Legislative Update

On February 20th, Amazon is ending its Amazon Smile donation program for non-profits that has been a very successful program for the Knife Rights Foundation. Doing so will likely save them millions and, perhaps as important, allow them to donate to programs they prefer and for which donations they can gain more publicity for themselves and their preferred causes. It no doubt annoyed them no end to fund numerous 501(c)(3) organizations which were anathema to their woke culture. … Continued... Read More

North Dakota Representative Claire Cory has introduced HB 1479 that would remove “switchblade or gravity knife, machete, scimitar, stiletto, sword, dagger, or knife with a blade of five inches [12.7 centimeters] or more” from the definition of a “dangerous weapon.” It would also enact Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption in the state. Knife Law Preemption is a Knife Rights’ criminal justice reform effort that 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. … Continued... Read More

Mississippi Senator Joseph “Mike” Seymour has introduced SB 2383, a bill that would enact Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption in the state. Knife Law Preemption is a Knife Rights’ criminal justice reform effort that 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 within a state. … Continued... Read More

Our repeal last year of Virginia’s ban on switchblades (automatic) knives did not include repeal of the ban on concealed carry. Our good friend Delegate Lee Ware, who sponsored the first attempt at repealing Virginia’s switchblade ban in 2017 (vetoed by Gov. McAuliffe), has introduced HB 2298 that would remove switchblades from the list of weapons that cannot be carried concealed. Knife Rights will let you know when it is appropriate to contact your Virginia legislators to support HB 2298. … Continued... Read More

Longtime Knife Rights Texas bill sponsor, Representative Harold Dutton, has introduced HB 1311, a bill that would remove two commonly visited places where Location-Restricted Knives (knives over 5 1/2 inches) are banned. Those locations are restaurants and bars that derive 51% of their income from sale or service of alcoholic beverages and amusement parks. Knife Rights will let you know as soon as it is appropriate to contact your Texas lawmakers to support HB 1311. … Continued... Read More

Repeal of Pennsylvania’s ban on possession and carry of Switchblade Knives takes effect today. Manufacture and sale of automatic knives in the state is also now legal. WARNING: Without knife law preemption in Pennsylvania, cities and towns can still prohibit automatic (and other) knives, and many do. To find local knife restrictions go to: https://kniferights.org/how-to-find-local-knife-laws/ or download Knife Rights’ LegalBlade App. WARNING: Concealed carry of an automatic knife “…with the intent therewith unlawfully and maliciously to do injury to any other person…” remains illegal in Pennsylvania. … Continued... Read More

The repeal of restrictions on the carrying of a Bowie knife or a concealed knife in Alabama take effect today with enactment of Constitutional Carry in the state. WARNING: Local jurisdictions may still restrict or ban knives. Knife Rights looks forward to working to enact its signature Knife Law Preemption going forward in Alabama. This would void those restrictions and bans and prevent any being put in place in the future. To find local knife restrictions go to: https://kniferights.org/how-to-find-local-knife-laws/ or download Knife Rights’ LegalBlade App. … Continued... Read More

All of us at Knife Rights would like to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and sharp new year. Our record of 40 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 26 states and over 150 cities and towns since 2010 is proof of our commitment and effectiveness. After a near record 2022, with that significant momentum we are hard at work on our 2023 legislative agenda. With your sustained support, … Continued... Read More

2022 has been a very good year for Knife Rights and our supporters. If you consider your support for Knife Rights as an investment, we are giving you an excellent return on that investment. More on that below. If you are looking to make a tax-deductible donation before year’s end, our 501(c)(3) Knife Rights Foundation could sure use your support as we look forward to another busy year ahead (Click here and select Knife Rights Foundation). … Continued... Read More

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has acknowledged in a brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that knives are “arms” covered by the Second Amendment. Unfortunately for him, he tried to use a ban on Bowie knives from the 1800s as an argument that Maryland’s ban on “assault weapons” is legal. It’s an argument that just doesn’t make the cut. As background, when the U.S. Supreme Court recently issued its Bruen opinion upholding the right to carry firearms and setting strict scrutiny as the test, … Continued... Read More

Conforming their bill with the already amended Senate version, the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee has amended A4769 that originally targeted knife (and other tool and sports equipment) carriers with felony level offenses. The amended bill removes the prohibition on “weapons” (which included knives) in an expansive list of “sensitive places” from the bill (click for original alert for full details). This is a huge victory for knife owners in the state. … Continued... Read More

With last week’s repeal of Pennsylvania’s switchblade ban (effective January 2, 2023) we now count 40 bills repealing knife bans signed into law in 26 states since 2010! WOW! When I started Knife Rights in 2006, most folks I spoke with told me I was crazy and there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that I’d ever repeal a knife ban. A few were supportive, even if they had doubts about my sanity. … Continued... Read More

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today signed House Bill 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives! The repeal is effective on January 2, 2023. Until then possession of automatic knives (except as a curio) remains illegal in Pennsylvania. We still have work to do in Pennsylvania; without knife law preemption, cities and towns can still prohibit automatic (and other) knives, and many do. Download our LegalBlade App 2.0 to find your local knife laws. … Continued... Read More

The New Jersey Senate Law and Public Safety Committee yesterday amended S3214 that originally targeted knife (and other tool and sports equipment) carriers with felony level offenses. The amended bill removes “weapons” (which included knives) from the bill (click for original alert for full details). This is a huge victory for knife owners in the state. The bill is expected to move to another committee and will eventually move to the Senate floor for a vote. … Continued... Read More