Tag Archives: Ban Knifes

Jun 6 2025

Citibank Backtracks on Gun Policy


Posted originally on Jun 6, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

citibank

US banks were weaponized under the Biden Administration. I reported at length how US banks were required to provide the government with information on anyone suspected of being a domestic terrorist. US intelligence agencies searched through records for terms like “Trump” and “MAGA” to target Americans who they believed may hold “extremist” views. The agencies searched for Americans who purchased religious texts, such as the Bible, and also labeled them extremists. Anyone expressing disdain for the COVID lockdowns, vaccines, open borders, or the deep state was placed on a watchlist. Banks are attempting to change their tone now that there is a new administration.

Law-abiding Americans were punished for exercising their Constitutional right to bear arms. In March 2018, Citibank decided it had the authority to determine what businesses could access their banking services based on their Second Amendment stance. Citibank’s business clients were dropped as clients if they failed to adhere to the bank’s regulations on firearms. Donald Trump accused Citibank, JPMorgan, and others of deliberately discriminating against customers based on political affiliation.

Citibank issued a notice that it would be reversing policy:

“We will update our employee Code of Conduct and our customer-facing Global Financial Access Policy to clearly state that we do not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation in the same way we are clear that we do not discriminate on the basis of other traits such as race and religion. This will codify what we’ve long practiced, and we will continue to conduct trainings to ensure compliance.

We also will no longer have a specific policy as it relates to firearms. Our U.S. Commercial Firearms Policy was implemented in 2018 and pertained to sale of firearms by our retail clients and partners. The policy was intended to promote the adoption of best sales practices as prudent risk management and didn’t address the manufacturing of firearms. Many retailers have been following these best practices, and we hope communities and lawmakers will continue to seek out ways to prevent the tragic consequences of gun violence.”

The banks were caught red-handed discriminating against clients. The documents are clear as day that these institutions were told to search financial records for anyone who could be a potential Trump supporter.

JPMorgan reversed its Code of Conduct back in March 2025 to state that it would protect customers, suppliers, contractors, and employees from discrimination in financial services based on political or religious views. Reporting on whether a person had purchased a religious book is more than intrusive. It is outright discrimination against people who likely hold conservative views.

The government effectively transformed banking institutions into spy agencies, and no one was held accountable. This predatory behavior was certainly not limited to the US, as similar practices were observed in Australia, the UK, Europe, Canada, and other regions. Governments are ready and prepared to silence dissenters by removing them from the financial system. The banks claim they have “opaque” rules that they must adhere to, which cannot always be explained to the public, but this is because the government controls our financial system. The rules can change at any time.

Dec 18 2024

Poland Mandates Firearm Lessons in Schools


Posted originally on Dec 18, 2024 by Martin Armstrong 

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Schoolchildren in Poland are preparing for potential invasion with mandates for firearm lessons. Minister of Education and Science Przemyslaw Czarnek signed off on the new requirement and is considering expanding studies to include preparation for rescue operations and cyber attacks.

Children in primary schools will learn weapons safety and theoretical principles. Secondary school children, girls and boys, will learn how to properly shoot a firearm. Lessons may begin by using ball guns, air guns, or virtual laser shooting ranges before introducing live ammunition.

Poland had similar courses in place for previous generations, and given the nation’s history, it is understandable why they’d want to arm all civilians from a young age. Other Baltic states like Lithuania are considering implementing similar measures while places like Latvia already have this curriculum in place. Defensive training or przysposobienie obronne became less commonplace after the USSR was dissolved. Former generations were trained on the proper use of gas masks and the threats of the day.

Poland Flag

Let us not forget that citizens were extremely restricted from owning firearms in Poland prior to the last invasion. The 1932 Act on Guns, Munitions and Explosive Materials made it extremely difficult for citizens to obtain a license, which they would need to acquire through a starosta or country governor. The public was nowhere near prepared for the Nazi invasion, but on September 12, 1939, the Germany army issued a ordinance requiring all Poles to surrender all firearms within 24 hours. Failure to comply resulted in execution without trial.

One would think that the government would permit the people to protect themselves after the Nazi occupation. Instead, Minister of Public Security Stanisław Radkiewicz invalidated all gun licenses on July 15, 1945. Strict regulations remained in place until 1961 when the government eagerly created a Citizens’ Militia and became a bit more lenient with permits. Still, regulations remain in place and Poland has a low rate of civilian gun ownership. There are only 2.5 firearms per 100 people in Poland, and less than 0.8% have a valid firearm permit. Harsh regulations on firearms result in a weakened populace who is unable to protect themselves against governments, whether foreign or their own.

May 15 2024

Swiss Army Knife to Remove Blade – Worldwide Ban of Knives


Posted originally on May 15, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

SwissArmyKnife

Those shouting for the removal of the Second Amendment in America do not realize that violent crime is STILL on the rise in other nations. The difference is that they are using either knives, bombs, or illegally purchased firearms to carry out the crime. Banning gun ownership will not change human nature; in fact, no government ban can possibly curtail man’s innate predisposition toward violence that can only be controlled from within.

Now, the manufacturers of the Swiss Army Knife by Victorinox stated that it would no longer include a knife in its infamous pocket blade design as a result of worldwide governments creating restrictions on carrying weapons. “We’re concerned about the increasing regulation of knives due to the violence in the world,” stated Carl Elsener, Victorinox’s CEO. “In some markets, the blade creates an image of a weapon. I have in mind creating a tool that would be useful for cyclists. Cyclists have a need for specific tools but not necessarily a blade. We already have a tool specifically for golfers.” The CEO went on to say how 9/11 should have been a warning that companies need to shy away from any form of self-defense product production.

Anyone who uses a pocketknife can testify that the blade is an absolutely essential tool. Victorinox sells about 10 million Swiss Army Knives annually, and this change will likely hurt its bottom line. There are far worse weapons at play, but governments worldwide want to prevent all law-abiding citizens from having any form of self-defense. Are they to ban kitchen knives next?

Thucydides.HumanNatureViolence

Norway and Sweden have completely banned knives for self-defense unless someone happens to be camping or using them for a “legitimate” purpose, such as fishing. Switzerland is creating new regulations to categorize knives to determine which are “dangerous objects.” Poland has banned double-edged knives, butterfly knives, and opening assist mechanisms such as switchblades. Switchblades or one-hand opening knives are subject to a penalty in Spain, France, Belgium, and Italy. Ireland has banned importing or carrying knives. As with many other nations, Portugal has a 4-inch limit on blades before they are considered a dangerous weapon. Numerous Asian nations like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore also have restrictions on various blades.

Human nature never changes; these bans will not prevent a portion of the population from becoming violent. Instead, these bans will cause law-abiding citizens to lose their right to self-defense. Then, these liberal nations have legal systems that favor violent criminals over their victims, and they are set free to reoffend, as we have seen countless times throughout the West, primarily in regard to the migrant crisis. Even our primitive ape ancestors know how to create weapons out of objects found in nature. Governments cannot, have not, and will never change human nature. Deterring violence by punishing the masses does not work. High-trust nations with low crime have certain things in common, but weapon prohibition is not one of them.