Legislative Update

June 23, 2015: With the adjournment of the New York Legislature, Knife Rights and knife owners can chalk up two wins and one disappointing loss. Both the proposed Machete Ban and the Draconian Ivory Possession and Transportation Ban were defeated. The “fix” to the gravity knife statute that would end bogus New York City knife arrests did not pass when Senate Republicans refused to vote on the bill already passed overwhelmingly by the Democratic controlled Assembly (for the second year in a row). … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights' Knife Owners' Protection Act, S. 1315 (KOPA), passed a critical hurdle yesterday when it was voted out of the the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Passage by the Commerce Committee sets the measure up for consideration by the full Senate.  KOPA protects travelers from a patchwork of conflicting state knife laws.     The result of five years of effort, Knife Rights conceived, drafted and developed the Knife Owners' Protection Act as the first proactive pro-knife federal legislation introduced in the nation's history.  The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-UT) with co-sposnors Senators. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), John Thune (R-SD) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).  Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter noted, "This legislation will solve a real and growing problem that faces every knife owner traveling throughout America--the threat of arrest and prosecution under misguided local laws merely for possessing knives during lawful travel."  KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners traveling throughout the U.S. from a patchwork of restrictive state and local laws. As long as possession of the particular knife is legal where the journey starts and ends, and provided the knife is secured in accordance with KOPA, a knife owner would no longer be threatened with arrest simply for traveling from one place to another.... Read More

President Obama Declared Freddie Gray’s Knife NOT a Switchblade in 2009 by Knife Rights’ Doug Ritter with Evan F. Nappen, Esq. May 7, 2015 – Gilbert, AZ: Freddie Gray was charged by Officer G. Miller with violating Baltimore’s “Switch-blade knives” City Code which was originally passed in 1950. Freddie Gray’s knife was described by the officer, under penalty of perjury, as “…found to be a spring assisted, … Continued... Read More

May 7, 2015 – Gilbert, AZ: Freddie Gray was charged by Officer G. Miller with violating Baltimore’s “Switch-blade knives” City Code which was originally passed in 1950. Freddie Gray’s knife was described by the officer, under penalty of perjury, as “…found to be a spring assisted, one hand operated knife…” (link to Charging Document) In other words, the officer swore that it was a spring-assisted knife. In response to Customs’ … Continued... Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 1, 2015 - Gilbert, AZ: In the case of the arrest on a knife charge and subsequent death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged that Freddie Gray was falsely arrested and that the knife in his pocket was not an illegal switchblade. Mosby is filing murder charges against one officer while others are being charged with crimes including manslaughter and assault.... Read More

April 27, 2015: Patrik Jonsson, a writer for the Christian Science Monitor, asked a very insightful question in an April 22 story on the recent questionable death of Freddie Gray while in custody of the Baltimore police: "Should it really be illegal to carry a knife in the city?" It should come as no surprise that Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter's response is, "no, it should not be illegal to carry any knife, only actual use of a knife for criminal purposes should be illegal." Doug is quoted several times in the article that explores the absurdity of knife bans and the adverse consequences that often result. Click here to read the article. UPDATE 5/1/2015: State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby has indicated that Freddie Gray was falsely arrested and that the knife in his pocket was not illegal. Mosby said she will file murder charges against one officer and manslaughter and other charges against others. According to news reports, Freddie Gray was arrested after a police officer supposedly found a "switchblade" in his pocket. But, the court documents reveal something else: "The officer noticed a knife clipped to the inside of his front right pants pocket. The defendant was arrested without force or incident," the documents say. "The knife was recovered by this officer and found to be a spring-assisted, one-hand-operated knife." (Emphasis added.) Note that the officer did not refer to the knife as a "switchblade." Click "Read More >>>>" below for additional details on the arrest and differences between a legal assisted-opening knife and a switchblade.... Read More

Thank Your For Supporting Knife Rightsand A Sharper Future™ PRINT OUT YOUR EMAILED PAYPAL RECEIPT – YOU MUST PRESENT YOUR RECEIPT FOR ENTRY. A physical ticket will not be sent to you. Please check in at the registration table upon arrival. Breakfast starts PROMPTLY at 7:30 AM and will be done no later than 8:45, before the show opens at 9:00. Breakfast location is the Waverly Renaissance Hotel, 2450 Galleria Parkway, … Continued... Read More

June 9, 2015: Knife Rights' Michigan Knife Law Preemption bill, SB 305, has been passed by the Senate 27-10. It now moves over to the House for consideration, most likely not until after the Summer break. 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. We will advise when it is time to contact your Representative about this bill.... Read More

February 8, 2016: Knife Rights' Wisconsin Knife Law Reform Bill including Knife Law Preemption, AB 142, was signed on February 6th by Governor Scott Walker. Wisconsin is the eleventh state in which Knife Rights has repealed a switchblade ban and the ninth in which we have passed Knife Law Preemption. The new law was enacted when it was officially published on February 7, 2016. The signing ceremony was held during the annual meeting of Wisconsin FORCE, the state NRA affiliate. Wisconsin FORCE and Executive Director Jeff Nass played a critical role in passage of the bill and Knife Rights is appreciative of their support for our efforts to forge a Sharper Future for all Americans. At the signing, Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter presented Governor Walker with a Pro-Tech TR-4 automatic (switchblade) knife specially engraved with the state seal and his name and dedication during the signing ceremony (photo after the break).... Read More

Subject: VOTE NO on SB 398 Dear Senator _________________________, I am writing to respectfully request that you please VOTE NO on SB 398, the Ivory Ban Bill. I, like all Americans, find the out-of-control poaching of African elephants appalling. Unfortunately, instead of going after poachers, smugglers and traders of illicit ivory, this bill only attacks innocent Nevada residents and visitors by passing an absurd Ivory Ban that will not save a single living elephant. … Continued... Read More

Subject: VOTE NO on HB 6955 Dear Representative _________________________, I am writing to respectfully request that you please VOTE NO on HB 6955, the revised Ivory Ban Bill. I, like all Americans, find the out-of-control poaching of African elephants appalling. Unfortunately, instead of going after poachers, smugglers and traders of illicit ivory, this bill only attacks innocent Connecticut residents by passing an absurd Ivory Ban that will not save a single living elephant. … Continued... Read More

March 28, 2015: The Illinois Senate Environment and Conservation Committee defeated Senate Bill 1858 by a 6-4 vote. SB 1858 was a draconian bill that would have banned the sale or purchase of any ivory, including mammoth ivory, in the state with no exceptions whatsoever. This is the fourth ivory ban bill defeated so far this year (Maryland, Virginia and Washington previously). The defeat came after an alliance of organizations opposed to the bill, … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights 2016 Ultimate Steel Spectacular!. … Continued... Read More

March 17, 2015: A hearing on an Oregon bill that would ban the sale or purchase of any ivory in the state, including 10,000-year-old mammoth ivory, SB 913, is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 24th at 8:00 am. This draconian legislation includes a ban on mammoth ivory, contains no commercial use exemptions for knives, firearms, musical instruments, antiques or other items and criminalizes "possesses with intent to sell," a phrase that is easily abused by prosecutors. If you are an Oregon resident or travel or work in Oregon, we encourage you to attend and testify against this bill that will only serve to punish law-abiding citizens of Oregon and which won't save a single living elephant. If you cannot attend the hearing, please email or call the members of the Judiciary Committee. Click on "Read More>>>>" for a model letter and contacts for the committee members.... Read More

Subject: OPPOSE SB 913 Dear Senator _________________________, I am writing to respectfully request that you please OPPOSE SB 913, the Ivory Ban Bill that will be heard in Juciary on March 24, 2015. I, like all Americans, find the out-of-control poaching of African elephants appalling. Unfortunately, instead of going after poachers, smugglers and traders of illicit ivory, this bill only attacks innocent Oregonians by passing an absurd Ivory Ban that will not save a single living elephant. … Continued... Read More

Sept. 1, 2015: Today is the effective date for Knife Rights' signature Knife Law Preemption bill in Texas. Several Texas cities will see their restrictive knife laws voided today. The new law invalidates all municipal and county knife ordinances more restrictive than state law, creating uniform knife laws throughout the Lone Star State. The new law also ensues that Knife Rights' repeal of the state's ban on switchblade (automatic) knives that was passed in 2013 will now have effect throughout the state. The two Texas cities that made Knife Rights' "10 Worst Anti-Knife Cities in America" list for 2014, San Antonio at number four and Corpus Christi at number nine, have now been removed. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, "Removing two of the nation's worst anti-knife cities from our list in a single act is an example of what can be done when we all work together towards greater freedom in America."... Read More

Freedom’s Steel™ Damascus Pistol Re-Discovering the Lost Art of the Damascus Barrel Crafted by Master Bladesmith & Master Gunsmith Steve Culver Work in Progress Photos by Steve Culver Scroll down to view all images. The purchaser of Freedom’s Steel™ Damascus Pistol will receive a USB Drive with hundreds of Work in Progress photos, plus the studio photographs of the finished knife., plus videos, including vidoe of the test firing. This is just a sampling of these facinating WIP photos. … Continued... Read More

Freedom’s Steel™ Damascus Pistol Re-Discovering the Lost Art of the Damascus Barrel Supporting NRA-ILA and the Second Amendment! A One-of-a-Kind Custom Percussion Damascus Barrel Pistol Crafted by Master Bladesmith & Master Gunsmith Steve Culver Incorporating Historically Significant Materials (Click images for higher resolution photographs.) Knife Rights has donated Freedom’s Steel™ Damascus Pistol to the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) in appreciation for their support of Knife Rights’ … Continued... Read More

Freedom’s Steel™ IV – The Jefferson Bowie™ Knife Rights’ Extraordinary Custom Collaboration Knife Supporting NRA-ILA and the Second Amendment! A One-of-a-Kind Custom Knife Crafted by Acclaimed Artisans Incorporating Historically Significant Materials (Click images and links for higher resolution photographs.) Knife Rights has donated Freedom’s Steel™ IV – The Jefferson Bowie, … Continued... Read More

Freedom’s Steel™ III – Shall Not Be Infringed™ Knife Rights’ Extraordinary Custom Collaboration Knife Supporting NRA-ILA and the Second Amendment!   SOLD for $33,000! A One-of-a-Kind Custom Knife Crafted by Acclaimed Artisans Incorporating Historically Significant Materials (Click images and links for higher resolution photographs.) Knife Rights has donated Freedom’s Steel™ III – … Continued... Read More

March 17, 2015: Knife Rights' Idaho Knife Law Preemption bill, SB 1092, was passed by the Senate 25-10. SB 1092 now moves the House. SB 1092 would repeal all existing local knife regulations and prohibit any future knife regulations, making state knife law supreme over the entire state. Our research discovered numerous local ordinances that restrict knives in Idaho, but we were especially taken aback by the prohibition on concealed carry (without a permit) of a "buck knife" in Twin Falls (Chapter 2, 6-2-1(B)). That’s particularly ironic given that Buck Knives is headquartered in Idaho. If you live, work or travel in Idaho, please contact your state Representative or the Representative where you work or travel and ask them to please support SB 1092. CLICK HERE to find your Idaho Representative.... Read More

March 2, 2015: Another irrational state Ivory Ban effort has failed, this time in Washington State. Once a bright light was shone on the lies and deceit of the Ivory- banners, the bills (HB 1131 and SB 5241) proved unable to move forward by legislative deadlines Washington now joins Virginia this year in rejecting the emotionally charged, but factually deficient arguments put forth by promoters of these Ivory Ban bills. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, "Knife Rights and all who we represent abhor the poaching of elephants in Africa. However, these ivory ban bills won't save a single living elephant, while taking hundreds of millions of dollars from millions of honest law-abiding Americans. It makes no sense to unfairly penalize Americans for the illegal and immoral activities that continue to threaten elephants, and which these proposed ivory bans do nothing to ameliorate. These ivory ban bills are 'Feel Good - Do Bad' legislation at its worst."... Read More

Lady Liberty’s Steel™ – Freedom’s Flame™Work In Progress Photos Master Smith Audra Draper Work in Progress Photos by Mike Draper. Scroll down to view all images. The purchaser of Lady Liberty’s Steel™ – Freedom’s Flame™ will receive a USB Drive with 598 Work in Progress photos, plus the Terrill Hoffman studio photographs of the finished knife.This is just a sampling of these facinating WIP photos. … Continued... Read More