SWITCHBLADE KNIVES THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1958 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND FINANCE, OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to call, in room 414, Old House Office Building, Hon. Peter F. Mack, Jr. (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. MACK. The committee will come to order. The Commerce and Finance Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce is meeting this morning to hold hearings on H. R. 4956 by Mr. Teller, H. R. 7258 by Mr. Yates, H. R. 9820 by Mr. Delaney, H. R. 10618 by Mrs. Kelly of New York, and H. R. 11289 by Mr. Addonizio, bills to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives. The latter three bills are identical. As the title of these bills indicates, the purpose of the legislation is to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce, or the transportation or distribution in interstate commerce, of automatic knives, commonly referred to as switchblade knives, the blades of which open automatically either by hand pressure applied to a button or other device or by the operation of inertia or gravity. A copy of these bills will be inserted in the record at this point, together with all the reports from the executive departments and agencies. (The material referred to follows:) [H. R. 4956, 85th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as used in this Act (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United States Code), manufac 1 tures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply to any common carrier, contract carrier, or freight forwarder with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business. SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment. [H. R. 7258, 85th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as used in this Act (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United tSates Code), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not morethan five years, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply (1) to any common carrier, contract carrier, or freight forwarder with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (2) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; (3) to supply and procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; (4) to supply and procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such governments; and (5) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). SEC. 5. Section 1716 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended by inserting immediately after the sixth paragraph thereof the following new paragraph: "All knives having a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall prescribe "(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; "(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; 66 (3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory, or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and "(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).” SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment. [H. R. 9820, 85th Cong., 2d sess.] A BILL To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as used in this Act (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United States Code), manufactures, sells, or processes any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply to (a) any common carrier, contract carrier, or freight forwarder with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (b) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces; or (c) possession by a member of the Armed Forces of a switchblade knife issued to him by the Federal Government. SEC. 5. Section 1716 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended by inserting immediately after the sixth paragraph thereof the following new paragraph: "All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall prescribe "(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; "(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; "(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory, or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and "(4) to manufactures of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)." SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment. [H. R. 10618, 85th Cong., 2d sess.]. A BILL To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as used in this Act (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically— (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United States Code), manufactures, sells, or processes any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply to— (a) any common carrier, contract carrier, or freight forwarder with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (b) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces; or (c) possession by a member of the Armed Forces of a switchblade knife issued to him by the Federal Government. SEC. 5. Section 1716 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended by inserting immediately after the sixth paragraph thereof the following new paragraph: "All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall prescribe— "(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; "(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; "(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory, or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and "(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).” SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment. [H. R. 11289, 85th Cong., 2d sess.] A BILL To prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as used in this Act— (a) The term "interstate commerce" means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof. (b) The term "switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both. SEC. 2. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. SEC. 3. Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18 of the United States Code), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18 of the United States Code), manufactures, sells, or processes any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five yearrs, or both. SEC. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall not apply to (a) any common carrier, contract carrier, or freight forwarder with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business; (b) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces; or (c) possession by a member of the Armed Forces of a switchblade knife issued to him by the Federal Government. SEC. 5. Section 1716 of title 18 of the United States Code is amended by inserting immediately after the sixth paragraph thereof the following new paragraph: "All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposiited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any postmaster, letter carrier, or other person in the postal service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall prescribe "(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government; "(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations; "(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any State or Territory, or any county, city, or other political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and "(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).” SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment. 26527-58 |