Knives are man’s oldest tool. A diverse group of concerned knife and tool owners has formed the United States Knife & Tool Association (www.USKTA.org) to oppose efforts to restrict knife ownership and carry. Recent events have escalated concerns about efforts to implement irrational and needless restrictions on civilization’s most fundamental tool.The July 25, 2006, Wall Street Journal article titled, “How New, Deadly Pocketknives Became a $1 Billion Business,” has served as a wake up call to knife and tool owners everywhere who see in this a desire by a vocal and well-financed minority to quite literally take away our knives. Portraying well-designed knives and tools that incorporate safety features such as locking blades, ergonomic and non-slip handles and one-hand opening as “deadly” is deliberately disingenuous.

Regardless of the errors and obvious bias in this article, it appeared in one of the most respected and widely read newspapers in the nation. This venue lends it credibility that certainly will result in other media outlets copying the tone-implying the need for restrictions on ownership of pocket knives and related tools.

Virtually every threatened sport or product in this country has an advocacy group that represents the industry and also a separate and independent advocacy group that serves the end users. For firearms, the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) represents industry and the NRA (National Rifle Association) represents individual gun owners. In general aviation, GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) represents the industry and AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) represents the owners and pilots. In recreational boating, NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) represents the industry and BoatUS (Boat Owners Association of The United States) represents boat owners and operators.

Even though there is some overlap both in membership and financial support, these groups are complementary, not competitive. The two organizations work closely to be more successful than either alone could ever hope to be. The difference between an industry group and an end user group is a very critical distinction to politicians and bureaucrats. The end users more pointedly represent voters to elected officials who often respond only to whatever may aid them in the polls.

The knife industry has an organization that represents its interests, the American Knife and Tool Institute. Knife owners deserve an organization dedicated to serving them, to not only provide for advocacy against unreasonable restrictions on their enjoyment and use of knives, but which also can provide the services and advantages that other owner groups provide their members.

The United States Knife & Tool Association (USKTA) will serve knife and tool owners as their advocate against restrictions on knife and tool ownership and carry.

A web site has been established to solicit support for USKTA and where interested individuals can sign up to receive more information: www.USKTA.org

The site includes additional information on USKTA and a link to the text of the WSJ article, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions page addressing the most common issues that have been raised. www.USKTA.org/faq.htm