At the request of Knife Rights, Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has issued a letter to the City of Tempe, Arizona, informing them that their 2024 ordinance banning the possession of “brass knuckles” by adults in certain public places likely violates state statute and the Arizona Constitution. Knife Rights’ first in the nation knife law preemption statute, ARS 13-3120, is crystal clear; political subdivisions like Tempe have no authority to ban knives of any kind.
The broad language used in the Tempe ordinance would ban any knife with a retention ring like a Karambit, as well as D-Guard Bowies, Trench Knives and the like. All are legitimate arms under Arizona’s Constitution. Knife Rights opposed this ordinance when it was first proposed, but it was enacted over our objections.
Knife Rights would like to thank our good friend Rep. Nguyen for his stalwart support of our individual rights, especially the Second Amendment.
Since 2010 Knife Rights’ efforts have resulted in 57 bills & court decisions repealing knife bans & protecting knife owners in 36 states and over 200 cities and towns! Knife Rights is America’s grassroots knife owners’ organization; leading the fight to Rewrite Knife Law in America™ and forging a Sharper Future for all Americans™.