Legislative Update

Lady Liberty’s Steel™ – Freedom’s Flame™ Knife Rights’ Extraordinary Custom Dagger Supporting NRA Women’s Leadership Forum A One-of-a-Kind Custom Knife Crafted by Audra Draper, the World’s First Woman Master Smith (Click images and links for higher resolution photographs.) Knife Rights has donated Lady Liberty’s Steel™ – Freedom’s Flame™a stunning one-of-a-kind 21.5-inch Mosaic Damascus dagger by acclaimed Master Smith Audra Draper, … Continued... Read More

March 4, 2016: On Friday in Maryland the “Weapon-Free Higher Education Zones” bill, HB 1002, was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation, but with an amendment that stripped “Knives” from the bill. The original bill would have prohibited the carry or possession of ANY and ALL knives, as well as guns and deadly weapons, anywhere on the property of public institutions of higher education in Maryland. … Continued... Read More

February 19, 2016: Georgia State Senator Bill Heath has introduced Knife Rights’ Georgia Knife Law Reform bill, SB 405, that would increase the legal carry length of a knife blade in the state from 5.5 inches to 12 inches. Sen. Heath was the sponsor of Knife Rights’ Georgia Knife Law Preemption bill that was enacted in 2012. Efforts to completely eliminate the carry length limit have been stymied due to the manner in which a knife is defined in Georgia Law. … Continued... Read More

March 6, 2016: Governor Tomblin's veto of the Knife Rights supported West Virginia Permitless (Constitutional) Carry bill, HB 4145, that was vetoed by the governor was overridden by the legislature this past weekend. According to guidance provided by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the new law is effective May 24, 2016. The new law allows West Virginians 21 years old and older, who are not prohibited persons, to carry a concealed "deadly weapon," including knives, without a permit. That includes switchblades (automatics), balisongs and gravity knives. However, knife carriers may still face local restrictions on their right to carry a knife. West Virginia's existing preemption law protects firearms owners only. WARNING: Persons 18 years old but less than 21 years old may obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun BUT that license DOES NOT include concealed carry of a knife or any other "dangerous weapon." The penalties for anyone under 21 carrying a concealed knife illegally have been made far tougher. It is now a felony! Anyone who is younger than 21 should be very careful to abide by West Virginia's 3.5-inch concealed carry limit and the total prohibition on concealed carry of switchblades (automatics), balisongs and gravity knives. Knife Rights will be working in West Virginia next year to try and fix this absurd change in the law that adversely impacts those under age 21. With all the oxygen sucked out of the state capitol by HB 4145, it will be a challenge to get Knife Rights' bipartisan West Virginia Knife Law Preemption bill, HB 4541, passed this year in the remaining days left in the session. HB 4541 would ensure that knife carriers don't face local restrictions on their right to carry a knife under HB 4145.... Read More

Mar. 2, 2016: Knife Rights' Mississippi Knife Law Preemption bill, HB 1294 that is sponsored by Rep. Herb Frierson has been passed by the House on a vote of 101-16. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Knife Law Preemption 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 in 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, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.... Read More

Mar. 2, 2016: Knife Rights' bipartisan Maryland Knife Law Preemption bill, SB 653 has been heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. No vote was held at the time, that is the next step. If you live, work or travel in Maryland, please CALL or EMAIL the Committee Members TODAY and ask them to please vote Yes on SB 653.  That's all you need to do, keep it simple and polite. CONTACTS for the Judicial Proceedings Committee after the break.... Read More

ALL KNIVES MATTER! Dana Loesch talks about knives, Knife Rights and the Second Amendment with Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter at SHOT Show 2016. … Continued... Read More

Oct. 31, 2016: Knife Rights' Oklahoma Knife Law Reform bill, SB 1159, becomes effective November 1st. SB 1159 removes dagger, bowie knife, dirk knife and sword cane from the items prohibited from carry in Oklahoma, and finishes the job Knife Rights began last year with the repeal of the ban on carrying switchblade (automatic) knives and with the passage of Knife Law Preemption in Oklahoma. Since Knife Law Preemption is already the law in Oklahoma, the revised law will be immediately effective statewide on November 1st This represents the culmination of three years of effort by Knife Rights in Oklahoma so that knife owners there can enjoy the freedom to own and carry the knife they choose. Oklahoma's knife law reform is more proof that Knife Rights is the one getting it done™ for knife owners in America. Getting it done means having the perseverance to come back to a state's legislature as many times as necessary to finish the job. We can now count 21 pro-knife bills passed in 15 states in six years. No other organization even comes close to that record.... Read More

WARNING:  Knife Rights Foundation provides this summary for informational purposes only and cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. Knife Rights Foundation does not offer legal advice. You should not rely on the information provided in this summary as an alternative to legal advice from a licensed attorney. Generally (below):  Illegal to import, sell, offer for sale, purchase, barter or possess with the intent to sell – Generally interpreted to also include working on or with ivory including knifemaking and scrimshaw or repairs using ivory (including mammoth ivory where indicated) California (legislative AB96) Effective: July 1, … Continued... Read More

January 24, 2016: Kentucky state Senator Robin Webb has introduced a Knife Law Preemption nd Knife Ban Repeal bill, S 112. This bill is the result of months of work by Knife Rights and Senator Webb and her staff. To accomplish Knife Law Preemption, the bill simply adds knives to the existing proven Kentucky firearms preemption statute. The bill will also remove "any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife" from Kentucky's definition of a "Deadly Weapon" which limits concealed carry to CCW holders. That phrase, "ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife," has been, and could in the future be, subject to abuse from adverse interpretations by law enforcement, prosecutors and judges. In a 2003 appeals court decision (Stout v. Commonwealth), the judge held that a 5-inch "locked-blade" folding knife was NOT an "ordinary pocket knife," even though the vast majority of pocket knives sold then and now have locking blades and knives with blades 5-inches and longer are not unusual.... Read More

Washington, D.C. – December 16, 2015: Today HumaneWatch.org released a new report showing the Humane Society of the United States shockingly shortchanges pet shelters in New Jersey. In 2014, HSUS raised over $100 million from Americans and yet only gave 1% of this money to local pet shelters—and didn’t operate a single pet shelter itself—despite having fundraising appeals full of cats and dogs. In New Jersey, … Continued... Read More

December 14, 2015: Congratulations to our mates down under as new Australian customs regulations go into effect that removes “flipper knives” from the list of knives (in Schedule 13 – table item 14)) that are banned from import into the country. This was the regulation cited in recent years by Customs inspectors to prohibit many one-hand opening knives from being imported into Australia. While “assisted opening” knives remain banned, … Continued... Read More

November 25, 2015: Applying the Second Amendment to knives as arms and the groundbreaking Heller U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that it was illegal for someone to possess a switchblade (automatic) knife in their home. The court concluded that the Second Amendment protects knives as well as guns, one of Knife Rights' foundational principles. You can read the court's decision here: http://www.wicourts.gov/ca/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=155961 As such, this decision, albeit narrow as was required by Wisconsin law, held that at least with regards to switchblades at home, Wisconsin's ban is unconstitutional. Knife Rights believes such bans are entirely unconstitutional. Having said that, Knife Rights Wisconsin Knife Law Reform bill, AB 142, would remove this prohibition altogether, as well as enact Knife Law Preemption, resolving the issue entirely. AB 142 has passed the House and awaits a vote in the Senate. The case arose when Cory Herrmann, the defendant, was injured in his home. Showing his switchblade knife to a friend, Herrmann dropped the knife and cut his femoral artery. After 911 was called, officers responding to the scene seized the switchblade and subsequently Herrmann was charged with illegal possession.... Read More

TO: SenAddiego@njleg.org, SenAllen@njleg.org,SenBarnes@njleg.org, SenBateman@njleg.org, SenBeach@njleg.org, SenBeck@njleg.org, SenBucco@njleg.org, SenCardinale@njleg.org, SenCodey@njleg.org, SenConnors@njleg.org, SenCruzPerez@njleg.org, SenCunningham@njleg.org, SenDoherty@njleg.org, SenGill@njleg.org, SenGordon@njleg.org, SenGreenstein@njleg.org, SenHolzapfel@njleg.org, SenKean@njleg.org, SenKyrillos@njleg.org, SenMadden@njleg.org, SenOroho@njleg.org, SenOToole@njleg.org, SenPennacchio@njleg.org, SenPou@njleg.org, SenRice@njleg.org, SenRuiz@njleg.org, SenSacco@njleg.org, SenScutari@njleg.org, SenSinger@njleg.org, SenSmith@njleg.org, SenStack@njleg.org, SenSweeney@njleg.org, SenThompson@njleg.org, SenTurner@njleg.org, SenVanDrew@njleg.org, SenVitale@njleg.org, SenWeinberg@njleg.org, SenWhelan@njleg.org SUBJECT: Please Vote NO on S3416 Copy and Paste the text below into the body of the email. Dear Senator, Please vote “NO” on S3416. S3416 has severe unintended consequences on the general public and New Jersey. … Continued... Read More

January 19, 2016: Two draconian bills that would have dramatically harmed knifemakers and knife owners were vetoed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on January 19. The two closely related bills, S3146/A3773 and S3416/A4808, would have outlawed, with extraordinarily tough civil and felony criminal penalties, mere possession or transportation via New Jersey of parts or products from over 1,200 species of threatened and endangered species. Elephant, stingray, gator, mollusks (mother of pearl) and many other species whose parts have traditionally been used by knifemakers would have been included, putting makers and collectors in legal jeopardy. Knife Rights worked tirelessly for months to lead the opposition to these bills with our good friends at the Elephant Protection Association and with support from a number of hunting organizations. While testimony and position papers were provided at legislative hearings, resulting in the bills being amended down from over 12,000 species to 1,200 species (see below), there was never any question that these still appalling bills would pass the Democratic controlled New Jersey legislature where freedom and common sense go to die. Our only hope for defeating these bills was that Governor Christie would recognize them for the terrible bills they were, both for New Jersey and its citizens, and for the country as a whole. Our legislative lobbying efforts set the stage for Governor Christie's veto, with most Republican legislators voting "no" or abstaining. Knife Rights is also grateful to numerous friends and organization leaders from around the country who participated in the effort to defeat these outrageous and draconian measures. As a result of the team effort, New Jersey will not become the poster child for the nation's most radical anti-hunting advocates who would have dealt a serious blow to law-abiding knifemakers and knife owners as collateral damage. Click here to read our position papers opposing S3146/A3773 and S3416/A4808.... Read More

ACTION ALERT – HEARING Monday! “Big 5 Ban” Bill Will Make Felons of Hundreds of Thousands of New Jerseyans Who Own Items With Ivory, Mother of Pearl, Exotic Leather and Much More! A hearing is being held Monday, November 9, at 1:00 PM in Trenton on S3416, an outrageous and draconian bill that bans mere POSSESSION of not only ivory, but also anything made from over 11,000 species of wildlife! … Continued... Read More

Purchase Knife Laws of the U.S.: Loopholes, Pitfalls & Secrets by Evan Nappen via Amazon. A portion of the proceeds is paid to Knife Rights. … Continued... Read More

Once again, a particularly unjust gravity knife arrest in New York City has resulted in a big dollar settlement, this time for $12,500. The person arrested, who we will call "John" (Hispanic male whose name is withheld at his request), was, according to John, driving his late-model Audi sedan when officers in an unmarked NYPD car stopped him. He claims he was approached by three plainclothes police officers and despite the fact that John claims that the car was in perfect working order, one of the officers claimed it had a broken taillight. For no apparent reason, according to John, he was ordered to exit his vehicle and was brought around to the back by one of the officers where he was questioned about where he lived and worked, and how someone like him came to be driving a luxury vehicle. While John was being questioned, one of the officers, without permission or apparent probable cause, according to John, conducted an unauthorized search of the vehicle. Afterwards, John says he was told to puts his hands behind his back because he was under arrest for possession of a gravity knife.... Read More

Sept. 29, 2015: Knife Rights' comment opposing the irrational and abusive federal Ivory Ban was submitted yesterday. Click here to read the comment with its attachments. Thanks to everyone who submitted a comment to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing the Ivory Ban. The Introduction and the Conclusion (Click "Read More>>>>" below) sums up the serious federal law violations and other practical issues with this proposed Ivory Ban rule. Knife Rights abhors the poaching of all species. The proven solution is to attack poaching at the source and in the primary destinations for the illegal ivory, not punish lawful ivory owners in the U.S. who cannot have any effect on poaching in Africa. Successful anti-poaching programs in Africa have demonstrated that an integrated comprehensive approach that support law-enforcement in the field and encourages the locals to fight poaching does work to save elephants. Illegally stealing the investments of millions of Americans will not save a single elephant in Africa. To read the Introduction and the Conclusion of Knife Rights' comment AND what YOU can do NOW to hell stop the ban, click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

Sept. 26, 2015: A Knife Rights representative attended the August 24 meeting of the Federal Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking in Washington, DC to speak out against the Council's continued support for the Administration's irrational proposed ivory ban rule that will hurt many knifemakers, collectors and millions of Americans. Knife Rights abhors poaching of all species and supports science-based conservation efforts that have succeeded in posting significant GAINS in some elephant populations in recent years. We support practical efforts to defend elephants in the field that have resulted in MARKED DECLINES IN POACHING in recent years, as well as lawful enforcement activities that directly target illegal black-market trade in ivory. We support targeting poachers, not abusing law-abiding Americans in violation of long-held American principles. A key point we make is to note that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) published a study, "Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) UPDATE ON ELEPHANT POACHING TRENDS IN AFRICA TO 31 DECEMBER 2014" that evaluates relative poaching levels based on the Proportion of Illegally Killed Elephants (PIKE). The latest report published last year clearly shows that the illegal killing of elephants peaked back in 2011 and declines and levels off thereafter. The report also notes that illegal killing of elephants in Eastern Africa has dropped for the last four years and these populations are now at sustainable levels. Southern Africa herds have been at sustainable levels for all the years monitored, 2002 -2014. Where elephant herds in Africa are protected from poaching, the herds are proven to be sustainable.... Read More

Aug. 27, 2015: Dr. Daniel Stiles, an internationally acknowledged expert on African Elephants and the illegal ivory trade, has rebuked the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for misrepresenting his research and misleading the American public about illegal ivory in America, submitting a stinging opposition comment in response to its proposed ivory ban. Click here to read Dr. Stiles' Comment. This misrepresentation is a serious violation of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because the proposed rule is "arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with law" (5 U.S.C. 706(2)(A)) and FWS has not articulated a reasonable basis supported by reliable and accurate data for its decision to promulgate this rule, as well as the 2001 Federal Data Quality Act (AKA Information Quality Act) because the data upon which FWS has based its decision to promulgate this rule is either entirely nonexistent, or in the alternative, has been seriously misconstrued. FWS' clear violation of these laws and regulations in misrepresenting Dr. Stiles work means that the proposed rule is inherently flawed and should be withdrawn. PLEASE SUBMIT A COMMENT TODAY asking that this proposed rule be withdrawn. Knife Rights abhors poaching of all species and supports science-based conservation efforts that have succeeded in posting significant GAINS in some elephant populations in recent years. We support practical efforts to defend elephants in the field that have resulted in MARKED DECLINES IN POACHING in recent years, as well as lawful enforcement activities that directly target illegal black-market trade in ivory. We support targeting poachers, not abusing law-abiding Americans in violation of long-held American principles. For details on Dr. Stiles' rebuke of FWS, a link to submit a comment and a Model Comment to submit, click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

July 29, 2015: After over a year's delay, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed regulation that would virtually ban the interstate trade in ivory, including knives with ivory handles and embellishments, has been published in the Federal Register. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explained, "Knife owners, knifemakers, scrimshaw artists and suppliers will all be hit hard if the rule is allowed to go into effect as it is proposed. While there are some exceptions allowed in this proposed ivory ban, they are very narrow and the overall impact is as bad as expected for honest owners of decades-old legal ivory." A 60-day comment period is provided. Knife Rights abhors the poaching of all species. The proven solution is to attack poaching at the source, not punish lawful ivory owners in the U.S. who cannot have any effect on poaching in Africa. Successful anti-poaching programs have demonstrated that an integrated comprehensive approach that encourages the locals to fight poaching does work. This is the sort of solution that should be expanded and encouraged by the U.S. and by all who really want to end poaching. Knife Rights is working with our partners in the many organizations opposed to this rule to develop effective, well-reasoned and coherent arguments against this rule that we'll ask you to submit as comments over the next two months. That will take some time to put together.   The most important thing concerned citizens can do right now is to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to ask them to co-sponsor the African Elephant Conservation and Legal Ivory Possession Act of 2015 which would protect honest U.S. ivory owners while providing for additional conservation and anti-poaching efforts in Africa. Click for more information. For additional details on this proposed Federal Ivory Ban, click on Read More >>>>... Read More

June 23, 2015: With the adjournment of the New York legislature, the Machete Ban bill, S. 3199, has failed to pass this year after a strong lobbying effort by Knife Rights. It was initially passed by the Republican led Senate without proper consideration, but was never voted out of committee in the Democratic controlled Assembly. The bill would have added "Machete" to the same list of outlawed "Deadly Weapons" in which you will find Switchblades, Daggers and the like. Potential penalties for violations would be up to a year behind bars. A machete, like a kitchen knife, or any other knife, is simply a common tool used daily by many New Yorkers at home, work and recreation. It is the height of insanity to try and blame the tool for a criminal's misuse of that tool to commit a violent crime. Use of any inanimate object, tool or otherwise, to commit violence on another person is already a crime in New York. Knife Rights is pleased we were able to work with our friends in the Assembly to successfully stop this absurd bill from passing.... Read More

June 23, 2015: The most extreme and draconian effort to date to punish honest, law-abiding ivory owners, including owners of ivory handled knives, New York Senate Bill 4686, failed today with the adjournment of the New York legislature after a strong lobbying effort by Knife Rights and our alliance of organizations from across the political spectrum opposed to the ivory bans. This bill would have banned the mere POSSESSION and TRANSPORTATION, … Continued... Read More