About 15yrs ago there was a Knife (soviet? I think) being sold on the open market with a spring loaded handle that would propel its blade to a distance of about 20 ft.

This statue was enacted to make such a weapon illegal.

The statute appears plainly worded to me.

sgb
 
I'm no lawyer, but ..........

1)  It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, display, sell, own, possess, or use a self-propelled knife which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a [red]projectile[/red] by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas. A self-propelled knife is declared to be a dangerous or deadly weapon and a contraband item. It shall be subject to seizure and shall be disposed of as provided in s. 790.08(1) and (6).

[red]790.001  Definitions, contains nothing defining a self propelled knife,propel or projectile.[/red]

MSN Encarta - World English Dictionary

[red]pro·pel [/red][pr pél ] (past pro·pelled, past participle pro·pelled, present participle pro·pel·ling, 3rd person present singular pro·pels) transitive verb

1.  push forward:  to move or push something or somebody forward

2.  cause action:  to impel or cause a course of action


[red]pro·jec·tile [/red][pr jékt'l ] noun (plural pro·jec·tiles)
missile or shell: [blue] an object that can be fired or launched, for example, an artillery shell or a rocket[/blue]

adjective

1.  ZOOLOGY capable of being thrust forward:  used to describe a part of an animal's body that can be thrust forward such as the jaws in some types of fish

2.  impelled forward:  hurled or impelled forward

I don't believe that the [u]intent[/u] of this law was to cover knives opened by mechanical
device.

The Intent of the Law is supposed to override the letter of the law in these types of pissing contests.

I would appeal.
Hope this helps
sgb

btt, edited.