American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) Keeping Knives in American Lives

One half of respondents to the “Knife Definition Questionnaire” included in the Winter 2004 AKTI News &
Update believe repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act is possible. And they say they’re willing to put up a
little more than 50 bucks each to make it happen.
We asked: Do you believe repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act is possible in the current U.S. political
climate?
YES – 50 %
NO – 38.9 %
No Response – 11.1 %

Then we followed that with: “How much would you contribute to any proposed AKTI lobbying effort to repeal
the Federal Switchblade Act?”
Average contributions were calculated for the above three groups as follows:
YES – $54.54
NO – $32.14
No Response – $0

Those who did not believe repeal was possible were still willing to make a financial commitment to the
effort if it were pursued.
However, the more telling figure is the degree of financial support the “YES” voters projected. Estimates of
the cost of such a national lobbying effort range from $5 million to $20 million or more. Translation: At least
100,000 individuals would have to contribute $50 to hit the lower number.
As AKTI learned in Florida in its efforts to clarify the ballistic knife definition, one legislative session may not
be enough to get a law passed. Sponsors must be found and a bill might have to be re-introduced in
several sessions before passage.
In addition to a huge financial commitment to hire lobbyists, any repeal effort would have to fund countless
mailings and TV and radio commercials. Then there would be the “grassroots” effort of letters, phone calls,
emails and hundreds of hours of direct contact with senators and representatives.