Rewriting Knife Law In America™
2010-2024

49 BILLS REPEALING KNIFE BANS

IN 31 STATES and Over 200 Cities and Towns!

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Louisiana · Maine · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New York · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

11 ANTI-KNIFE BILLS STOPPED!

Florida · Louisiana · Maryland · New Jersey · New York · Nevada · Texas · Washington

Knife Rights Accomplishments

(as of September, 2024)

2009

• 5th Exception to the Federal Switchblade Act Protecting One-Hand Opening & Assisted-Opening Folders enacted by Congress (Knife Rights represented grassroots knife owners in a coalition including Knife Industry, NRA, NSSF and others)

2010

• Arizona Knife Law Preemption Enacted (a Pioneering Knife Rights Effort – First in the Nation) repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• New Hampshire Ban on Switchblades, Dirks, Daggers & Stilettos Repealed (a Pioneering Knife Rights Effort – First in the Nation)

2011

• Utah Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• New Hampshire Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing 10 local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• Anti-Knife Bills Defeated in Washington, Nevada and Florida
• Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit filed against New York City & NYC DA over the unconstitutional arrests and prosecutions of over 60,000 carriers of common pocket knives.

2012

• Georgia Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions including Atlanta’s, host of the annual BLADE Show, protecting attendees and exhibitors, and preventing any future local restrictions
• Missouri Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Washington Assisted-Opening Folders Legalized – Manufacture of Automatic Knives Legalized
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues

2013

• Alaskan Knife Rights Act: Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions, Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Indiana Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Kansas Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions, Ban on Switchblades, Dirks, Daggers & Stilettos Repealed
• Tennessee Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions including the two largest cities in the state and preventing any future local restrictions
• Texas Switchblade Ban Repealed
• New Jersey Anti-Knife Language Stripped from Weapons Control Bill
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues
• Knife Owners’ Protection Act Introduced in U.S. House – a Pioneering Knife Rights Effort Protecting Knife Owners Traveling in the U.S.
• Groundbreaking Knife Rights Foundation LegalBlade™ App Introduced

2014

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act Introduced in U.S. Senate
• Tennessee Switchblade Ban, 4-inch Carry Limit Repealed
• Kansas Knife Law Preemption Strengthened
• Oklahoma Knife Law Preemption Bill (Passed overwhelmingly, but vetoed by Governor over politics unrelated to the bill)
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues
• First Annual Ratings of Worst Anti-Knife Cities and Best States for Knife Owners published

2015

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act Re-Introduced in Congress
• Nevada Bans on Switchblade Knives (longer than 2-inches), Dirks, Daggers and Belt Buckle Knives Repealed
• Maine Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Oklahoma Switchblade Carry Ban Repealed, Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions including those of the 4 largest cities and preventing any future local restrictions
• Texas Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions including #4 and #9 Worst Anti-Knife Cities in the U.S. and preventing any future local restrictions
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit – Unanimous Appeal Victory Reverses District Court’s Erroneous Dismissal on Standing – Remand for Trial on Merits – Decision Cited in Second Amendment Firearms Rights Lawsuits
• Amicus Filed in California Appeal by State to Overturn Appeals Court Decision that an Open Slipjoint Knife Carried Concealed is Not an Illegal Dagger

2016

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act Gains Additional Sponsors in Congress
• Wisconsin Switchblade Ban Repealed, Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• Oklahoma Dagger, Bowie Knife, Dirk Knife and Sword Cane Carry Ban Repealed
• West Virginia Permitless (Constitutional) Weapons Carry including Knives Enacted
• Maryland – “Knives” Stripped from Weapons Ban on College Campuses Bill
• Led Efforts that resulted in NJ Governor Chris Christie Veto of 2 Bills that would have also Adversely Impacted Many Knife Collectors
• New York Knife Law Reform Bill to address NYC Bogus Gravity Knife Arrests and Prosecutions Passed – Vetoed by Governor
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues – June 2016 Trial Held
• Knife Rights as Amicus Invited to Appear Before California Supreme Court on Appeal by State to Overturn Decision that an Open Slipjoint Knife (Swiss Army Knife) Carried Concealed is Not an Illegal Dagger – CA Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court Decision cites Knife Rights oral argument and amicus brief

2017

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 84) including Repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act Introduced in Congress.
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues – Appeal Brief Filed + Two Amicus Briefs Filed by 17 Law Professors & Legal Aid Society
• Colorado Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Montana Ban on Concealed Carry of Knives 4-inches or greater, Dirks, Daggers, Sword Canes and Razors Repealed
• Georgia Legal Carry Length without CCW increased from 5 inches to 12 inches
• Texas Ban on “Illegal Knives” including Bowie Knives, Daggers, Dirks, Stilettos, Poniards, Swords, Spears and Blades over 5.5 inches Repealed
• Michigan Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Illinois Switchblade Ban Repealed (Requires FOID Card)
• New York Gravity Knife Law Reform Bill to address NYC Bogus Gravity Knife Arrests and Prosecutions Passed – Vetoed by Governor

2018

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 84) including Repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act in the House of Representatives.
• Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2018 (S. 3264) including Repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act Introduced in the Senate.
• Louisiana Switchblade Ban Repealed
• NYC Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Continues – Notice of Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court Filed

2019

• Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2019 (H.R. 88) including Repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act in the House of Representatives.
• Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States filed in Knife Rights’ civil rights lawsuit over NYC’s persecution of pocket knife owners
• Montana Switchblade Ban Repealed, Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• Virginia Switchblade Commerce Bill Passed – Vetoed by Governor
• Clock Runs Out this year on Washington “Spring Blade” Knife Ban Repeal Bill after passing Senate and the House Committee – Continued to Next Year
• Texas Bans on carry of Clubs (including Tomahawks) and possession and carry of Knuckles (including Trench Knives and the like) Repealed.
• New York Gravity Knife Ban Repealed – Stops NYC’s persecution of pocket knife owners carrying common folding knives after 9 yeas of effort!
• Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States Denied – The Chance it would be accepted is what forced NY Gov. Cuomo to sign Gravity Knife Ban Repeal 2 weeks earlier.

2020

• West Virginia Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• Ohio Knife Law Reform repeals ban on sale and manufacture of switchblades and legalizes concealed knife carry

2021

• Ohio Knife Law Reform bill passed late in 2020 signed by Governor
• Texas Knife Lockdown bill Killed in committee
• Bipartisan Michigan Knife Law Preemption Bill vetoed by Governor
• Louisiana Concealed Carry Ban Repealed (including all knives except switchblades)

2022

• Virginia Switchblade Ban Repealed
• Alabama Bowie Knife Carry Ban Repealed, Concealed Carry Knife Ban Repealed (effective January 1, 2023)
• Georgia Ban on Carry of Knives Over 12″ Without a CCW Repealed
• Supreme Court Bruen Second Amendment opinion included points made in an Amicus Curiae brief by Knife Rights and others
• Ohio Knife Law Preemption repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions
• Louisiana Ban on Concealed Carry of Switchblades Repealed
• Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repealed (effective on January 2, 2023)
• Language Removed from New Jersey Bill that would have made it a felony-level offense to carry a knife in much of the state

2023

• Knife Rights Initiates Federal Lawsuit Against California to End Unconstitutional “Switchblade” Ban
• Virginia Switchblade Concealed Cary Ban Repealed
• Florida Permitless Carry (Including Knives) Repeals Concealed Carry Ban for All Knives Except “pocket knives”
• Tennessee Knife Carry by Adults at Election Polls on School Grounds Legalized (First in the Nation)
• Nebraska Constitutional Carry Includes Knives and includes Knife Law Preemption (effective September 10, 2023)
• Knife Rights WINS Federal Lawsuit Against Philadelphia to End Unconstitutional Knife Possession & Carry in Public Ban
• Knife Rights Initiates Federal Lawsuit to End Unconstitutional Portions of the Federal Switchblade Act

2024

• Idaho Knife Law Preemption Signed repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions (Effective July 1, 2024)
• West Virginia Knife Law Preemption Enhancement Signed improving state’s existing preemption law. (Effective January 1, 2025)
• Louisiana: A bill that would have severely encumbered knife carry in Louisiana was amended to fix the problem.
• Iowa Knife Law Preemption Enhancement Signed adding financial penalties for jurisdictions that ignore state’s exisiting preemption law. (Effective January 1, 2025)
• Louisiana Knife Law Preemption Signed repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions (Effective August 1, 2024)
• Hawaii knife bans repealed including Butterfly Knives (Balisongs), Switchblades, Gravity Knives, Brass Knuckles (including Trench Knives and Karambits) as well as Swords and Spears
• Massachusetts Ban on Carry of a Switchblade (with a blade over 1.5 inches) Struck Down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as Unconstitutional under the Second Amendment