Dumb Laws..

Washington Crimes and Punishments

RCW 9.41.250 Dangerous weapons -- Penalty.

Every person who:

(1) Manufactures, sells, or disposes of or possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as slung shot, sand club, or metal knuckles, or spring blade knife, or any knife the blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement;

(2) Furtively carries with intent to conceal any dagger, dirk, pistol, or other dangerous weapon;

(3) Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm;

is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

Effective date -- 1994

Ok.. So based on this, any knife that opens by "..falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement.."

The knife EVERYBODY carries is illegal if it has a thumb stud. The thumb stud and a flick of the wrist opens the knife. That flick of the wrist is producing a centrifugal force by which the blade is opened. That makes it illegal.

Think I'm kidding? Here's the website for the Washington State Legislature..

Good grief..

This law is was only passed as "Feel Good" legislation. It does absolutely nothing to stop crime, protect the innocent, or lower taxes, which are the 3 things laws should be designed to do. How about they re-word that legislation to read..

"Dumb fuck.. If you commit a crime with a instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as slung shot, sand club, or metal knuckles, or spring blade knife, or any knife the blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement;

(2) Furtively carry with intent to conceal any dagger, dirk, pistol, or other dangerous weapon without a license; or

(3) Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm

You will receive an additional 10 years on your prison sentence. Further, if a death should occur during the commission of this crime with the above stated weapons, we will ship your ass to Texas for your immediate execution."

THAT law makes more sense! People MIGHT actually think twice before committing a crime. Granted, there will be a few who will HAVE to be shipped off. However, very quickly, the criminals will go back to axes, baseball bats, kitchen knives and good ole fashion crowbars.

"..Let the Punishment fit the Crime."
-Gilbert and Sullivan