we had to get to this situation.”

     The boy’s mother, Danelene Powell-Watts, was screaming, livid, and inconsolable after her son was killed. She was furious that officers used deadly force against her son this time rather than subduing him with a stun gun.

     “They shot my son,” she yelled at officers as she was blocked from entering the Calumet City police station. “Every last one of you know my son has autism.”

     Gilmore said police had been called to the home 10 times since 2010 to deal with the boy. Stephon’s father reportedly called police again Wednesday morning after the teen had become aggressive.

    “We tried to do everything we could to keep him from being a victim, as he was an offender. He chose to be an offender,” Gilmore said.

    The chief said police were called to the home to get Stephon under control, as they had been before. But that didn’t work, he said.

    “When he slashed the officer’s arm, the officer felt his life was in jeopardy and he had nothing else to do, but to defend himself,” Gilmore said.

     Stephon’s family said police have used a stun gun on him in the past.

    “They didn’t have to murder him. This is nothing but murder and they shoot to kill,” Powell-Watts said. “He had a butter knife and … my husband said that he lunged at the police officer.”

     Stephon’s uncle said police had subdued his nephew with stun guns before.

     “They didn’t have to shoot him. They could have tasered the child. He’s only 15 years old,” Wayne Watts said. “They could have tased him, like they did him before, took him to the hospital and he would have been fine and that’s what I want to know. Why couldn’t they do that to him so that he could still be breathing with us right now?”

     Gilmore said a stun gun wasn’t used because the lead officer did not have a stun gun.

     Five officers responded to the Watts home after Stephon’s father called police, according to Gilmore. Two entered the house, heading to the basement where they found Stephon. One of those two officers did have a stun gun with him.

     “Unfortunately today, when he slashed the officer’s arm, the officer felt his life was in jeopardy and he had nothing else to do, but defend himself,” Gilmore said.

     The boy’s family said police should have used a stun gun and spared his life, especially since they’d been to the home before and knew what to expect.

     Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.

     Gilmore said a year ago, all of the officers in the department went through a three-day autism awareness program to learn how to handle calls involving people with autism.

     Dr. Louis Kraus, professor and section chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center, questioned whether deadly force was really necessary.

     “With everything that they’ve done before, they should have known before going in what they were dealing with. And, you know, the goal really should have been to have gotten this child to a hospital,” Kraus said.

     He said people with autism can frequently become aggressive, but not because they are trying to hurt someone.

     “What we know is that, when they get anxious – probably more commonly than the typical person when they get anxious – they might lash out; not with the intention of doing harm, but simply because of how frightened they are,” Kraus said.

     Calumet City Alderman Brian Wilson had questions about the shooting as well. “I think less deadly means could have been used,” Wilson said.

     Meanwhile, Illinois State Police are investigating the shooting.

For more on the latest knives, knife news, 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+ssfb020612BL1SU

There is both good and bad news from Washington state. Starting with the good, two companion bills, Senate Bill 6179 and House Bill 2347, would make it legal to manufacture spring-assisted and switchblade knives in the state. The bills also clarify the definition of a switchblade, or what is referred to in Oregon law as a “spring blade knife,” so as to not include assisted-opening knives that are currently subject to adverse interpretation of the state statute, making them technically illegal. In addition, the bill would expand the existing law enforcement exemption for possession of “spring blade knives” to members of the military, full-time first responders and the citizens who hold a valid Washington concealed pistol license (Washington is a “shall issue” state).

Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs Todd Rather will be in Olympia on Wednesday to testify in support of the bills on behalf of Washington’s knife owners. The bills are a big incremental step forward in a state where any knife with a spring assisted blade has been interpreted as being illegal and where Washington knife companies, such as Fox Knives USA and SOG, were prohibited from even manufacturing such knives in the state, sending those jobs to other states with more rational knife laws, including neighboring Oregon.

The bad news is that last year’s ridiculous anti-knife bill, HB 1006, which would make it illegal to conceal any knife over 3 1/2 inches long even with a Washington concealed pistol permit (since it is not a concealed weapon permit), has been resurrected. In a state where a long coat is a normal part of every outdoor enthusiast’s, fisherman’s and hunter’s attire for a good part of the year, this would turn honest citizens into criminals for carrying a modestly sized sheath knife on their belt, along with quite a few common folding knives longer than the arbitrary length limit.

If you live, work or travel in Washington state, please contact BOTH your Senator and Representative in Olympia and ask them to support SB 1234 and HB 2347, respectively, and ask your Representative to help kill HB 1006 for good. Click here to locate your legislators, or the legislators who represent where you work or travel.

 The preceding is courtesy of Knife Rights. For more information click on 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+ssfb230112#BL1SU