Legislative Update

Knife Rights Leading Ivory Ban Knife Community Coalition Letter Effort Knife Organizations are Encouraged to Sign onto Letter Opposing Administration’s Ivory Ban On April 4, 2014, a coalition letter was sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel Ashe from 31 organizations representing a wide variety of impacted communities opposed to this ban. The purpose of this letter was to put the Administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the House Appropriations Committee, … Continued... Read More

Locate your Kansas Legislators by using the form below: After SEARCH, scroll down results to “STATE” to find your Representative and Senator           … Continued... Read More

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Robert Mitchell, an attorney from Pennsylvania, attended the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking meeting held yesterday, March 20, 2014. Rob delivered Knife Rights’ statement (Click to read) to the Council. He reports below on the meeting’s low and high points. For an opening salvo, to make a statement and get opposition to the ivory ban on the record, this showing was a success. However, it was just that, … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights Statement Delivered to the Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking Meeting.March 20, 2014. Knife Rights represents America’s millions of knife owners, knifemakers, scrimshaw artists, knife retailers and suppliers to knifemakers and scrimshaw artists, many of whom own legally acquired ivory or knives with ivory components. Knife Rights opposes the ban on commercial sales and trade in ivory within the U.S. This action unfairly and illegally persecutes honest ivory owners who find their investment in legally acquired ivory “taken” … Continued... Read More

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March 16, 2014 Mr. Cade London Special Assistant, USFWS International Affairs Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 110 Arlington, VA 22203 VIA EMAIL: cade_london@fws.gov Re: Request for Public Input – Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking Public Meeting March 20, 2014 Knife Rights represents America’s millions of knife owners, knifemakers, scrimshaw artists, knife retailers and suppliers to knifemakers and scrimshaw artists, … Continued... Read More

July 11, 2014 (Updated July 15): Legislation to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from seriously harming millions of Americans by unnecessarily restricting interstate commerce of legal ivory and products containing legal ivory, such as ivory handled and decorated knives, was introduced in both the House and the Senate. Representatives Steve Daines (MT) and Jeff Miller (FL) sponsored H.R. 5052, and Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) sponsored S. 2587. These bills complement the FY2015 Interior (Department)and Environment Appropriations Bill, passed out of the House Appropriations Committee by a 29-19 vote on July 15, that would defund USFWS enforcement of its new ivory policy that needlessly punishes innocent Americans, while allowing the Administration to protect African elephants and other wildlife from poaching. Please CALL or EMAIL your Representative and Senators and ask them to Co-Sponsor H.R. 5052 and S. 2587. Find your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ Find your Senators here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Both bills are carefully tailored to allow the Administration to combat African elephant poaching and criminal organizations that sell illicit ivory in China. The bills protect innocent Americans who have complied with existing import prohibitions on antiques and the large stocks of ivory that have been in the United States for over 25 years. It protects the owners of musical instruments, knives, firearms, canes and a multitude of other items that include this decades-old legal ivory.... Read More

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Freedom’s Steel™ II – Never Forget™ Knife Rights’ Extraordinary Custom Collaboration Knife Honoring Sacrifices for America’s Freedoms Supporting NRA-ILA and the Second Amendment!   A One-of-a-Kind Custom Knife Crafted by Acclaimed Artisans Incorporating Historically Significant Steel and Materials (Click images and links for higher resolution photographs.) Knife Rights has donated Freedom’s Steel™ II – … Continued... Read More

Government Overreaching With Pernicious Ivory Ban Is Your Ivory Handled Knife Now Worthless?More Elephant Poaching, Not Less On February 11, 2014, the White House and Department of Interior (DOI) declared by executive fiat that virtually all elephant ivory in  the U.S., including ivory handled knives, could no longer be sold, claiming that by doing so they were saving the elephants. "Saving the elephants" is an admirable goal that most all can support, however many experts, and indeed, the African ivory producing nations as well, are convinced that not only will this ivory ban not save any elephants, it may increase their slaughter by poachers. Many believe that the Administration's new policy is a solution to a problem for which there is no U.S.-centric solution (more on that in the full article). And, the adverse consequence for ivory owners is significant and potentially devastating. Are Your Ivory handled Knives Now Worthless?  By banning the sale of ivory, this new draconian policy makes knives with ivory handles or fittings essentially worthless! The only exceptions that would allow sale of these items are virtually impossible for most owners to comply with, leaving members of the knife community who own, buy or sell knives with ivory handles or fittings with no viable recourse. And, the onus is on the owner, not the government, treating them guilty until they prove their innocence! CLICK HERE to read the full article with details on the new policy and its significant adverse impacts. Knife Rights is actively engaged in developing an effective response to this new policy. We do not intend to roll over without a fight.  Please read the full article for detailed analysis and stay tuned for developments.... Read More

July 1, 2014: July 1st is Knife Freedom Day in Tennessee. Knife Rights' repeal of the ban on automatic (switchblade) knives and the carry of knives over four inches in length "with intent to go armed," a vague law subject to abusive interpretation, goes into effect today. Combined with Knife Law Preemption that Knife Rights passed in Tennessee last year, which rendered null and void all local laws more restrictive than state law, this means that all law-abiding citizens of the Volunteer State can now own and carry the knife of their choice. Knife Rights cautions that not all law enforcement officers may be aware of the change in the law, so be respectful, polite and cooperative if stopped, but suggest they may want to check before trying to enforce a law no longer on the books. All Knife Rights members should review attorney Evan Nappen's recently updated article, "Knife Arrest! How Knife Owners Can Protect Themselves"... Read More

Jan. 18, 2014: Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced a complimentary Senate version of Knife Rights' Knife Owners' Protection Act, S.1955 (KOPA), This follows the introduction of Knife Rights' KOPA bill in the House last November. The Senate bill is based on the House bill as conceived and developed by Knife Rights, although it is formatted according to Senate rules. Knife Rights worked diligently with the Senate sponsors to ensure the Senate bill was fully aligned with the original House KOPA bill. TAKE ACTION TODAY! Getting this bill introduced is only the first step. We need your help to gain additional co-sponsors. If your Senator is not already a co-sponsor, please call or email your Senator TODAY and urge them to co-sponsor this commonsense legislation. You can find your Senator at: www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Or, you can use the Open Congress website at: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/s1955-113/show For additional details, including a model email, click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

Dec. 19, 2013: South Carolina state Senator Kevin L. Bryant has introduced a Knife Law Preemption bill, S.885, for the 2014 session. This is the fifth Knife Rights backed bill pre-filed for the 2014 legislative session! If you live, work or travel in South Carolina, we need your help. Please click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

Dec. 5, 2013: Building on Knife Rights' unprecedented 2013 legislative success with 5 more pro-knife bills passed, we are getting a jump on 2014 by filing two bills already in Florida and Tennessee. The Florida bill would enact Knife Law Preemption and the Tennessee bill would repeal the ban on automatic knives and on carry of knives over 4-inches in length "with the intent to go armed," a vague term subject to abuse by authorities. And, we've just only gotten started! If you live, work or travel in Florida or Tennessee bills, we need your help. Please click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

Nov. 14, 2013: Knife Rights' Knife Owners' Protection Act, H.R.3478 (KOPA), has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by sponsor Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ). Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explained, "KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners travelling throughout the U.S. from the vagaries of restrictive state and local laws. As long as possession of the particular knife is legal in the state 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." KOPA is the first proactive pro-knife federal legislation introduced in the nation's history. TAKE ACTION TODAY! Getting this bill introduced is only the first step. We need your help to gain additional co-sponsors. If your Representative is not already a co-sponsor, please call or email your Representative TODAY and urge them to co-sponsor this commonsense legislation. You can find your Representative at: www.house.gov/representatives/find/ Or, you can use the Open Congress website at: www.opencongress.org/bill/hr3478-113 Here's a model email that you can use. We strongly suggest you keep it simple and to the point: I support H.R.3478, the Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2013. I urge you to become a co-sponsor of this commonsense legislation that will protect my rights and the rights of all knife owners to travel throughout the U.S. without fear of prosecution under the myriad of state and local knife laws. For complete details, click on "Read More>>>>" below.... Read More

Text of H.R.419-114 – Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2015 114TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R.419 To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 13, 2013 Mr. SALMON (for himself, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, and Mr. MASSIE ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, … Continued... Read More

This Knife Owner’s Protection Act FAQ can also be downloaded as a PDF document. Why do we need KOPA? Those who travel across the country with common knives for work, recreation, and self defense are presently subject to arrest and prosecution under a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local laws and regulations. What is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, carrying significant penalties including jail time. … Continued... Read More

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<tr     Thank You for Your Donation to Knife Rights Together We are Rewriting Knife Law in America™ • If your donation was $60 or more, your membership materials will be sent within 120 days. • If your donation is eligible for a Bonus Donation Knife, please allow 16 weeks for your knife to ship, 24 weeks if a Damascus Hogue knife. … Continued... Read More

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Thank You for Your Donation! THIS FUNDRAISER IS CLOSED Winners are posted below. You can still make a donation and it will be doubled,but the drawing for prizes is closed. Make a TAX DEDUCTBLE Donationby December 31, 2013You Could WIN YOUR CHOICE of theseINCREDIBLE GIFT CERTIFICATES!*$7,515 in Prizes! Choose Your Gift CertificatethenChoose What You Wantfrom the Retailer’s Store/Website*DOUBLE WINNER’S CHOICE! … Continued... Read More