Legislative Update

Delaware Senate Bill 323 has been introduced by Senator David L. Wilson that would repeal the state’s ban on sale and possession of a switchblade (automatic) knife. House Representative Daniel B. Short is an Additional Sponsor. The bill has five Co-Sponsors (Senators Gerald Hocker, Dave Lawson, Brian Pettyjohn and Bryant Richardson and Representative Timothy Dukes). SB 323 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee Knife Rights will let you know if its time to use our Legislative Action Center to contact Delaware legislators. … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of significant portions of the Federal Switchblade Act on Second Amendment grounds was dismissed because the named federal agencies- the U.S. Attorney General and Department of Justice-declared they do not enforce the Act, and haven’t done so since 2010, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas opined that the Act is a moribund (dying/obsolescent) statute with no “credible threat of future enforcement.” … Continued... Read More

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Louisiana SB 194, that includes Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption language, was signed into law today by Governor Jeff Landry. The new law becomes effective on August 1, 2024. This is the 15th Knife Law Preemption bill by Knife Rights. The bill also enhanced existing firearms preemption law. Signing of this bill represents the final step in our complete overhaul of Louisiana’s knife laws that was started back in 2018 with the repeal of the state’s ban on switchblades. … Continued... Read More

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has signed HB2342 into law as Act 021. The new law repeals the bans on manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, and transportation of Butterfly Knives (Balisongs), Switchblades and Gravity Knives as well as Brass Knuckles (including Trench Knives and Karambits), Swords and Spears. The new law is effective immediately. WARNING: Hawaii’s bans on concealed carry of these knives is retained. These knives should only be open carried. … Continued... Read More

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Knife Rights supported HF 2556 which provides penalties for the violation of Iowa’s long-existing weapons preemption law that includes knives. This will allow individuals to collect monetary damages in any lawsuit seeking enforcement of the state’s weapons preemption statute. Knife Rights applauds Representative Bill Gustoff and Senator Scott Webster for sponsoring HF 2556 and the Governor for signing the bill into law. Please note that the new law doesn’t take effect until January 1, … Continued... Read More

The very first hearing on one of our post-Bruen lawsuits challenging a knife ban on Second Amendment grounds was held yesterday before District Court Judge James E. Simmons, Jr., in San Diego. The lawsuit challenges California’s ban on switchblade (automatic) knives with a blade 2-inches and greater. The court had clearly given significant thought to the voluminous filings in the case. The state continued to hammer their position that switchblades were not not arms under the plain text of the Second Amendment because they were “not commonly used for self-defense.” … Continued... Read More

Reply Briefs have been filed by both sides in Knife Rights’ federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California’s complete ban on common automatic knives 2-inches and greater that the State prohibits as illegal “switchblades.” Plaintiffs’ reply brief continues to hammer Defendants for their bizarre interpretations of the Bruen decision and the utterly irrelevant history cited by its experts. Plaintiffs’ Attorney John W. Dillon of the Dillon Law Group, said of the Defendant’s opposition brief, … Continued... Read More

Opposition Briefs have been filed by both sides in Knife Rights’ federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California’s complete ban on common automatic knives 2-inches and greater that the State prohibits as illegal “switchblades.” Plaintiffs’ opposition brief dismantles, point by point, California’s fanciful interpretations of the Bruen decision and the utterly irrelevant history cited by its experts. Plaintiffs’ Attorney John W. Dillon of the Dillon Law Group, said or the Defendant’s opposition brief, … Continued... Read More

In West Virginia, where we helped to get knives added to the state’s existing preemption law for firearms in 2020, Governor Jim Justice signed HB 4782 expanding preemption to prevent municipalities from targeting protected businesses with planning and zoning ordinances more restrictive than those placed upon other businesses. It becomes effective on May 30, 2024. Preemption prevents enforcement of existing local knife ordinances, and prohibits new ordinances, more restrictive than state law which only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. … Continued... Read More

In a victory nine years in the making, Governor Brad Little yesterday signed H0620, Knife Rights’ bill that will enact Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption in Idaho. It becomes effective on July 1st, 2024. Thanks to Governor Little for his support of our freedoms. This represents the fourteenth state in which we have eliminated local ordinances more restrictive than state law which only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. … Continued... Read More

Washington Governor Jay Inslee yesterday signed blatantly unconstitutional anti-knife (and anti-gun) SB 5444. The new law goes into effect on June 6th, 2024. From that date it will be illegal to possess ANY knife at a “transit station” including bus, train and trolley stops! As such, unless you manage to board and get off public transport somewhere other than a “transit station,” it will be impossible to legally carry a knife on public transit. … Continued... Read More

Louisiana SB 194, that includes Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption language, has passed out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary C by a vote of 5-1. Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, was in Baton Rouge to lobby and testified in support of SB 194. Our good friend Dan Zelenka, President of the Louisiana Shooters Association, also testified in support of the bill. Sponsor Senator Blake Miguez has worked hard to move this bill and we appreciate his resolve and efforts. … Continued... Read More

Motions for Summary Judgement have been filed by both sides in Knife Rights’ federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California’s complete ban on common automatic knives 2-inches and greater that the State prohibits as illegal “switchblades.” The Plaintiffs’ motion sets out the indisputable facts under the standard laid out by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen. These facts include those confirmed by California’s own experts during deposition. … Continued... Read More

Louisiana State Senator Blake Miguez has filed SB 194 that includes Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption. Knife Rights will let you know as soon as it is appropriate to contact your Louisiana lawmakers to support SB 194. We sincerely appreciate our good friend Dan Zelenka, President of the Louisiana Shooters Association, for his relentless efforts in helping us pursue knife law reform in Louisiana. Knife Law Preemption would complete our reform efforts in the Pelican State. … Continued... Read More

The Ninth Circuit announced that it has scheduled oral arguments in June for a rehearing en banc that could overturn the 3-0 panel decision in Teter v. Lopez that Hawaii’s ban on Butterfly Knives is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. That decision was a huge win not just for owners of Butterfly Knives in Hawaii, but for all pro-Second Amendment supporters. It was stayed while Hawaii appealed. Now a larger panel of 11 9th Circuit judges presided over by the chief judge will decide the case. … Continued... Read More