Balisongs, batangas, or butterfly knives are a cherished item and
ancient tradition in Filipino culture. Many regard the butterfly knife
as a martial art or form of dance. In some states you can spend years in
jail for the crime of owning one.
Despite their associations
with Asian gangs in the media, kitchen knives are used far more often in
crimes. Butterfly knife restrictions date from switchblade laws in the
1950's and are the result of politicians attacking a popular symbol of
crime rather than crime itself.
This petition does not concern switchblade, gravity, or other illegal types of knives. If you support their legalization, I realize we disagree but I hope you would see the legalization of butterfly knives as something that the public might be more receptive to and a positive shift in the political atmosphere of the issue.
I understand this issue doesn’t affect very many people, but the ones it affects it affects deeply. I hope you can take the time to electronically sign this petition for their national legalization, to the exclusion of switchblades, gravity knives, or other types of illegal knives.
I sincerely thank you for your time and open-mindedness on this misunderstood issue.
Photo by CalviNNation
Updates
April 8, 2016
We just hit 500 signatures. Proud to see this level of support for decriminalizing these tools.
Reached 500 supporters
April 6, 2016
November 26, 2015
The momentum behind this is shifting the conversation. People are finally starting to see these as tradition rather than a threat.
October 5, 2015
100 signatures reached. It is time for people to stop fearing a tradition.
Reached 100 supporters
October 3, 2015
269 Comments
I live in California and I use balisong or butterfly knife flipping to help me from my addiction to nicotine. When I flip my knife while I'm on my breaks at work I feel calm and relaxed and focused. I refrain from cigarette smoking, when I have something to do. I enjoy Balisong flipping.
In general I don't think it's fair to limit what someone is or is not allowed to own. I'm allowed to own balisongs in my state but not carry them which I think is ridiculous, why would I want a knife I can't carry?
People say that balisongs are a weapon and a weapon only, but they also say that they are made for crimes and to hurt people. As many say and agree with, it's the person who's handling it that makes it a weapon. That's like considering a shovel a weapon because someone used it as one, but what's it really for?
This is an art form. The blade only adds to the elegance and the emotion. I have NEVER heard of a butterfly knife being used in a crime. These guys simply love the art of flipping and so do I.
The amount of crimes committed with balisongs are negligible, and balisongs themselves are no more dangerous than a folding blade. The time it takes to deploy a balisong is far greater than an automatic knife, as demonstrated in youtuber "knifezoid's" video.
They are as dangerous as a steak knife at the grocery store.
I wanna flip in Hungary too
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Balisongs, batangas, or butterfly knives are a cherished item and
ancient tradition in Filipino culture. Many regard the butterfly knife
as a martial art or form of dance. In some states you can spend years in
jail for the crime of owning one.
Despite their associations
with Asian gangs in the media, kitchen knives are used far more often in
crimes. Butterfly knife restrictions date from switchblade laws in the
1950's and are the result of politicians attacking a popular symbol of
crime rather than crime itself.
This petition does not concern switchblade, gravity, or other illegal types of knives. If you support their legalization, I realize we disagree but I hope you would see the legalization of butterfly knives as something that the public might be more receptive to and a positive shift in the political atmosphere of the issue.
I understand this issue doesn’t affect very many people, but the ones it affects it affects deeply. I hope you can take the time to electronically sign this petition for their national legalization, to the exclusion of switchblades, gravity knives, or other types of illegal knives.
I sincerely thank you for your time and open-mindedness on this misunderstood issue.
Photo by CalviNNation
Updates
April 8, 2016
We just hit 500 signatures. Proud to see this level of support for decriminalizing these tools.
Reached 500 supporters
April 6, 2016
November 26, 2015
The momentum behind this is shifting the conversation. People are finally starting to see these as tradition rather than a threat.
October 5, 2015
100 signatures reached. It is time for people to stop fearing a tradition.
Reached 100 supporters
October 3, 2015
269 Comments
Balisongs are so much more then just a knife they are works of art ways to express your creativity and personality the fact so many places have laws that prevent that is a shame.
I live in California and I use balisong or butterfly knife flipping to help me from my addiction to nicotine. When I flip my knife while I'm on my breaks at work I feel calm and relaxed and focused. I refrain from cigarette smoking, when I have something to do. I enjoy Balisong flipping.
In general I don't think it's fair to limit what someone is or is not allowed to own. I'm allowed to own balisongs in my state but not carry them which I think is ridiculous, why would I want a knife I can't carry?
People say that balisongs are a weapon and a weapon only, but they also say that they are made for crimes and to hurt people. As many say and agree with, it's the person who's handling it that makes it a weapon. That's like considering a shovel a weapon because someone used it as one, but what's it really for?
This is an art form. The blade only adds to the elegance and the emotion. I have NEVER heard of a butterfly knife being used in a crime. These guys simply love the art of flipping and so do I.
The amount of crimes committed with balisongs are negligible, and balisongs themselves are no more dangerous than a folding blade. The time it takes to deploy a balisong is far greater than an automatic knife, as demonstrated in youtuber "knifezoid's" video.
They are as dangerous as a steak knife at the grocery store.
I wanna flip in Hungary too
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Balisongs are so much more then just a knife they are works of art ways to express your creativity and personality the fact so many places have laws that prevent that is a shame.