CLOSE MENU
Join Renew NEWSLETTER
MENU
Knife Rights

Search Results for pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Takes Effect

Repeal of Pennsylvania’s ban on possession and carry of Switchblade Knives takes effect today. Manufacture and sale of automatic knives in the state is also now legal.

WARNING: Without knife law preemption in Pennsylvania, cities and towns can still prohibit automatic (and other) knives, and many do. To find local knife restrictions go to: https://kniferights.org/how-to-find-local-knife-laws/ or download Knife Rights’ LegalBlade App.

WARNING: Concealed carry of an automatic knife “…with the intent therewith unlawfully and maliciously to do injury to any other person…” remains illegal in Pennsylvania.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Signed! Effective 1/2/2023

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today signed House Bill 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives!

The repeal is effective on January 2, 2023. Until then possession of automatic knives (except as a curio) remains illegal in Pennsylvania. We still have work to do in Pennsylvania; without knife law preemption, cities and towns can still prohibit automatic (and other) knives, and many do. Download our LegalBlade App 2.0 to find your local knife laws.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Passes – On to Gov.

House Bill 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, passed the Senate today unanimously (50-0). The bill previously passed the House 202-1. HB 1929 now moves to Governor Wolf for his action.

We will let you know when it is time to take further action.

Knife Rights has worked diligently to get HB 1929 through the Senate and onto the Senate floor for final passage since it was voted unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee over a month ago.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Passes Senate Committee

HB 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, today passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote. The bill previously passed the House 202-1. It now moves to the Senate floor for second consideration.

We would especially like to thank Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker, with whom we worked closely, for taking up HB 1929 in her committee and advancing it to the floor of the Senate.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Passes House

HB 1929, a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 202-1. Congratulations to our good friend sponsor Representative Martin Causer for his efforts that got this bill through the House with nearly unanimous bipartisan support.

Knife Rights was pleased to be able to work with Rep. Causer as part of our comprehensive plan to see important criminal justice and knife law reform enacted in Pennsylvania.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Advances

HB 1929, a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, has been advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote. Congratulations to our good friend sponsor Representative Martin Causer. It now moves to the House floor for a vote.

Knife Rights is working with Rep. Causer to move this bill forward as part of our comprehensive plan to see important criminal justice and knife law reform enacted in Pennsylvania.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal & Preemption Bill Introduced

Pennsylvania Senator Sharif Street has introduced SB 1013, Knife Rights’ bill to repeal the Keystone State’s ban on switchblade (automatic) knives and enact Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemptionn.

This is a complimentary bill to the previously filed HB 1929 in the House. Co-sponsors at filing are Senators Maria Collett and Wayne Fontana.

Knife Rights will let you know when it is time to contact your legislators to support SB 1013 and HB 1929.

… Continued

Pennsylvania Permitless Carry Bill Would Also Repeal Switchblade Ban

Pennsylvania House Bill 1412 is a constitutional (permitless) carry bill that includes repeal of the state’s ban on switchblade knives. It would remove from Section 2. Section 908(c) of Title 18 Prohibited offensive weapons, “dagger, knife,razor or cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise.”

HB 1412 is sponsered by Representatives Aaron Bernstine, Francis Ryan, Greg Rothman, Russ Diamond, George Dunbar,

… Continued

Knife Rights’ Switchblade Ban Repeal and Knife Preemption Bill Filed in Pennsylvania

July 11, 2012: Knife Rights is pleased to announce the filing of Pennsylvania HB2548 which would repeal the Keystone State’s ban on the possession of automatic knives and enact Knife Rights’ signature Knife Preemption Law. The legislation was drafted by Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, and was introduced by Rep Michelle Brooks (R-17). Bipartisan Co-sponsors include Rep. Marc Gergely (D-35) and Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-60). Addition co-sponsors can be found on the bill’s sponsor page.

URGENT ACTION ALERT! EMAIL TODAY to Support Washington “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal Bill in House!

Having passed in the Senate, Knife Rights’ bill that would repeal Washington’s ban on “spring blade” (automatic) knives,SB 5860, is now assigned to the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. We need your help to encourage the Chair to schedule the bill for a hearing and to urge committee members to vote Yes on SB 5860.

Use our Legislative Action Center to easily email the Committee Members.

… Continued

Washington Senate Passes “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal Bill! House Up Next

Your emails helped make it happen! The Washington Senate just passed Knife Rights’ bill that would repeal Washington’s ban on “spring blade” (automatic) knives, SB 5860, with a bi-partisan vote of 45-3! We sincerely appreciate our good friend Senator Phil Fortunato for his efforts shepherding this bill through the Senate.

We know from speaking to our sponsor that your hundreds of emails over the course of the last month made a huge difference.

… Continued

VERY, VERY URGENT ACTION ALERT! EMAIL WA Senators TODAY to Support “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal

Once again to get this done in the Senate! If you are a Washington resident, once again we need your help! Knife Rights’ bill that would repeal Washington’s ban on “spring blade” (automatic) knives,SB 5860, is ready for a floor vote in the Senate. We need your help TODAY to get that vote!

If you live in Washington state, CLICK HERE to go to our Legislative Action Center to send your emails.

… Continued

URGENT ACTION ALERT! Email Washington Senators to Support “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal Bill

Knife Rights’ bill that would repeal Washington’s ban on “spring blade” (automatic) knives,SB 5860, was voted out of the Senate Committee on Law & Justice. Thanks to all of you who signed in to support the bill in committee. The bill now moves towards the full Senate with a stop at the Rules Committee.

We now need your help to urge the Senate President to place SB 5860 on the floor for a vote and to also urge Senators to vote YES on the bill.

… Continued

URGENT ACTION ALERT! Sign In TODAY to Support WA “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal Bill!

Knife Rights’ bill that would repeal Washington’s ban on “spring blade” (automatic) knives,SB 5860, is set for a hearing Monday before the Senate Committee on Law & Justice. Sponsor Sen. Phil Fortunato has requested that we encourage our folks to sign in to support the bill.

Unfortunately, you cannot use our Legislative Action Center to do this, you must go to the state’s online page, fill out the form and then submit it.

… Continued

Knife Rights’ Washington “Spring Blade” Knife Ban Repeal Bill Filed

Knife Rights’ good friend Washington State Senator Phil Fortunato has filed SB 5860 that would repeal the state’s ban on “spring blade” knives.

In 2012, with a strong bipartisan effort, Knife Rights worked to get the state’s law changed to allow civilian possession and carry of assisted-opening knives and the manufacture and distribution of automatic knives and expanded possession and carry to first responders and military members. For the past decade we have worked to eliminate the remaining ban on “spring blade” knives with bipartisan support,

… Continued

17 Attorneys General File Amicus Brief in Support of Petition for Rehearing En Banc to Overturn Ruling that HI’s Butterfly Knife Ban is Unconstitutional

Led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, 17 Attorneys General have filed an amicus (Friend of the Court) brief supporting Hawaii’s petition to the Ninth Circuit for a rehearing En Banc in an attempt to overturn the recent 3-0 panel decision in Teter v. Lopez that Hawaii’s ban on Butterfly Knives is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.

This amicus brief by 17 anti-Second Amendment AGs just adds an exclamation point to how important this knife-related 2A case is in the larger battle for the Second Amendment.

… Continued

Worst Anti-Knife City in America Caves to Knife Rights!

Second Amendment Knife Freedom Rings in Philadelphia!

In 2014 Knife Rights published a list of the Ten Worst Anti-Knife Cities in America. At that time, New York City was number one, but we fixed New York City’s “gravity knife arrests” problem in 2019, moving Philadelphia up to the number one Worst Anti-Knife City spot. Now Knife Rights has accepted Philadelphia’s offer of judgment in Knife Rights, Inc. v. Outlaw, our federal Second Amendment lawsuit that sought to declare unconstitutional and enjoin Philadelphia’s laws that ban the possession and carry of any bladed arms (knives) in public.

… Continued

Philly Proposes to Concede 1 Unconstitutional Knife Carry Ban, But Not Their Equally Unconstitutional 2nd

The defendants have made an offer of judgment to the plaintiffs in the case of Knife Rights, Inc. v. Outlaw, our federal lawsuit seeking to declare unconstitutional and enjoin Philadelphia’s laws that ban the possession and carry of bladed arms in public. While the City has offered to agree to injunctive relief regarding the ordinance currently codified at Philadelphia Code 10-820, this offer of judgment does not fully resolve the Knife Rights case.

The Knife Rights complaint seeks,

… Continued

Knife Rights Sues Philadelphia to End Unconstitutional Knife Ban

Knife Rights has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the City of Philadelphia’s ban on “use or possess(ion of) any cutting weapon upon the public streets or upon any public property at any time,” as well as within 100 ft. of any school. Joining Knife Rights in the case are Knife Rights members Keith Fetsurka and Scott Mele. They are represented by attorneys John W. Dillon at the Dillon Law Group and William Sack.

Named as defendants are Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and the City of Philadelphia.

… Continued

Virginia Switchblade Concealed Carry Ban Repeal Bill Introduced

Our repeal last year of Virginia’s ban on switchblades (automatic) knives did not include repeal of the ban on concealed carry. Our good friend Delegate Lee Ware, who sponsored the first attempt at repealing Virginia’s switchblade ban in 2017 (vetoed by Gov. McAuliffe), has introduced HB 2298 that would remove switchblades from the list of weapons that cannot be carried concealed.

Knife Rights will let you know when it is appropriate to contact your Virginia legislators to support HB 2298.

… Continued

2022 Roundup – An Awesome Year in Review!

2022 has been a very good year for Knife Rights and our supporters. If you consider your support for Knife Rights as an investment, we are giving you an excellent return on that investment. More on that below. If you are looking to make a tax-deductible donation before year’s end, our 501(c)(3) Knife Rights Foundation could sure use your support as we look forward to another busy year ahead (Click here and select Knife Rights Foundation).

… Continued

Ballistic Knife Legality & Background

A ballistic knife is a knife with a blade that can be ejected to a distance of, at most, several feet by pressing a trigger, pulling a stop pin or operating a lever or switch on the handle. The majority of such designs utilize a compressed coil spring to eject the blade. A few designs have utilized compressed gas propulsion.

Spring-powered ballistic knives briefly gained notoriety in the United States in the early to mid-1980s,

… Continued

PA Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Filed

Knife Rights’ good friend Representative Martin Causer today introduced HB 1929, a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives. Rep. Causer is working with Knife Rights to move this bill forward as part of our comprehensive plan to see important criminal justice and knife law reform enacted in Pennsylvania.

Knife Rights will let you know when it is time to contact your legislators to support HB 1929.

Knife Rights is America’s grassroots knife owners’ organization;

… Continued

New York Gravity Knife Update Comments, Cautions and Clarification

After receiving numerous inquires about the changes in New York law as a result of the enactment of A5944 repealing the state’s gravity knife ban, a few comments, cautions and further clarification on one point of law:

Yes, there are numerous places where you can purchase antique true gravity knives, German paratrooper knives, and similar gravity knives. And, yes, true gravity knives are now being developed and produced. As an example,

… Continued

State Civilian Switchblade/Automatic Knife Legality

As of November 7, 2022: Alphabetical listing of states where civilian possession of switchblade/automatic knives are legal with any limitations noted.

* = Concealed Carry also legal

States where Knife Rights has enacted Knife Law Preemption are in Bold with Date

States where Knife Rights has enacted Repeal of a Switchblade Ban are Italics with Date

This information IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE.

… Continued

Ivory Ban Update: Report on ACWT Meeting 3/20/2014

Robert Mitchell, an attorney from Pennsylvania, attended the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking meeting held yesterday, March 20, 2014. Rob delivered Knife Rights’ statement (Click to read) to the Council. He reports below on the meeting’s low and high points. For an opening salvo, to make a statement and get opposition to the ivory ban on the record, this showing was a success. However, it was just that,

… Continued

Knife Rights Receives Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award

Sharper Future 2012 Breakfast MapKnife Rights was presented with a 2012 Industry Achievement Award by Blade Magazine at the annual Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year Awards Banquet at BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.  Knife Rights was recognized for its “diligence in working to have pro-knife legislation passed in a number of states this year,” said Blade Magazine editor, Steve Shackleford.  Managing Editor Joe Joe Kertzman noted, “the legislative offensive mounted… this year has been nothing short of historic.”

Doug Ritter, Knife Rights chairman, said, “Knife Rights is honored to be recognized for our achievements in defending knife owners’ rights. We sincerely appreciate the support from individuals and industry that has allowed us to make great strides this year.”