Um.

I just fell in love with Appleton a little. Admitting that she introduced a bill on a whim, and that it was stupid = awesome.

Out of morbid curiosity, how would such a law even fare against the 2nd amendment?

Extremely good question, Joe. Not so well, I think, if it were ever seriously put to a test. However, while there have been exceptions, the NRA doesn't typically involve itself with knives, and knife owners are considerably less-organized.

@4 it's all those long nights of mumbledepegs ...

Why do hunters, divers and fishers need switchblades?
Why do police officers, for that matter?

The entire time I was reading this post I kept hearing the line:

Chorus
But when he threatened your life
With a switch blade knife

Dr. Frank-N-Furter
What a guy

Janet Weiss
Makes you cry

Dr. Everett v. Scott
Und I did

@6 it's very convenient to be able to open your knife one handed especially in cold or wet environments.

Switchblade is a little misleading since it evokes the 50's style stiletto blade that was favored by greasers and street toughs. Currently there are plenty of small bladed, handy assisted opening knives on the market that this law would effectively outlaw.

I am proud of my representative for admitting she was wrong, but would hope that she and her staff seek more input in the future BEFORE sponsoring legislation....

In point of fact, the classic switchblades, opened by a button or other "spring mechanism" are absolutely terrible fighting knives. The joint between the blade and the handle is amazingly weak and breakable compared to "normal" knives where the shank runs the entire length of the handle. Or even a two-hand opener like the one John T. Williams was carrying, the joint is stronger than the vast majority of switchblades.

To bother an segregate those knives from --as people have mentioned above-- far more "dangerous" knives such as kitchen knives, or the myriad single-hand openers which are so prevelant and useful for many occupations of hobbies (let me at Rock Climbing to that list) is simiply loopy.

Anyway, gangs use Glocks for fighting in post-modern America. Not knives so much.

@8, heh!

This isn't like guns, which (for the most part) are designed to injure and kill. There are a lot of situations where you need to be able to open a knife and cut something, often one handed, and often very quickly.

Guns (again, by and large) are tools for hurting people. Knives are tools for cutting things.

I have and used to carry a knife that can be opened one-handed with a quick flick of the wrist. It was very useful in every day situations and I wish I could still carry it.

One of the places I used to carry it was in my airplane carry-on bag. I once (pre-9/11) had airport security ask me to take it out and demonstrate it and I did, and they let me on my way. Because it was a legal and utilitarian short-bladed knife.

While flying *after* 9/11, I got to my destination and realized that I'd forgotten to take the knife out, and security hadn't found it. Along with confirming the uselessness of security theater, this made me realize that had they found the knife I might be in a lot of trouble. So I stopped carrying it around, lest I forget it was on me. As a result, I'm often annoyed by packages that I can't open, because I have to spend the time tracking down my knife or scissors.

Holy crap, it's nice to see a politician admit to having made a mistake! Shit, if she were my rep she'd have my vote for life.

Those working to clear Officer Birk are suggesting that Williams might have been carrying something akin to a switchblade. So far, however, the knife in question hasn't been shown to be anything other than a carving knife that requires two hands to open.

I remain convinced that Williams did not actually threaten Birk, that Birk was trigger-happy and fucked up (although he'll never admit to it in a million years), but assuming that Williams did threaten him, how was Birk supposed to able to tell what kind of knife Williams had?

While I wish she had put some more thought into the bill, I'm glad she has the minerals to publicly admit that she was wrong. That's admirable.

Spring opened knives are already illegal to sell at a Federal level (although good luck with enforcement on that.) Additionally, switchblades and slingshots are outlawed under Seattle's existing ordinance.

The outright stupidity of these knife ordinances is that they tend to make it illegal or put the onus on the citizen to justify why they possess a knife. For example, Seattle's knife ordinance outlaws the possession of any fixed blade knives in public - but provides vague exceptions for carrying them to work at a bar/restaurant. But if you want to open carry a handgun, then hey - no problem.

And banning slingshots is just a flipping excuse for a cop to mess with someone.

9: I understand now; after I looked at the picture of Williams' knife, I realised I own a knife like that. Thing is, I prefer to use the peg to open the knife two handed, as it's a simple matter of gripping the knife and rotating each hand 90 degrees.
And I agree with 11; even a folding pocket knife would make a terrible weapon due to the weak point at the hinge. And I can see where 13 is coming from. Once I got the idea, I can see that it's pretty easy to unfold it slightly with the thumb, then flick the wrist backwards to snap the blade into position. I'd probably never thought of that without some guidance, so thanks to the would be guardian of public safety Rep. Appleton for that...
Personally I think banning folding knives because they might be used in a fight (though more likely to get you shot by a cop, it seems) is as sensible as banning cars because they might be used as getaway vehicles by criminals.

On one hand, good for her for realizing the bill is stupid, admitting it, listening to her constituents, etc.

On the other hand - research, much?