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"Like gun law, knife law is often senseless, and is often applied in discriminatory ways to punish minorities for nothing other than carrying the sort of pocket knife you might use to open boxes.
The NY Gravity Knife law, described in the video, was the basis for 4000 arrests per year, primarily against black and latino men in NYC. Bills to repeal it passed only to be vetoed by Governor Andrew Cuomo under pressure from the police officer association. That was the situation until it was litigated by the Knife Rights Foundation, and the law was found unconstitutional for vagueness in Cracco v. Vance[1], and Cuomo subsequently signed a bill to remove the penalties[2]. Cracco, btw, was a sous chef who carried legal fixed-blade knives to and from his work, but was booked on a pocket knife.
With this law down, as of mid-2019 there is now one less reason to arrest black and latino men in NY sans mens rea.
One example of why I support the Knife Rights Foundation."
[1] https://blog.simplejustice.us/2019/03/29/the-law-of-gravity-is-unconstitutionally-vague/
[2] http://pappalardolaw.com/2019/06/gravity-knives-legal-in-ny/
The NY Gravity Knife law, described in the video, was the basis for 4000 arrests per year, primarily against black and latino men in NYC. Bills to repeal it passed only to be vetoed by Governor Andrew Cuomo under pressure from the police officer association. That was the situation until it was litigated by the Knife Rights Foundation, and the law was found unconstitutional for vagueness in Cracco v. Vance[1], and Cuomo subsequently signed a bill to remove the penalties[2]. Cracco, btw, was a sous chef who carried legal fixed-blade knives to and from his work, but was booked on a pocket knife.
With this law down, as of mid-2019 there is now one less reason to arrest black and latino men in NY sans mens rea.
One example of why I support the Knife Rights Foundation."
[1] https://blog.simplejustice.us/2019/03/29/the-law-of-gravity-is-unconstitutionally-vague/
[2] http://pappalardolaw.com/2019/06/gravity-knives-legal-in-ny/