Legislative Update

December 29, 2014: With 2014 fading away, we look forward to the new year with great anticipation. In the waning months of this year we’ve been working hard getting ready for the 2015 legislative session. The coming weeks and months will see a record number of Knife Rights bills filed, building on the momentum we have achieved in the past six years. Knife Rights’ … Continued... Read More

December 29, 2014: With 2014 fading away, we look forward to the new year with great anticipation. In the waning months of this year we’ve been working hard getting ready for the 2015 legislative session. The coming weeks and months will see a record number of Knife Rights bills filed, building on the momentum we have achieved in the past six years. Knife Rights’ … Continued... Read More

JOIN KNIFE RIGHTS     DONATE to KNIFE RIGHTS … Continued... Read More

December 29, 2014: With 2014 fading away, we look forward to the new year with great anticipation. In the waning months of this year we’ve been working hard getting ready for the 2015 legislative session. The coming weeks and months will see a record number of Knife Rights bills filed, building on the momentum we have achieved in the past six years. Knife Rights’ … Continued... Read More

December 26, 2014: On Christmas Eve, attorneys for a coalition of 22 pro-Second Amendment organizations and individual plaintiffs filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the matter of Peruta v. San Diego, a lawsuit challenging the discretionary "may issue" handgun carry permit policies of San Diego Sheriff William Gore. Knife Rights Foundation elected to join this brief because the Peruta decision is of great importance to the analysis and outcomes of both future Second Amendment issues as well as current and potential Knife Rights cases. Click on "Read More >>>>" for additional details including a link to the brief.... Read More

December 16, 2014: Since its inception, Knife Rights has had as a foundational position that knives are arms protected by the Second Amendment. While generally used as tools daily by millions of Americans, knives are also occasionally used as an "arm" to defend a person's life. Our logo declares these are "Essential Rights." However, actual court rulings on this issue are always appreciated. Recently the Connecticut Supreme Court has affirmed that knives are arms protected by the Second Amendment in a case with potential wider implications. In its decision overturning a prior conviction, the Court held that "the second amendment protects the defendant’s right to possess the dirk knife … in his home and, second, that the statute’s complete ban on transporting those items between residences unduly burdens that right." The Court further said, "[t]hus, the safe transportation of weapons protected by the second amendment is an essential corollary of the right to possess them in the home for self-defense when such transportation is necessary to effectuate that right."... Read More

Oct. 31, 2014: The City of New York has agreed to pay $7,500 to a falsely arrested knife owner in a Knife Rights supported case. The embarrassing settlement shows that the city would rather pay than try to justify its illegal conduct after police declared his knife an illegal "gravity knife" even though the blade did not lock open. The knife owner (a sculptor who uses a knife for his work) was arrested, handcuffed, booked, and placed in a holding cell like a common criminal. "New York City's outrageous persecution of those with common pocket knives must end. This is just one of thousands of similar outrageous excesses by the City and DA. Knife Rights will continue to fight these unconstitutional abuses by the City until we win" said Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights. VIDEO: Many Knife Arrests in New York City, Few Convictions - WNBC New York I-Team Investigation. Includes Knife Rights' attorney Richard Holzberg and his client who received a $7,500 settlement from NYC after being falsely arrested.... Read More

November 19, 2014: In the past five years Knife Rights has significantly improved knife ownership and carry in the United States, passing 15 pro-knife bills in 11 states. This first annual review of the worst and best knife laws in America contrasts places where law-abiding knife owners enjoy complete or substantial freedom with those places which restrict the freedom of honest citizens by imposing arbitrary and irrational restrictions.The ratings were released at the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Sportsman – … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ First Annual Ratings of Worst Anti-Knife Cities and Best States for Knife Owners November 19, 2014: In the past five years Knife Rights has significantly advanced the rights of law-abiding knife owners in the United States, passing 15 pro-knife bills in 11 states. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explains, “This first annual Knife Rights review of the worst and best knife laws in America contrasts places where law-abiding knife owners enjoy complete or substantial freedom with those places which restrict the freedom of honest citizens by imposing arbitrary and irrational restrictions. … Continued... Read More

Oct. 8, 2014: New York City’s The Village Voice newspaper has published a front-page article, “Blade Stunner,” slamming the City’s persecution of knife owners. Journalist Jon Campbell’s in-depth research provides a historical perspective and personalizes the unfortunate and serious impact the City’s irrational and unconstitutional enforcement has had on citizens arrested and prosecuted for simply carrying a common folding knife. One of the most shocking revelations in this article confirms Knife Rights’ … Continued... Read More

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As of July 1, 2016: Alphabetical listing of states where civilian possession of switchblade/automatic knives are legal with any limitations noted. * = Concealed Carry also legal States where Knife Rights has enacted Knife Law Preemption are in Bold with Date States where Knife Rights has enacted Repeal of a Switchblade Ban are Italics with Date This information IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. … Continued... Read More

July 25, 2014: In a remarkably commonsense decision, a New York court has set aside a Gravity Knife prosecution "in the interest of justice." Click to read the Judge's decision. This decision is getting a lot of attention, which is good, however... WARNING! Residents of New York City and those traveling there should NOT take this as meaning that they can now carry any folding knife they want. (Click Read More >>>> below for details)... Read More

Email Governor Christie at: Constituent.Relations@gov.state.nj.us Call the Governor at: 609-292-6000 Subject: VETO S.2012/A.3128 Dear Governor Christie, I am writing to respectfully request that you VETO S.2012/A.3128, the Ivory Ban Bill just passed by the New Jersey legislature. I am a resident of [INSERT YOUR STATE], but this outrageous bill sets a very bad precedent and I hope you will stop this ill-conceived and unconstitutional scheme to deprive citizens of property without any good cause. … Continued... Read More

Email Governor Christie at: Constituent.Relations@gov.state.nj.us Call the Governor at: 609-292-6000 Subject: VETO S.2012/A.3128 Dear Governor Christie, I am writing to respectfully request that you VETO S.2012/A.3128, the Ivory Ban Bill just passed by the New Jersey legislature. I am a resident of New Hampshire, but this outrageous bill sets a very bad precedent and I hope you will stop this ill-conceived and unconstitutional scheme to deprive citizens of property without any good cause. … Continued... Read More

August 5, 2014: Knife Rights was shocked and saddened that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie bought into the irrational emotional pleas and outright lies of the radical ivory banners and signed into law the nation's most draconian ivory ban, ignoring New Jersey's constitutionally protected personal property rights. This ban will cost New Jersey citizens millions of dollars, seriously hamper many from making a living, adversely affect everyone from gun and knife collectors to musicians and antique collectors and will not save a single elephant in Africa. Many veterans and elderly who have invested in perfectly legal items containing ivory that have been in this country for decades will lose their investments. Some will sell at fire sale prices during the six-month grace period, but most will never even hear about the ban until down the road when they try to sell to cover medical expenses or some other emergency. For more details, click on Read More >>>> below.... Read More

(Subject: VETO S.2012/A.3128) Dear Governor Christie, I am writing to respectfully request that you please VETO S.2012/A.3128, the ivory Ban Bill just passed by the legislature. 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, the New Jersey legislature has decided to attack innocent New Jerseyans by passing an absurd Ivory Ban that will not save a single living elephant. … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights Foundation is pleased to announce its groundbreaking LegalBlade™ App - Knife Laws in America™. LegalBlade™ is the world's first knife law app! LegalBlade™ provides guidance at your fingertips to the knife laws of all 50 states as well as over 40 cities and local jurisdictions in the United States. Knife Rights Founder and Chairman Doug Ritter said, "While Knife Rights will continue to aggressively work to repeal bad knife laws, knowledge of the law is the first step in avoiding an unfortunate arrest, loss of your knife or other legal complications." The LegalBlade™ App is available now in the App Store and on Google play    Click on "Read More >>>>" for additional details.... Read More

Dear Congressman/Senator _______________: 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, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to take its frustrations out on innocent Americans and small businesses through a Domestic Ivory Ban that will not save a single living elephant. A Domestic Ivory Ban would irreparably harm owners of antiques, musical instruments and any items containing ivory legally imported into this country decades ago by stripping their value – … Continued... Read More

Saying that the word "knife" in the Knife Rights logo "is not family friendly," M&M's rejected a Knife Rights order for promotional packages of M&M's candies with the Knife Rights logo on them. Then they lied and claimed Knife Rights canceled the order, when it was entirely their doing!  ... Read More

“Standing Our Ground” AUCTION CLOSED WINNER: billybob-39 HIGH BID: $13,050 An Extraordinary Custom Collaboration Ivory Handled Bowie Crafted by Acclaimed American Artisans Raising Funds to Support Opposition to the U.S. Government’s Domestic Ivory Ban Stop the Government from Taking Billions of Dollars from Law-Abiding Americans Save the Elephants – Stop the Illegal Ivory Ban Click photo for higer resolution image. Custom Leather Maker Paul F. … Continued... Read More

Why Knife Law Preemption is Knife Rights’ Priority: Stupidity Reigns in Ocean City, MD – Bans Assisted Openers in “Emergency” Ordinance May 20, 2014: The Ocean City, Maryland, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning assisted openers on Monday, May 19, at the request of Police Chief, Ross Buzzuro. We had to double check the spelling — it seems it should be “Bizarre-O.” The “emergency” ordinance banning assisted openers is effective immediately. … Continued... Read More

(L-R) NRACRDF Vice-Chair Carol Bambery, Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter, Past NRA President Sandy Froman, NRACRDF Chairman Bill Dailey May 1, 2014: Knife Rights Founder and Chairman Doug Ritter was presented with the Carter-Knight Freedom Fund Award from the NRA's Civil Rights Defense Fund at the NRA's Annual Board of Directors Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 28, 2014. The Carter-Knight Freedom Fund Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the NRACRDF and was presented by NRACRDF Chairman and NRA Director William H. Dailey. Dailey said, "Doug's dedication and tireless effort to establish and protect the Second Amendment rights of knife owners has provided NRACRDF ample cause to recognize him for his significant achievements."... Read More

Knife Rights Testifies at Texas Senate Homeland Security Committee HearingLooking Toward 2015 Session Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, testified on Monday at a hearing before the Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security. The Committee was charged by Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to “study and make recommendations on removing barriers to Second Amendment Rights…” Last year Knife Rights succeeded in repealing the ban on switchblade (automatic) knives in Texas, … Continued... Read More