Yesterday I bought a Gerber Paraframe 1 at a K-Mart for EDC. I liked its size, style of blade, read a few good reviews about it, the price was right, etc, but thats not the point. They carded me! It turns out you have to be 18 to buy a knife at K-Mart! Luckily for me, this wasn't a problem, I handed the checker my ID and I was on my way. I was just a little blown away by the age restriction, it wasn't like I was buying a Rambo knife to kill people with or anything.

Is this just K-Mart policy or Oregon / Federal law? Either way it must be new, I don't recall ever being carded before while buying a pocket knife. I guess this means Boy Scouts can't buy their own knives anymore? Sorry, I was rather upset by this and had to vent, though I would love to hear some other thoughts on the matter.

Rio

Rio, are you a parent?

Generally, buying a knife is a restricted item to those over the age of 18, unless accompanied by a parent/legal guardian. I, for one think this is a good thing and do not have a problem limiting/restricting knife sales to adults over 18.

I also have no problem with a minor carrying and using a knife properly, providing they will treat the privilege with the associated respect and training. However, as a parent I want to know what my kids are buying, so I can ensure they receive the proper training and understand my expectations of proper knife handling.

Pete

Thank you for reminding me of the parents point of view. I'm only a 20 year old college student, and am currently more concerned about my personal freedoms than looking out for my future children. My views of this subject may very well change when I enter parenthood. All of the knives I had bought back when I was in the Scouts were finally wearing out and needed replacing, so this was my first knife purchase in a few years. I guess thinking back while buying all of my previous knives, my parents were probably with me, being as how I was not old enough to drive myself to the store. I've EDCed a small pocket knife since I was about 10, so being carded for buying one just seemed strange. Though you make a very good point about receiving the proper safety training before I was allowed to carry a knife.

Rio

I't mostly a CYA thing, although some states have thier requirements. It stems partially from a couple of young feral humans, males, about 16, who broke into the home of a couple of Dartmouth College professors and killed them for the thrills. They used knives they'd ordered online, and someone talked about trying to after the seller of the knife, but they were told that wouldn't get very far around here.

Illinois has what I perceive to be a pretty good knife law. They don't limit what you can carry - for the most part (some silly restrictions such as daggers), but if you use it while committing a felony, then it may be considered a lethal weapon.

That said, a minor puchasing a knife could - depending on their intent - be purchasing a weapon. Yeah, I know that sounds kind of "out there".

I don't know if this is law or store policy, but being the parent of two fine young kids (very responsible, both in Scouting, both taught knife safety since Cub Scouts - even though one is a young lady - she was taught at the same time as my son), I like that the law or policy would have me, as a parent, involved in the purchase. I know my children, and I wouldn't hesitate to approve a purchase, but they allow me to make that decision.

I have had the same experience Rio. I've been on both sides of that gate. I'm 33 now and also live in Oregon. I started getting carded for Matches, Ammunition, Knives, spray paint, frog gigs and who knows what else when I was about 12. I still get carded every time I buy shotgun shells from Bi-Mart. But I don’t mind.

Although it could be a law somewhere, I think it is more a company policy issue. The problem, in my most humble opinion is Money and it’s relation to legal fallout. While most of us who read this forum feel if you cut your arm off using a knife, you either did it on purpose or did something stupid. Maybe both. It's not K-Mart's fault I’m an idiot right? Or Gerber's. But some folks in our society don’t appear to think this way. Because of those people, companies like K-Mart put policies in place to protect themselves. I would even expect Gerber has an 18 and over clause in their contract to supply K-Mart with knives.

Say Company X sold a Cub Scout a pocket knife. In a fit of rage that kid stabbed one of his fellow scouts over a stolen marshmallow stick. Company X was sued for $10 million because the parents of the kid didn’t know he had the knife. Then the parents of the victim sue for another $10 million. Crazy? Excessive? In many cases… absolutely. But it’s possible. People blame others all the time then sue for ridiculous amounts and win.

When I got carded as a kid, it didn’t bother me all that much either. It was a pain, but I knew my parents would pick that kind of stuff up for me. I was a responsible kid (for the most part) and owning a knife or playing with matches was a dangerous privilege I earned. Not to mention it’s a nice thing for parents to have an extra set of eyes on what their kids are doing (or other people’s kids for that matter!). Yes, it sucks for the under 18 group, and a minor inconvenience for you and me but in my opinion it’s a product of the environment we live in. And I for one have no clue how to fix something so far gone. But that’s another topic for another time.

m

Since I'm at an age where I have socks that are older than that it doesn't apply to me. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Probably some sort of CYA thing though. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Silly law. The Nanny States of America.

Common sense in America is anything but common.

Does your state require a parent or guardian sign off on a drivers license?

Me too. With all the cold weather hanging in CA, I pulled some wool socks from stash and tried to remember when I bought them -- early 80's.

As for the knife, it's a litigious society. At least we can still buy knives. . .

Taught my kids (3 - now thirtyish) how to build a knife. Don't need to ask permission to do that, I guess. Should have seen the looks when my oldest (girl) went to Harvard and pulled out her shiv to open a box on moving day! Almost equal to the looks my son (#2) got when he hung up his skunk pelt in his room at Johns Hopkins! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
These kids all got keychain survival kits for their Christmas this year that their Old Man made up.