Quote:
Originally Posted by turnpike boy
Hhmmm....you're right, and I was wrong.
The protocol had been around since 1971, when 15 CFR was implemented -after being adopted in 1958.
That's, what? - 38 years (adopted) ? I guess I was way off  . And, of course, ol' Mr. McCray saw nothing wrong with some submitted knives in August of 2008 - when he was just another Republican flunky under GW Bush - and permitted their entry and sale. Just as several of his predecessors had done, as early as 2004. Bush administration, tho.
But in April 2009 - now under the GodSent Administration - he suddenly sees the light and error of his ways, and sends God's Own lightning out and rescinds not only his own prior judgment, but those of his predecessors as far back as 2004.
Which - of course - was the George Bush era.
Hhmm. Maybe I shouldn't have read it closer.  Then again, maybe you should have, too. |
TB,
Yep - I read it.
And I actually do not think that McCray is a flunky of either party - that was sarcasm (and thus the smiley). He is a bureaucrat - his own political views are not known.
Yes they reversed their previous decisions - but did you read the technical description of why? They applied a plain English definition to the law as written (and even listed what those definitions were). Did you read the description of the Van Hoy? They call them 'spring assist' - from an engineering point of view I don't see much that differentiates them from a switchblade. It carries stored energy in order to open the blade when a mechanism is triggered.
Perhaps the Obama administration does not like these knives, however, they are enforcing the law as it is written, and they state their rationale for doing so. That is their job. Perhaps that job was not a priority under previous administrations, or perhaps McCray is an 'activist' and wanted these knives available. We simply do not have enough info to make that determination. However, if you read page 32 you will see that a number of similar knives were prohibited with dates ranging from 2000 to 2008 indicating that people in the Bush and Clinton administrations were also busy banning the import of knives.
As much as I dislike this specific law (it's like banning all naked women because a kid might accidentally see one, or the rationale used by many that want to ban guns), it is still the law and the executive branch is obligated to follow and enforce it to the best of their ability, regardless of whether they agree with it or not.
You are welcome to challenge the findings - you have 10 days left to comment. I do not see a way past the technical issues, but perhaps you can come up with something.
You are also welcome to try and change/eliminate the law, and you would have my support on that. That bill was written by a DNC Congress and signed into law by a GOP president who I happen to have a great deal of respect and admiration for, but who I do not view as infallible.
But lets keep blaming Obama. Oh, and the stock market might go up or down tomorrow as well - I bet that is his fault too.
Steve