California Penal Code 21510 PC-which bans the carrying of automatic knives-or "switchblades", balisongs and "gravity" knives with blades 2 inches in length or longer.
The law in itself is archaic and non-sensical. CA law not only allows the concealed carry of folding knives, but the open carry of fixed-blade knives. A CA citizen can carry a folding knife that is spring-assisted (uses internal springs to deploy the knife quickly when pressure is applied to a blade protrusion), or a knife that does not have to be opened at all, but an automatic knife (where springs depoly the blade at the press of a button or switch) and balisongs ("butterfly" knives-knives that have to be unlatched and folded open)is a felony.
Nothing about automatic knives or balisongs makes them more dangerous than the knives that are already legal to carry. One may argue that a balisong is even less dangerous; while movies and tv tend to portray balisongs as being carried by criminals, who open them with intricate flipping techniques to intimidate their victims, a balisong is literally a slow opening knife, as the two handles are unlatched, folded away from the blade and re-latched in the open position.
Knives are tools, not weapons. Punishing CA citizens with felony charges for carrying a tool banned by laws inspired by Hollywood should not be allowed .
