Nevada SB 171 Update
Knife Rights continues to monitor the Nevada Senate Committee on Judiciary where our lobbyist, Todd Rathner, testified at the initial hearing on SB 171 two weeks ago, without further action taken at the hearing. To date, SB 171 has not re-appeared on the committee’s agenda. At this point all we can do is keep a close eye on the agenda in case it does come up again, and continue to assert pressure against the bill. We remain hopeful that the significant opposition that Knife Rights was able to bring to bear with only a few days notice has served to dampen interest in moving this anti-knife bill forward.
Thanks to all who filed their votes online against this bill. If you you have not yet done so, we cannot let up until we have a resolution. We must continue to make sure Nevada Senators hear about your objections to the bill and the proposed amendments to it. The amendments would make the bill a bit better for knife owners, but certainly do not improve the bill enough to stop opposing it.
We must continue to put pressure on Senators to stop this bill. Go online and vote “Against” SB171 and provide comments to support your opposition. Below are some examples of the type of comments you can leave.
PLEASE BE POLITE and RESPECTFUL! This makes all the difference in how these comments are received and we need them to count. Put these ideas into your own words and add your own comments to carry the most weight.
If you are not a resident of Nevada, but do business or recreate there, make sure to include that in your comments. The Senators only care about their voters and those who can affect their voters. Other comments and votes will be ignored for the most part.
Nevada residents should also contact their State Senator directly and urge them to oppose SB 171. Click here to find your Senator
Below are some examples of the type of comments you can leave. PLEASE BE POLITE and RESPECTFUL! This makes all the difference in how these comments are received and we need them to count. Put these you’re your own words to carry the most weight. A continued strong showing of public opinion against this bill will help us defeat it.
If you are not a resident of Nevada, but do business or recreate there, make sure to include that in your comments. The Senators only care about their voters and those who can affect their voters. Other comments and votes will be ignored for the most part.
- There is no reason to add “dangerous knife” to NV statutes because there are already definitions for dangerous weapons in Nevada law.
- The legislature should only legislate against bad behavior not the victimless possession of common, everyday tools.
- Schools already have broad authority to regulate what does or does not come onto their campuses.
- Many rural school children carry a small pocket knife for everyday chores, should they really face criminal charges for this?
- A two inch bladed knife may easily fit on a key ring. Do we really want to criminalize that?
- If you are a UNION member: I am a member of xxxx Union and am very concerned that this law will jeopardize me personally because I carry a knife every day for work.
You can read the proposed bill here: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/SB/SB171.pdf
An overview:
Nevada State Senator Sheila Leslie (D, Washoe 1) has introduced SB 171, to add to the list of weapons that the state prohibits in schools, including a so-called “dangerous knife,” meaning, in her bill, any knife with a blade 2 inches or longer. Among the many problems with this bill, this new definition of a so-called “dangerous knife” would set very bad precedent in Nevada state law
Sen. Leslie’s bill adds to the list of weapons that the state prohibits in schools, including a sword, axe or hatchet, machete and so-called “dangerous knife,” meaning in her bill, any knife with a blade 2 inches or longer. Nevada is one of the few rational states where common pocket knives are not mandated to be treated as weapons prohibited by the state from schools. Schools are free to determine for themselves what restrictions, if any, they will make. Apparently not everyone in Nevada is willing to allow schools to deal with this issue as they see fit.
We need your support to oppose legislation such as this. Donate today to support Knife Rights: http://bit.ly/fMccv9
Support Todd J. Rathner for NRA Board
Todd Rathner is Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs–our head lobbyist. He has been instrumental in our legislative success to date. Todd is up for re-election to the NRA Board of Directors where he is a member of the Executive Committee. Knife Rights would not normally endorse a candidate in an NRA election, however Todd’s efforts in bringing Knife Rights issues to the attention of the NRA Board and staff has been invaluable and it is certainly in our best interests to see him continue in this role.
Knife Rights’ Board of Directors encourages our members who are also NRA members to vote for Todd and reminds you that NRA Board Election ballots must be received by the NRA no later than April 10, 2011.
If you are a retailer or individual in New York who finds yourself targeted for the sale or possession of so-called illegal knives (one-hand opening and assisted opening knives), we urge you to immediately contact Knife Rights at: nycity@KnifeRights.org or toll-free: 1-866-889-6268. You have a constitutional right to seek help and counsel.
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