The arbitrarity of some states’ knife laws is also a problem. I don’t remember which state (OK pre ~2015 law updates perhaps?), but I read about one that had few carry restrictions below a certain blade size (somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 inches, IIRC), and if you’re caught carrying one over the limit, you basically have to give a specific purpose for having it. Assuming your case goes to trial, this means it’s more or less up to the judge to determine if your use was valid, which is juuuuuuuussst flexible enough to persecute the “right” people. (assuming I’m remembering correctly that this was in Oklahoma, that would be Native Americans)
Switching gears; Some More News had a pretty comprehensive video about moral panics, which also includes some history on switchblades in particular, for those interested.
SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 4 months ago
It also goes to show how laws made during the moral panic don’t go away even decades after that panic fades.
This is often in mind when responsible gun owners are critical of more gun laws. The govt won’t go “that was silly of us here’s your freedom back” even if the law had zero positive effect
Kaboom@reddthat.com 4 months ago
For example, short barrelled rifles are still heavily regulated. Pistols aren’t nearly as regulated.
SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 4 months ago
Yes for those that don’t know any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches needs to have a buch of extra paperwork and a tax stamp to the govt to register it as a “short barreled rifle” or it is a weapons related felony.
The most basic standard rifle of the US military, the M4, used a 14.5 inch barrel. Even if everything else was legal for the average citizen to own (semi auto only) it is considered a scary short barreled rifle by law. But add an extra 1.5 inches and it’s fine.