Why are knife control laws so strong in the United States as opposed to gun control?

I was realizing it would be nice to have a knife with auto opening for boxes, etc., basically a switch blade or similar, and I found out that they are super illegal in my state (and/or there are length restrictions, or both sides of the blade can’t be sharp, etc), but I can go into a sporting goods store and buy a pistol and ammo in under 30min.

Shooting open an Amazon box seems inefficient. What is up with restrictive knife-control laws??

  • Tiefling IRL@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    32·
    3 months ago

    Butterfly knives only became legal in NY and MA about 4 years ago. There’s virtually zero reason to ban them other than protecting stupid people from accidentally cutting themselves

    (I’m one of those stupid people)

    • dubyakay@lemmy.ca
      8·
      3 months ago

      I had one of those in high school and took it with me to a school trip in my back pack. We were at camp (think log houses) for three nights and I started spinning the blade daily. Lots of cuts (mostly on my hands) later I’ve learned to flip it like a pro. I can still do it to this day if someone hands me one. It’s like biking or swimming. Once you learn it, you don’t forget.

      The teacher that was with us never said anything besides watching my progress. He was the coolest dude ever. I miss you, Mr Jones.

    • lordnikon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      Same reason they banned pinball in Chicago and NY. To distract the people away from what names politicians money.

    • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldOP
      51·
      3 months ago

      I got one of those things at a state fair when I was a little kid and set about immediately cutting myself trying to flip it open and look cool. My mom took it from me shortly thereafter. That ended the short saga of WoahWoah and the butterfly knife.

      At this point, I can’t think of any reason I would want one. People that can use them well look pretty cool, but as a purposeful knife, they seem pointlessly complicated and prone to user error.

      • Tiefling IRL@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        5·
        3 months ago

        I use one as my daily! I practice with it a lot and have a trainer to practice. Funny enough, I actually just modeled mine today in a photoshoot (am a circus performer)

        As a daily they function as any other knife. If you’re experienced with them, you don’t even think about open or closing. There’s a tiny bit of security in knowing that most people are too afraid to hold one. I do also like that they absolutely can’t close on you while holding it.

        I have cut myself though. The worst was when I did a toss that landed tip-down on my palm. But small harm doesn’t bother me.