Here's a "Switch": Maine's proposed law opens a larger issue

Now here’s one you don’t see every day: lawmakers in Maine are working to legalize switchblades for one-armed people. This precludes them from having to open them with their teeth in an emergency.

That’s nice. Good for them.

According to the bill, citizens with one arm can use a switchblade with a blade less than 3 inches long. Apparently Federal law allows such a practice.

That’s nice. Way to be inclusive.

It must also be nice to know that Maine isn’t suffering from the same problems other states are from budgets and slow economies.

Isn’t it?

Don’t we have much more pressing issues to deal with? I am not sitting here saying that a person who is disabled in any way does not or should not have the right to defend himself. Far be it from me to tell any citizen that they do not have the right to be safe, especially if they are in any way at a physical disadvantage. What I am saying is, should this even be debated?

The issue at hand is our legal system is replete with loopholes, exceptions, and provisions, so much so that many official codes are so stretched with amendments and addendums that contradictory passages are often found, leaving Holland Tunnel sized escape hatches for real crooks.

I understand that the fast opening capabilities of a switchblade makes them particularly dangerous, but with training and practice, many lock back knives can be opened and readied for deployment in just a quick a time. But regardless of that fact, if you’re a responsible citizen and want a switchblade to protect yourself, why should there be a statutory barrier to it?

Of course the obvious answer is because somebody who ran roughshod over what it means to be a responsible citizen, they screwed it up for everybody. It just goes to show, we don’t have a problem with drugs, weapons, violence, or racism in this country. We have a people problem. If people took responsibility for themselves and their families, saw to their needs, and minded their own business, we wouldn’t have half the social problems we have today.

Then people with one arm wouldn’t need a law to carry a switchblade because there simply wouldn’t be a need.

That would be nice.

Chip Grefski