The switchblade ban craze was a result of racism, as usual, since in the 1960’s there was some kind of hysteria that “inner city” (black) toughs were committing crimes with switchblades. Similarly, the “dirk or dagger” bans and phrasing in many state laws are the result of anti-German sentiment from around WW1 when it was believed that agitators with Germanic sympathies would be lurking around intending to stab people in the back with them.
But these asinine laws are still on the books despite being demonstrably silly, probably because it’s good political theater to appear “tough on crime.”
The switchblade ban craze was a result of racism, as usual, since in the 1960’s there was some kind of hysteria that “inner city” (black) toughs were committing crimes with switchblades. Similarly, the “dirk or dagger” bans and phrasing in many state laws are the result of anti-German sentiment from around WW1 when it was believed that agitators with Germanic sympathies would be lurking around intending to stab people in the back with them.
But these asinine laws are still on the books despite being demonstrably silly, probably because it’s good political theater to appear “tough on crime.”