California Update

[CJ Buck]

I was speaking with Chris Michele of Carpentar Snodgrass and Assoc. The lobbyist AKTI hired to run interference for us in Sacramento.

We had an instance where District Attys were unhappy with the interpretation of 653k of the california penal code and wanted to undo an amendment that Buck got added exempting one handed knives from being switchblades.

The California District Atty's Assocation executing director met with AKTI in Sacramento and we discussed they would do a survey to see if there was other feedback we could work into a model law that would work so well we would not have to revisit it again for a long time.

The survey only had 3 responses so it was not public crisis #1 but it is still a chance to head off future problems.

We have been successful in that we did get Ventura County and the California District Atty's Assoc. to reconsider their position to eliminate the one handed exemption.

We are now considering what our next step should be. We will be working with them to finalize model legislation that will allow law enforcement to do their jobs while protecting the legitimate knife owner.

I will be giving a full update and history of this project at our upcoming annual memembership meeting at the blade show.

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CJ Buck
Buck Knives, Inc.
AKTI Member #PR00003

 

[James Mattis]

Perhaps, for the protection of LEO's, et al., there should be a greater restriction on cutlery carry by "the usual suspects" then there is upon the general public.

Perhaps, for sake of plain common sense, anybody who passes the background check to qualify to buy a gun (whether or not he/she actually buys a gun) may also purchase and possess (but probably not tell a cop he/she is carrying "for protection") any sharp pointy thing, including switchblades and butterfly knives and ten inch chef's knives too.

At the very least, the "professional courtesy" switchblade exemption for cops and other emergency service types should be put in the black letter law, and there should be some recognition that a switchblade (especially a standard-size side opener with a moderate coil spring) is an excellent knife for people whose hands are not as strong and agile as they were when they were young. So you should be able to buy and carry a switchblade if you don't have a nasty record, and you are over:
- 50 (old enough to join American Association of Retired Persons)
- 40 (old enough to safely study the mystical texts in Jewish tradition)
- 36 (old enough to be a grandparent in many cultures)
- 30 (old enough to be turning conservative)
- 21 (old enough to drink or buy a handgun)
- 18 (old enough to vote, make contracts, join the military, and have sex)



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001