Alright, everyone take a great big deep breath.
The Customs Dept (who is in charge of overseeing importation, transportation and distribution of goods --- nothing to do with terrorism per say) requested public opinion regarding a re-classification of the switchblade definition. The deadline for them to act passed (that means they didn't do anything).
Futhermore, there is a bill going through Congress (already passed by the Senate) that says spring assisted knives are NOT switchblades.
The Senate has passed an amendment (1447 for those wanting to look up the official version) to the 1958 Switchblade Act.
In effect, it adds #5
"
Sections 1242 and 1243 of this title shall not apply to -
(1) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any
switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment
in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;
(2) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution,
possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of
switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces;
(3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting
in the performance of his duty;
(4) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any
switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by
any individual who has only one arm; or
(5) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism
designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that
requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to
overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife."
