LAW REQUIRES KNIVES BE DETECTABLE.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer ``Stealth knives'' that can slip through metal screening devices unnoticed will be banned from being sold, manufactured or possessed in California under a bill signed by the governor. Authored by Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. George Runner George C. Runner, Jr. (born March 25 1952 in Scotia, New York) is a Republican California State Senator, who represents the 17th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County. , R-Lancaster, Assembly Bill 1188 prohibits the sale, manufacture or possession of ``undetectable knives'' in California, meaning that existing models of synthetic knives must be fitted with a steel shaft in the handle or the blade coated with a spray designed to trigger metal detectors. ``There is no other purpose for this other than to get them through the metal detectors and kill somebody,'' said sheriff's Deputy Ronald Smith Ronald Bertram Smith (January 3, 1922–May 27, 2004) was an English classical pianist, composer and teacher, born in London. He was a champion of piano works from the romantic period; most notably those of Charles-Valentin Alkan, of whom he also wrote a biography. , a Lancaster courthouse bailiff bailiff Officer of some U.S. courts whose duties include keeping order in the courtroom and guarding prisoners or jurors in deliberation. In medieval Europe, it was a title of some dignity and power, denoting a manorial superintendent or royal agent who collected fines and who helped write the language of the bill. The forbidden knives are made of polymers or other synthetic materials like glass-filled Zytel nylon, which the makers advertise can be filed to a near razor sharpness and can withstand as much force as its steel counterparts. A magazine advertisement spotted by Smith boasted that the knives are undetectable by metal screening devices. ``These knives pass through the equipment that is designed to protect people,'' said Runner. ``It's against the law to bring these into the courthouse anyway, but we have to find them first.'' Existing laws make it a felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. for anyone to conceal a knife with a blade length of four inches or longer regardless of the material and a felony for anyone entering a public building with a weapon of any kind. Signed by Gov. Gray Davis on Oct. 10, AB 1155 will standardize stan·dard·ize v. 1. To cause to conform to a standard. 2. To evaluate by comparing with a standard. requirements for the knives to be detectable. ``The laws in place make it possible to prosecute someone for bringing the weapons into the courthouse but not to require the weapons to be detectable,'' said Smith. ``This bill will do that.'' The bill was proposed after a Compton courtroom incident in which a sex-crime defendant stabbed two bailiffs with a homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. knife made from plastic. The defendant, who was shot to death by the bailiffs, had smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. the knife into the courtroom unnoticed by the metal detectors. ``There have been other incidents,'' said Smith. ``All of them show that there is no reason for the knives to be manufactured in the first place, but if they are, they should be detectable.'' The law will go into effect Jan. 1. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, who authored the new law, shows security officer Terrel Gregory that knives made of plastic will not register on metal detectors. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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