Breaking News: We have been working closely with Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) and are pleased to announce that Reps. Latta and Walt Minnick (D-ID) have co-sponsored an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to Restrict Funds to Implement the proposed CBP rule.

Our thanks to Reps. Latta and Minnick for taking a leadership role in this fight. This is just the first step in a complicated process, but it is important. We will post more information as soon as we get it.

A number of you have asked for contact info to send Reps. Latta and Minnick a thank you for their action on this issue. I suggest you use their web sites:

Rep. Bob Latta: http://latta.house.gov/
Rep. Walt Minnick: http://minnick.house.gov/

As reported in an earlier News Slice, Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal. We have now posted the Congressional letter with signatures here: http://bit.ly/8mU3w

Start following us on Twitter to get news as soon as we have it: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

In case you missed our earlier News Slice today, it is copied below:

Knife Rights News Slice Vol. 2 Number 8

Just a quick update this Monday morning on the latest news regarding Customs' Pocket Knife Grab.

National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) submitted Comments opposing CBP proposal on behalf of the NRA's nearly 4 million members "most of whom carry at least one pocket knife on a regular basis," and requesting "the ruling reversal be abandoned."

Read their letter here: http://bit.ly/tyUA4

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus has urged U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to withdraw CBP Proposal.

Read their media release here: http://bit.ly/rhqh1

We expect more news from groups opposing this Customs proposal later today. Start following us on Twitter to get news as soon as we have it: http://twitter.com/KnifeRights

What Next?

There does seem to be some confusion on, based on emails we have received and posts on various online forums, as to what happens next. So, just to clear up any questions, this proposal does NOT now take effect.

The comment period has ended. CBP now has 30 days to do something and there are a number of possibilities. 1) They can issue a final rule which may or may not be exactly the same as the proposal (they can make revisions based on comments received), 2) They can open the proposal for comment again with or without changes, or 3) They can kill the proposal entirely. Clearly, we would prefer the latter, but nobody is betting on that.

If they issue a final rule, then it becomes effective 90 days later. If that happens, you can expect that there will be legal challenges that could potentially delay enforcement, as well as legislative solutions being pursued. This is only the end of the first round. Lot's more to happen.

In the meantime, we are working with Congress on legislative solutions NOW and I hope to have some announcements in this regard this week. Of course, those can take time to have effect and may or may not actually end up being passed. I can assure you that all those emails and letters to Congress are having an effect, as is the support of NRA and other major constituent groups who have brought this issue to their attention. You can expect to be asked to write again, once these legislative initiatives begin in earnest.

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Yes, an appropriations rider is the most expedient solution.

They'll probably have someone ginned up on the Senate side soon, too. That could get interesting because you could end up with a floor debate on knives.

Would be interesting to see which Senators have an opinion on knife rights, let alone any knowledge.

Terrific that the NRA is engaged. The NRA is the gorilla of grassroots lobbying. Few want to take them on, especially with the 2010 elections on the horizon.

Power of the Internet is something to behold, too!

This is why I belong to the NRA and, as of a few days ago, Knife Rights Org. Here's an encouraging note from a press release on Congressman Latta's site:

"As of Friday afternoon, over 70 House members, PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. and PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER., have signed onto the letter"

Thanks to Doug for leading the charge and thanks to the legislators for listening and getting involved.

Note: The censored stuff refers to Republicans and Democrats. The forum evidently censors the singular but not the plural form of the words. <shrug>