how come blocked punts arent live balls... ala muffed kicks

how come a blocked punt cant be recovered by the kicking team and retain possession. I mean the receiving team had to touch the ball to block it make it a live ball right?
edit:
http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/kicksfromscrimmage

apparently from what I understand the receiving team can touch the ball without making it live long as its before the line of scrimmage

A punt is only live after crossing the line of scrimmage.

A blocked punt can still be returned by the kicking team. I seem to recall some years back we blocked a punt from Seattle and they recovered it and ran for the first down.

Pretty sure that happened the first time we played them last year.

Originally posted by Godsleftsock:
Pretty sure that happened the first time we played them last year.

does god have stinky feet?

Originally posted by sactomkiii:
how come a blocked punt cant be recovered by the kicking team and retain possession. I mean the receiving team had to touch the ball to block it make it a live ball right?
edit:
http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/kicksfromscrimmage

apparently from what I understand the receiving team can touch the ball without making it live long as its before the line of scrimmage

The best way to explain it is by looking at the Fumble vs Muff differences.

On a punt the offensive team has possession of the ball until it crosses the line of scrimmage.

Any ball blocked behind the line of scrimmage is treated as a fumble and can be recovered and advanced by either team.

Once a punt crosses the line of scrimmage neither team has possession until the receiving team catches the ball or is called dead if it hits the ground.

The kicking team my not regain possession of a punt once it crosses the line of scrimmage unless it is muffed by a member of the receiving team and recovered (a muff can not be advanced in any situation)