Should knife sales be licensed?
As BLADE reported earlier this month, the Boston city council conducted hearings to weigh whether knife sales should be licensed within the municipality. As with alcohol and firearms, a license from the city would be required before a retailer - or anyone - could sell a knife.
Enforcement would be up to the police, who would monitor Boston businesses for licensure. As such, the argument for the new license is that it would make Boston safer.
BLADE, along with many knife advocacy groups, opposes such a measure. Existing laws already prohibit knives from being used in criminal activity. Adding this measure on top of those laws is redundant and unnecessary. There is no evidence to believe knife violence will decline if sales are licensed. Just look to alcohol for a prime example. It brings to question whether this is truly about safety or revenue for the city.
Do you agree or disagree with BLADE's position? Is there merit to licensure?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Sobieck on -
What kind of restrictions go with that 18 and under policy, John? A 16 year old couldn't buy a steak knife?
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Permalink Reply by My Sharp Knife on -
My sons never went to a store to buy a steak knife so I guess I would consider it odd. However, they both were allowed to carry a small "Jack" knife when we camped and the like and then put them away with the camping gear when we returned home. Knives were never a mystery to them and they felt no urge to show them off or take them to school. They were a tool for camping in the woods.
...and NO! to the licensing of knife dealers. Another stupid idea. If you don't understand why it's a bad idea then it's time for you to turn in your knives and make no further claim to be an affectionato. One member's pro-position & love of background checks make me suspect Nancy Pelosi has infiltrated our group.
I really disagree here; OTF knives are not nasty, they are so sweet!
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Permalink Reply by Greg Wadle on
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Hello ALL.
As a store supervisor in the retail Grocery Store business Ive caught many shoplifters. Ive caught more people shoplifting that had sharpened screw drivers than knives. These people are more dangerous ( theyve been caught before and have a record so they know they cant have a knife as a part of parol) and that tool would cause more damage to the human body than a knife. So if you license knives you would have to license screwdrivers of all kinds. Im aware that almost anything can be attached to a make shift handle and used as a defensive tool so what is a knife/?? Basically trying to license knives would be a complete waste of time and money. Criminals will continue to get around laws no matter what they are and continue making defensive tools out of everything.
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Permalink Reply by John C. Vitale on -
Hello Ben,
I think this answers your quetion/comment:
Chapter 269 Section 12. Whoever manufactures or causes to be manufactured, or sells or exposes for sale, an instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as a dirk knife, a switch knife or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, slung shot, sling shot, bean blower, sword cane, pistol cane, bludgeon, blackjack, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or metallic knuckles or knuckles of any other substance which could be put to the same use and with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months; provided, however, that sling shots may be manufactured and sold to clubs or associations conducting sporting events where such sling shots are used.
I'm sure if a sixteen year old walked into a kitchen store they would walk out with a knife, but if they walked into a sporting goods store they'd be turned down.
John
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Permalink Reply by John C. Vitale on
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Hello Greg,
You said, "Basically trying to license knives would be a complete waste of time and money. Criminals will continue to get around laws no matter what they are and continue making defensive tools out of everything."
This is true I would like to add "Offensive tools" to you statement.
Thank you for taking the time to write,
John
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