Delaware Senate Bill 323 has been introduced by Senator David L. Wilson that would repeal the state’s ban on sale and possession of a switchblade (automatic) knife. House Representative Daniel B. Short is an Additional Sponsor. The bill has five Co-Sponsors (Senators Gerald Hocker, Dave Lawson, Brian Pettyjohn and Bryant Richardson and Representative Timothy Dukes). SB 323 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee
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The bill’s legislative synopsis does a great job explaining the reasons this bill should be passed and nicely sums up the case against knife bans in general: “So-called “switch blade knives”, which are more appropriately called automatic knives, allow for easy deployment often by depressing a button. Such cutting implements are lawfully used as tools by many working in the trades, and are also popular amongst outdoor, hunting, and camping enthusiasts. Currently, despite common and myriad lawful purposes, such knives are treated as deadly weapons in Delaware and therefore subject otherwise law-abiding Delawareans engaging in law-abiding activities to criminal prosecution in the justice system. Removing the prohibitions would permit individuals to lawfully use such tools but would still subject them to prosecution for deadly weapons related offenses where an individual uses such an automatic knife in the course of an attack or assault aimed at causing death or serious injury.”
Knife Rights has led the effort to repeal switchblade bans or restrictions in 20 states, starting with New Hampshire in 2010. Repeals have since been enacted in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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™. Knife Rights efforts have resulted in 49 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 31 states and over 200 cities and towns since 2010.