Tom Talks with Benchmade on Gun Destruction, Dem Donations, and ITA Failures | GTR Spotlight
This discussion centers on Benchmade Knives' controversial involvement with the Oregon City Police Department in destroying firearms, and the subsequent backlash fueled by the company's political donations. Benchmade's Director of Marketing, Matt Elliott, clarifies the context of the gun destruction, stating it was a multi-year agreement to assist with firearms that could not be returned to owners, and that the police department made a policy decision not to sell them back into the legal trade. The conversation then shifts to Benchmade's political contributions, primarily to Democrats, which are explained as efforts to support manufacturing jobs and advance legislation like the Interstate Transportation Act (ITA) for knives. However, the ITA is critically examined by the interviewer, who argues it's a dangerous bill that could lead to knife owners being arrested without recourse, drawing parallels to the flawed Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986.











