Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on April 19, 2012

Click here to view bill details.

Does anyone else find this to be too vague? "The new language would prohibit an 'object designed, manufactured, or intended to be used to cause death or injury.'” I can envision someone's being charged for having a evil looking "Rambo-type" knife or "fantasy knife" when the intent was fantasy and not to cause death or injury.

 Okay soooo...you can carry guns and tasers but not knives? That's kinda goofy if'n ya ask me. CCW should cover them all.

 I agree with all of the comments, but the switchblade law needs to go . I have been collecting and selling antique knives for over 25 years and there are many antique switchblades out there. Some can be worth thousands of dollars and there is a ready market in Mi along with the rest of the country. The switchblade law has not been enforced in many places, I have been at shows where there were tables of them for sale. I have not heard of many arrest but there have bee a few I know about. Getting convicted is a big deal could be a few years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. If they(switchblades) were a problem I could maybe understand some kind of law regulating them for collectors, but a total ban except for LE, Military, and one armed persons in ridicules. Think about it if someone is attacking you with a knife what would be worse. A antique switchblade that your grandmother used to cut thread or a 8 inch bladed chefs knife. I also heard from a large knife dealer I know that a large manufacture of knives including switchblades would not open a factory in mi because of the law. Most American knife companies make and sell thousands of switchblades to the Military and law enforcement. Thousands also are sold to the general public.As far as I know in more than 30 states switchblades are fine to own. Just do a google search and find out how many are out there. I can legally carry a pistol but not even own a switchblade in a collection. In fact if caught with a switchblade it is an automatic forfeiture of a cpl.Please any knife folks out there support this legislation, it will not come up again if it does not pass.

Dennis

 

It seems clear to me.  If you use any kind of weapon to cause death or injury you're in trouble.

This would include a Rambo, fantasy, or any other kind of knife.

These laws should be changed.  In my home I can own a butcher knife, but not a knife that opens with a button!

" An object designed, manufactured, or intended to be used to cause death or injury.” So I could be busted for carrying a screwdriver or a bag of cotton balls if MY INTENT was to stab with the screwdriver or suffocate with the cotton balls? Sounds like this bill needs some serious reworking of the language. Re: Switchblades. Just bought my teenage son a CRKT "Mini MyTighe" knife (3" blade) with an "Outburst assisted opening" mechanism that operates as quickly as any switchblade I used in my mis-spent youth. Switchblades are not a problem and should not be regulated as they currently are under Michigan law. BTW, the Mini MyTighe is an excellent knife for everyday carry!

When I first heard of this bill I thought it was out to help us law abiding citizens who wish to carry knives ,but upon further inspection I have come to the conclusion that is not its intended purpose. Instead of allowing more freedom in knife carry use (This bills supposed intended purpose), it would further our restrictions on knives. The phrase “object designed, manufactured, or intended to be used to cause death or injury" can pretty much apply to any knife that is not a multi-tool. Therefore anyone carrying a knife or anyone who turns up into a situation where he must defend his life against a mugger,murderer etc. could be potentially be put in danger of being prosecuted. See that's part of the problem with bills like this. They try to take away weapons from the criminals ,but they only end up disarming the law abiding citizens who are now at greater risk of not being able to protect themselves in a deadly situation.

I agree with you.

This is a ridiculous proposal. My Cub Scout folding knife that was given to me when I was 7 years old and carried to school each day had a blade longer than three inches, and the folding Buck Knife I've carried on my belt daily for almost 20 years has a three and a half inch blade. Has anyone bothered to make a rational argument for the need of this legislation? Are there any critical thinkers at all in Lansing? What is this going to accomplish beyond the criminalization of non-criminals?