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GargantuanWitch t1_j2nj8h6 wrote

Reply to comment by SK360 in As of today, HB 1929 is in effect! so that means autoknives are finally legal. by Delicious-Newt-5674

This is gonna sound dumb, but is the single thing that made that knife illegal the button that released the blade?

Because I've got a workbox full of these things, so I'm really not sure what the excitement is about.

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SK360 t1_j2njd9p wrote

It’s the spring loaded “assisted” opening. A button with gravity opening was fine before but the spring makes it deadly

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GargantuanWitch t1_j2njo54 wrote

So the Milwaukee Fastback knife that I've been using for years has been illegal? It's got a tiny lever on the side and moving it slightly makes the blade spring open.

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Delicious-Newt-5674 OP t1_j2nsy7p wrote

Technically those are assisted, but a judge could still have convicted you of having a prohibited offensive weapon, especially if he was having a bad day. Thats why this ruling is so important.

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GargantuanWitch t1_j2o14wb wrote

Is it, though?

The one I'm looking at, right now, was purchased from a Home Depot within this decade. Right from the rack, not in an alley.

I'm super happy for everyone who can breathe a sigh of relief, I guess, but this is kinda like learning that your favorite font now has a sans serif variant.

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Delicious-Newt-5674 OP t1_j2o2e47 wrote

Thats the thing, just cause you bought it legally doesn't mean its legal. If you got pulled over or stopped by police for some reason (even if you're not doing anything wrong) and they found it you could have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon under pa title 18 section 908. Why? Just cause it opened with a spring. Which is why the ACLU supported the bill, because prosecutors were unfairly charging people for having a knife that they used for work.

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Rocap13 t1_j2pdbj2 wrote

This guy isn't the greatest example because he was passed out at the wheel but he was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon for a knife he bought at Walmart and wasn't even full automatic. I stumbled across it a while back when I was looking into an auto knife

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/watchdog/2017/06/29/prohibited-offensive-weapons-law-in-pennsylvania-puts-people-at-risk-of-criminal-prosecution/427791001/

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100_cats_on_a_phone t1_j2q19fs wrote

Sans serif is good for reducing eye fatigue on screens! So I assume you mean this is awesome and important.

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Delicious-Newt-5674 OP t1_j2ntdnd wrote

This was the old definition of offensive weapons so yes.

"Offensive weapons." Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge, any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise, any stun gun, stun baton, taser or other electronic or electric weapon or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.

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