This knife is a switchblade apparently...

Customs and Border Protection has moved to ban import of all knives with springs, or knives that can be opened with one hand. This is ridiculous, as these are no more dangerous than any other knife. All it will do is make these knives more expensive, and hurt knife manufacturers, which will destroy jobs (because jobs are all that matter these days, I had to work that in somehow). I’ve handled quite a few knives that have assisted opening, and I find them much easier to handle than knives that have no assist. Get ready to see new US knife sales hit an all time low as the better knives are traded underground. Just my 2 cents.

EAST Anglia’s largest independent retailer has announced it is withdrawing knives from sale in all its outlets with immediate effect.  The East of England Co-operative Society said it will withdraw knives from sale in its 135 supermarkets and food stores and five petrol forecourt shops.  It hopes the decision will reduce the risk of knives “falling into the wrong hands” in the communities its stores serve.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that any person who owns a firearm in this State shall maintain a policy of liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Provides that a person shall be deemed the owner of a firearm after the firearm is lost or stolen until such loss or theft is reported to the police department or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides. Provides that the Department of State Police shall revoke and seize a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card previously issued under this Act if the Department finds that the person to whom such card was issued possesses or acquires a firearm and does not submit evidence to the Department of State Police that he or she has been issued in his or her name a liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful.

Kenneth Dunkin has proposed legislation that would force gun owners to pay a fee to exercise their natural rights.  If one applied the same proposition to any other right, there would be hell to pay.  This is a regressive tax that rewards the rich, who can afford to purchase the insurance, and makes the poor more vulnerable since they would have to forfeit their guns to save money.  Can you imagine if one had to buy insurance to exercise their freedom of expression?  What if you commit libel, or troll someone into suicide?  The really sad part is that Kenneth here wants your insurance to pay out if you use your gun in self-defense.

The full bill text is here.

(a) A PERSON SHALL NOT discharge any gun
within the metropolitan district, whether the gun is loaded with fixed or blank
ammunition or projectiles of any kind.

(D) A PERSON SHALL NOT, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PROPERTY
OWNER, DISCHARGE A GUN ON, FROM, ONTO, OR ACROSS ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND.
[[(d)]] (E) This section shall not apply to:
(1) The discharge of guns at any target, trap or skeet range or shooting area
which has been inspected and received the written approval of the
department of inspections, licenses and permits pursuant to section 8.405,
“Authority To Inspect and Approve Ranges or Shooting Areas,” of this
subtitle; or to
(2) The discharge of guns by any person in a private basement or cellar target
range; or to
(3) The discharge of guns where necessary to protect life or [[property]]
PROPERTY, INCLUDING CROPS OR LIVESTOCK, or to kill any dangerous
threatening animal; or to
(4) Any duly authorized law enforcement officer acting in the proper
performance of his/her official duties; or to
(5) The discharge of blank ammunition in theatrical performances, historical
reenactments or sporting events; or to
(6) The firing of salutes by firing squads at military funerals; or to
(7) The discharge of guns by any person engaged in bona fide wildlife
research activities.

So, is a human being an animal? Well, technically, yes. But legally, probably not. Therefore, you could probably be guilty of a Class A offense under Title 24, Subtitle 1 if you ever use a gun in self-defense in Howard county, and there is no provision for concealed carry licenses, even though people have them here in Maryland. I wonder what the penalty is for that…

Sec. 24.107. Fines.
I. Amount of Fine: Unless another amount for a specific violation has been established by law or regulation, the civil fine shall be in the amount shown below:

So, if I value $500-$1000 less than my life, I should take the risk. Good to know.

• There are three incidents on the linked page in Australia, surprisingly, even though they have very strict handgun control. Even fake guns were involved…
• There was one in Toronto, also strict on handgun ownership
• Many states in the US are represented, including Maryland, Georgia, and Florida
• Quite a few are road rage incidents involving off-duty or retired police officers or Federal marshalls!!

There was a study that showed that “people who carry guns in their car are more likely to have road rage.” It’s a pretty far stretch since the percentages are 23% of people with guns vs. 16% of people without them. I don’t think this is a good conclusion. Until someone can show me that road rage deaths in Texas or Alaska or Florida increased when carry laws were loosened, I won’t believe these urban legends I keep hearing. And, if they’re not urban legends, please please cite your source – at least the publication.

I find the last one really shocking. Many of these people are trained very well in firearm use and safety. I would really like to be able to break it down by state using the Google archive search, but I can’t find that. If anyone knows where I can find statistics on police reports per state for road rage incidents involving handguns, especially time series data, let me know.