Louisiana SB 194, that includes Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption language and that was previously passed by the Senate, has passed out of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice by a vote of 8 – 4.
Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, was in Baton Rouge to lobby and testified in support of SB 194. Our good friend Dan Zelenka, President of the Louisiana Shooters Association, also testified in support of the bill.
In addition, HB 823, a badly written bill which would have banned knife carry throughout many places in the state in an effort to fix a loophole that allowed carry of weapons in courts and police stations, was amended with the assistance of our friends at Louisiana Shooters Association. The amended bill has very narrow location specific restrictions and was passed out with a unanimous vote.
Finally, HB 750 was killed. It would have banned knives in many new places not already covered by expanding “firearms free zones.” That term is actually misleading because it also covers so-called “dangerous weapons,” the vague definition of which also can include knives, so it’s not just about “firearms.” Rathner registered our opposition in person on this bill.
We sincerely appreciate Dan Zelenka’s relentless efforts in helping us pursue knife law reform in Louisiana. Knife Law Preemption would complete our reform efforts in the Pelican State.
Knife Law Preemption is a Knife Rights’ criminal justice reform effort that repeals and prevents local ordinances more restrictive than state law which only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. Preemption ensures citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere within a state.
Knife Rights passed the nation’s first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West 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 45 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 28 states and over 175 cities and towns since 2010.