Winners of our 2011 NRA Annual Meeting and BLADE Show Membership Giveaway and the Knife Rights 2011 BLADE Show Fundraising Knife have been contacted and their prizes shipped. Our News Slice Email Newsletter Signup Giveaway winners were presented their prizes at BLADE Show. Click below on "Read More >>>>" for a list of the winners.... Read More
Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights, presented the Second Annual Sharper Future™ Awards at BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia, June 11, 2011. Utah State Representative Ryan D. Wilcox was the recipient of the Freedom's Edge™ award given to honor a local, state or national elected representative who has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights. Cam Hughes and Jim Brown were the recipient of the Freedom's Point™ award to honor an individual citizen or citizens who demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights. Claire Wolfe, a columnist for SWAT Magazine, was the recipient of the Freedom's Voice™ award given to honor a journalist or journalistic team in general media that has demonstrated a commitment to fair, accurate and insightful coverage on an issue involving knife ownership. Rod and Peggy Bremer are the recipients of the inaugural Freedom's Guardian™ Award given to honor a production knife manufacturer or industry partner that has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by their support of the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights. For full details, please click on "Read More >>>>" link below. You can view the award presentations in the video.... Read More
June 9, 2011: Knife Rights has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit to stop New York City from arresting law-abiding citizens carrying common pocket knives. The lawsuit challenges New York State law on "gravity knives" and switchblades, and New York City District Attorney Cyrus Vance's attempt to mischaracterize the most widely-owned pocket knives in America as contraband. The case seeks a judicial determination that the law is unconstitutionally vague as applied to these ordinary pocket knives. "District Attorney Vance is trying to advance his political career by exploiting a vague state law to demonize common pocket knives," said Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter. "In the process, hundreds of law abiding knife owners are being arrested and Vance has extracted nearly $2 million from retailers to avoid prosecution on bogus charges. This lawsuit intends to put a stop to Vance's abusive and unconscionable civil rights violations." "One-hand opening pocket knives are legal tools, used and carried every day by millions of law-abiding citizens for work, recreation and self-defense," said Ritter. "Shame on D.A. Vance for demonizing common tools and turning honest citizens into criminals for purely political ends." If you are a retailer or individual who has been targeted for the sale or possession of so-called illegal knives (one-hand opening and assisted opening knives inappropriately claimed to be gravity knives or switchblades), we urge you to immediately contact Knife Rights at: email nycity@KnifeRights.org or call toll-free: 1-866-889-6268. Click below on "Read More >>>>" for additional details and a link to the Federal Complaint as filed.... Read More
May 14, 2011: How incredibly ironic that the May 14 edition of the Wall Street Journal, a New York City based newspaper, ran a piece in their "Off Duty" section titled "Stay Sharp." It commends to its readers five one-hand opening pocket knives, every one of which would be falsely deemed an illegal gravity knife by NYC District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Click to go to that article onlineorclick to view a photo of article as it appeared in the newspaper. To read Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter's letter to the editor, click on "Read More >>>>" below. We need your help to fight DA Vance. Donate today to support Knife Rights Sharper Futureâ„¢ Legal Fund.... Read More
THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. Winners listed below Win these terrific prizes when you Join Knife Rights or Make a Donation. 1. Busse Custom Shop Bushwacker Mistress Satin finish (steel is INFI .220" thickness) with Black G-10 bolster and 2 toned desert ironwood handle with custom sheath by David Brown (generously contributed to Knife Rights by Busse Combat Knife Company and David Brown) Won by Mark Berube (Click image for larger photo) 2. Set of KA-BAR Zombie Knives (generously contributed to Knife Rights by KA-BAR Knives) Won by Barbara Thropp Please select a contribution amount from the list and click "DONATE" button for your chance to WIN! Or, call Toll-Free 1-866-889-6268 to make your donation and be entered in the drawing. All contributions $40 and over include an annual Knife Rights individual membership. and/or...Join Knife Rights or Renew your membership now and you will receive THREE FREE entries eligible to win these great prizes (14 FREE entries for a Life Membership).... Read More
Sandy Froman, past president of the National Rifle Association and one of the nation’s foremost Second Amendment activists, will be the keynote speaker at Knife Rights’ Second Annual Sharper Futureâ„¢ Awards Breakfast to be held June 11th during BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia. (Purchase tickets below.) Froman will speak on “How To Win a Knife Fight–Lessons Learned in the Crucible of the Second Amendment” Sandy Froman was President of the National Rifle Association of America (“NRA”) from 2005-2007. … Continued... Read More
Federal Switchblade Act as Amended by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009. The amendment added exception (5), shown in red below, which specifically allows for one-hand opening and assisted opening knives: U.S. Code Chapter 29 – Manufacture, Transportation, or Distribution of Switchblade Knives Section 1241. Definitions As used in this chapter – (a) The term “interstate commerce” means commerce between any State, … Continued... Read More
Every penny we receive will be used to support this fight for YOUR Knife Rights. Knife Rights directors are all volunteers. PLEASE SUPPORT KNIFE RIGHTS!Please make your contribution here.... Read More
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You Can Make a Difference! Second Front™ Legislative CampaignIndividual Giving Levels Supports National Knife Law Preemption Campaign and legislative initiatives to decriminalize knife possession and restrictive knife laws. Sentinel ( $1,000 ) Defender ( $500 ) Sentry ( $350 – LESS than $1/Day!) Steward ( $250 ) Protector ( $100 ) Keeper ( $50 ) Booster ( $25 ) Supporter ( $10 ) OR Enter Donation Amount(Whole Numbers Only – No Cents) $ Knife Rights, Inc. is a an Arizona non-profit corporation with IRS 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. … Continued... Read More
Dear Knife Enthusiast: Today, in many parts of the world, knife ownership and carry is severely restricted. In many so-called civilized nations the one-hand opening, lock blade pocket knives that represent 80% of the knives sold in the U.S. today are either outlawed entirely or their carry is illegal except in very restricted circumstances. Even simple non-locking traditional pocketknives are illegal in some places or their length severely restricted. If you don’t believe that these sorts of restrictions common elsewhere in the world cannot come to the U.S. … Continued... Read More
Second Front™ Legislative CampaignMajor Donor Giving Levels Supports National Knife Law Preemption Campaign and legislative initiatives to decriminalize knife possession and restrictive knife laws. Platinum ( $30,000 ) Gold ( $20,000 ) Silver ( $15,000 ) Tungsten ( $10,000 ) Titanium ( $7,500 ) Bronze ( $5,000 ) Guardian ( $2,500 ) Sentinel ( $1,000 ) Defender ( $500 ) Knife Rights, Inc. is a an Arizona non-profit corporation with IRS 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. Contributions to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible because of its political and legislative advocacy. … Continued... Read More
Oct. 18, 2010: We now have our first test case! Knife Rights is proud to come to the aid of an honest citizen accused of unlawfully possessing a Gerber folding pocketknife. The Gerber is alleged by DA Vance to be a gravity knife and the charge carries a potential one year in jail. We will have a good deal more to say on this in the near future. … Continued... Read More
The Knife Rights Foundation Sharper Future Legal Fund™ will be used to pursue litigation in support of knife owner civil rights, initially aimed at stopping New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr’s illegitimate assault on one-hand opening and assisted opening knives in New York City. Knife Rights Foundation salutes these industry leaders who have stood up to protect the civil rights of their customers. … Continued... Read More
The Knife Rights Foundation has successfully launched its Knife Rights Sharper Future Legal Fund™ with contributions from twelve industry leaders plus other donors, some anonymous. . The Fund will be used to pursue litigation in support of knife owner civil rights, initially aimed at stopping New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr's illegitimate assault on one-hand opening and assisted opening knives in New York City. Sign up for FREE eBlast Updates » JOIN NOW "This initial backing by leaders of the knife industry recognizes that knife owners do not take their civil rights lightly, that we have the will, and the means, to fight back," said Knife Rights chairman Doug Ritter. "I applaud these industry leaders who stepped up, as true leaders will in times of crisis, to jump-start the Fund." Platinum-level $30,000 donors include Benchmade Knife Co., Blue Ridge Knives, Taylor Brands and United Cutlery. Gold $20,000 doors are Buck Knives and Columbia River Knife & Tool Silver $15,000 donors are KnifeWorks.com and Wenger NA. Smokey Mountain Knife Works is a Titanium donor at $7,500. Bronze donors Ethan Becker and KA-BAR Knives each gave $5,000. Additional money has been donated anonymously, including a $10,000 donation from an Internet knife retailer. Said Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter, "Litigation is only one aspect of our efforts to protect your civil rights. With your continued support, you can be sure that Knife Rights will forge ahead with our legislative initiatives to enhance protections for knife owners in New York and throughout the U.S., with efforts to clarify or do away with restrictive knife laws and through our National Knife Law Preemption Campaign. Read prior articles on the NYC DA Vance's persecution of Knife Onwners: Manhattan District Attorney Shakes Down Honest Knife Retailers Knife Rights Contests DA's Claims, Tactics in Knife Retailer Shakedown Will DA Vance Arrest Stephen Colbert? New Yorker Gives Thanks to Knife Rights Foundation Please help us stop this insanity. Make a Contribution to our fight against the DA's assault on our pocket knives.... Read More
If you are a retailer or individual who finds yourself targeted for the sale or possession of so-called illegal knives (one-hand opening and assisted opening knives inappropriately claimed to be gravity knives or switchblades), we urge you to immediately contact Knife Rights at: email nycity@KnifeRights.org or call toll-free: 1-866-889-6268. You have a constitutional right to seek help and counsel. … Continued... Read More
Will DA Vance Arrest Stephen Colbert for Switchblade Possession? August 29: Given New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.'s campaign to shakedown and prosecute those selling or possessing so-called "illegal knives" (locking one-handed and assisted openers) in New York, one has to wonder when his goons will show up on Stephen Colbert's doorstep to arrest the self-proclaimed liberal TV satirist. On the August 18 Colbert Report, which is produced in New York City, Colbert flicked open a Benchmade Barrage assisted opening knife, which would be a switchblade according to DA Vance's self-serving distortion and abuse of New York State's switchblade and gravity knife statute. Click here to watch Colbert demonstrate his knife skill (at the 38 second point of the video segment). We aren't holding our breath for that to happen, however. Vance clearly operates to a double standard when it comes to his prosecutions and your civil rights. Which explains why Paragon Sports in NYC is still displaying and selling its hundreds of thousands of dollars of custom knives, many or most of which are locking one-hand openers that operate exactly the same as the lower cost production knives that Paragon handed over to Vance when they paid a six-figure "contribution" to Vance to avoid prosecution for selling so-called "illegal gravity knives." Apparently it's only illegal to sell these so-called "illegal knives" when the customers are just plain working folks. If you are wealthy enough to afford a high-end custom knife from Paragon, then that's fine. The hypocrisy is apparently lost on Paragon which seems perfectly comfortable with the DA's double standard on civil rights. NYC Knife Persecution Developments Ace Hardware has apparently been targeted by Vance and in furtherance of another one of those deferred prosecution agreement shakedowns, has sent a memo to all of its dealers and co-op members in New York State, not just New York City, requiring that they "must remove all one-handed opening knives from their shelves." They will no longer ship such knives to their dealers and co-op members in New York State. When I spoke to Ace Hardware's attorney at their headquarters, he didn't argue that Vance's interpretation of New York law was flawed, but rather he noted that they were protecting their many independent dealers and co-op members, a unique business model compared to others Vance has shaken down, none of which could have stood up to Vance had he attacked them each independently. He declined to explain why they agreed to restrict one-hand openers from the entire state, which clearly falls outside Vance's jurisdiction. Once again, Vance's mafia-like shakedown scheme scores a win because the major retailers will not risk the potential for harassment by Vance and his goons. Knife sales simply do not represent enough business to be worth it to them. In this case, his reach outside the city itself to take a swipe at your rights is even more troubling. DA Vance's assault on folders has also driven the 32-year-old New York Custom Knife Show out of New York City. It's moved across the river to Secaucus, New Jersey. For more information: http://bit.ly/9SWJgN Read prior articles on this issue: Manhattan District Attorney Shakes Down Honest Knife Retailers Knife Rights Contests DA's Claims, Tactics in Knife Retailer Shakedown... Read More
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It is Independence Day. A day we celebrate throwing off the chains of tyranny for liberty and the many freedoms we hold so dear. A day to celebrate with family and friends, a day of parades, picnics and fireworks. It is also a day of reflection, a day to consider how precious those freedoms are, a day to remember that those freedoms are not free. Our freedoms were paid for in blood by America’s founders. … Continued... Read More
Yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago incorporating the Second Amendment to the states is an important victory in the fight to protect the individual right to keep and bear arms. Congratulations are in order to the Second Amendment Foundation, who was the prime sponsor of the effort on behalf of the litigants, to attorney Alan Gura who developed the case and the strategy and then along with the NRA argued the case before the court, and to all who submitted supporting briefs. From the perspective of knife owners, this decision, like Heller before it, includes a reference to knives in support of the majority opinion. In this case, it is reference to the abrogation by states of the civil rights of African Americans after the Civil War, prohibiting their possession of a number of named arms, including "dirk or bowie knife." There is no question that this decision gives those of us fighting for our knife rights another arrow in our quiver, one with a nice sharp point. It sets the stage for further advancements via both legislation and the courts. With the Second Amendment confirmed now as both an individual right and the law of the land, it becomes easier to make the argument in legislatures and elsewhere to remove unreasonable restrictions on knives. The key issue is the term "reasonable."... Read More
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June 20: New York District Attorney Vance's dramatic press conference on Thursday was quite a show with a very impressive array of so-called gravity knives and switchblades displayed, but political grandstanding doesn't change the fact that the claims made by Vance had little basis in truth. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, "the outrageous claims made by Vance to rationalize his shakedown of honest knife retailers during his press conference were all deliberate misrepresentations or half-truths, if not outright lies. If the general media in attendance wasn't so unfortunately uninformed of the issues and the law, as well as the technical aspects of folding knives, he might have had a more difficult time getting them to swallow the unmitigated fabrications he was dishing out." Sign up for FREE eBlast Updates » JOIN NOW Since the industry's numbers put the pocket knife-carrying population in the area of forty million, and 80% of the knives sold in America are one-handed openers of one design or another, for certain the majority of these millions understand just how absurd the DA's claims are when they see a display of the same knives they carry and use everyday deemed to be illegal. The increased practicality and safety of these commonly used tools over more traditional pocket knives accounts for their widespread popularity. Said Ritter, "It's hard to imagine how Vance could be further out of touch with both the law and mainstream America." Ritter goes on into detail on the misleading information from the DA.... Read More
New Yorkers Being Deprived of Popular Pocket Knives June 17: The New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney's office appears to be engaged in a shakedown of local businesses, forcing them to pay six-figure so-called "contributions" or risk unwarranted criminal penalties, in a move more like that of organized crime than the agency charged with protecting citizens, said a national group representing the rights of Americans who own and use pocket knives. Knife Rights Chairman, Doug Ritter, said, "the New York County District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. appears to have targeted legitimate, honest knife dealers, accused them of selling illegal 'gravity knives,' and threatening criminal prosecution if they don't pay up. The so-called "gravity knives" in question appear to be conventional one-handed and assisted-opening knives, which represent 80 percent of the pocket knives sold in the U.S. today." Some of the major retailers have reported agreed to six-figure settlements and have netted the DA millions of dollars. Knife Rights was instrumental in passing legislation last summer, in response to a misinterpretation of law by U.S Customs and Border Protection, that specifically excepted these common pocket knives used daily by millions of Americans from the definition of a switchblade under the Federal Switchblade Act. The legislation was supported by Customs and was passed by U.S. Congress, with strong bipartisan support, and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009. Ritter said, "Given the passage of this legislation, the DA is attacking people who sell knives that were clearly defined by Congress as simple pocket knives, legislation that was supported by leading Democratic lawmakers such as Henry Waxman (D-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), David Obey (D-WI) and others. This action is not only unethical; it places Mr. Vance at odds with even liberal urban lawmakers and outside the mainstream on this issue." Among the dozen or so businesses that have reported to have been targeted in New York City are Eastern Mountain Sports, Orvis, Paragon Sports, Lowe's and Home Depot. At least one out-of-state Internet retailer has been targeted. You can view one of a number of news articles and images of the DA's Thursday afternoon news conference (held after this initial Knife Rights new release was sent out) here: http://bit.ly/ar7FLT The six-figure so-called "contributions" are being made to a "public education fund" controlled by the DA in order to secure "deferred prosecution" agreements to avoid threatened criminal charges. Additional outrageous and over-reaching demands have also apparently been made to avoid prosecution. Said Ritter, "This appears to be little more than extortion on the part of a District Attorney who appears determined to shake down honest businesses and remove from the New York market common tools used daily by New Yorkers in their homes, in business and while recreating. These are simple pocket knives, legitimate tools used every day by millions of law-abiding Americans."... Read More
At 2:00 on Sunday at BLADE Show, knifemaker Ken Onion drew the winning ticket for the Custom Eros Gentleman's Tactical Folder that he generously donated for Knife Rights' Blade Show Raffle. Paul Currier, who purchased his raffle ticket at BLADE Show, is the winner. Congratulations Paul, a lot of folks coveted that awesome custom folder, but it's all yours now. Thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets or joined or renewed their membership and got their raffle tickets that way, as Paul did. Your support helps us work towards a Sharper Futureâ„¢ for us all.... Read More