Legislative Update

House Bill 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, passed the Senate today unanimously (50-0). The bill previously passed the House 202-1. HB 1929 now moves to Governor Wolf for his action. We will let you know when it is time to take further action. Knife Rights has worked diligently to get HB 1929 through the Senate and onto the Senate floor for final passage since it was voted unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee over a month ago. … Continued... Read More

Felony Level Offense for Simple Knife Carry Carry an otherwise legal pocket knife in New Jersey and become a felon! If you live or work in New Jersey, please email your legislators today: Links at the end of this article. The expected knee-jerk responses by anti-gun rights states and cities to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Bruen decision upholding the right to carry “arms” for self-defense continues as New Jersey tries to one-up New York and California. … Continued... Read More

HB 1929, repealing Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, today passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote. The bill previously passed the House 202-1. It now moves to the Senate floor for second consideration. We would especially like to thank Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker, with whom we worked closely, for taking up HB 1929 in her committee and advancing it to the floor of the Senate. … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ Virginia Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill, SB 758, is effective July 1st, 2022. The possession, carry, sale, purchase and manufacture of automatic (switchblade) knives will be legal in the state. NOTE: The concealed carry knife bans in Virginia, including of switchblade (automatic) knives, will still remain in effect: “If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, … Continued... Read More

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu on Friday signed Knife Rights supported HB 1178, a bill that prohibits the state from enforcing any federal statute, regulation, or Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms, including, specifically, knives. This is the first such law to be enacted that specifically includes knives. The new law is effective immediately. In a week where the Supreme Court issued an historic opinion on the Second Amendment that affirms constitutional protections for the right to bear arms, … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ bill to repeal Louisiana’s ban on the concealed carry of switchblades, HB 463, was signed Thursday by Governor John Edwards. NOTE: The new law does not go into effect until August 1st. Until then, concealed carry of a switchblade (automatic) knife remains illegal in Louisiana. In 2018 Knife Rights was able repeal Louisiana’s complete ban on switchblades,but in order to get it passed we had to compromise by including the restriction that the knife not be “intentionally concealed on one’s person.” Last year, … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights is celebrating Thursday’s opinion by the Supreme Court of the United States affirming that the right to bear arms, which includes knives, exists outside the home. Moreover, that the states cannot unreasonably restrict this right to the point of effectively denying it to the majority of law-abiding persons. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “This is a huge win for the Second Amendment community and knife owners. The two pillars upon which Knife Rights stands are “Essential Tools – Essential Rights.” We cannot fully retain the former without the latter. … Continued... Read More

(UPDATE 6/21 with Enactment Date) This morning Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Knife Rights’ Ohio Knife Law Preemption bill, SB 156, in a ceremony attended by Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner. This bill signing is the culmination of nearly seven years of our efforts in Columbus to eliminate all of Ohio’s terrible knife laws. Gov. DeWine told Todd “that he was happy to sign the bill because it’s good for business and good for Ohio.” … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ bill to repeal Louisiana’s ban on the concealed carry of switchblades, HB 463, was passed unanimously by the Senate. It  previously passed the full House with overwhelming bipartisan support, 92-2. It now heads to Governor John Edwards for his action. Knife Rights sincerely appreciates the efforts of Dan Zelenka, President of the Louisiana Shooters Association, for his support of our legislative agenda in Louisiana. In 2018 Knife Rights was able repeal Louisiana’s complete ban on switchblades,but in order to get it passed we had to compromise by including the restriction that the knife not be “intentionally concealed on one’s person.” Last year, … Continued... Read More

The Ohio House yesterday passed Knife Rights’ Ohio Knife Law Preemption bill SB 156. A clarifying technical amendment was made to the bill in committee, so it also required a concurrence vote by the Senate, which concurred late yesterday. SB156 is the culmination of six years of work in Ohio and it is now on its way to Governor Mike DeWine for action. Use Knife Rights Legislative Action Center to ask Gov. … Continued... Read More

In Missouri a bill to enact firearms and weapons law reforms, HB1462, has passed the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee including further legalization regarding the possession of switchblade (automatic) knives. When Knife Rights worked to enact SB489 in 2012, repealing Missouri’s total ban on switchblades, we had to compromise and instead of a clean repeal, it was with the proviso that switchblades were prohibited if “in violation of federal law.” … Continued... Read More

HB 1929, a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s ban on automatic knives, passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 202-1. Congratulations to our good friend sponsor Representative Martin Causer for his efforts that got this bill through the House with nearly unanimous bipartisan support. Knife Rights was pleased to be able to work with Rep. Causer as part of our comprehensive plan to see important criminal justice and knife law reform enacted in Pennsylvania. … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ supported language in Georgia SB 319, that would enact Constitutional Carry in the Peach State, has been passed and is off to the Governor for his action. Governor Kemp has said he would sign a Constitutional Carry bill if passed. He is expected to sign the bill post haste, which would make Georgia the 25th state with Constitutional Carry. SB 319 would eliminate the existing 12-inch limit on carry of knives without a concealed carry permit. … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ bill to repeal Louisiana’s ban on the concealed carry of switchblades, HB 463 ,was passed by the full House with overwhelming bipartisan support, 92-2. It now moves to the Senate. We will let you know when it is time to contact legislators in support of HB 463. In 2018 Knife Rights was able repeal Louisiana’s complete ban on switchblades,but in order to get it passed we had to compromise by including the restriction that the knife not be “intentionally concealed on one’s person.” Last year, … Continued... Read More

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Knife Rights supported HB 272, a bill enacting Constitutional Carry in the state. Restrictions on the carrying of a Bowie knife or a concealed knife in Alabama are repealed. Knife Rights deeply appreciates sponsor Representative Shane Singer’s including these knife ban repeals in this bill. Congratulations to Rep. Stringer and his 36 co-sponsors for their success in getting this bill enacted. NOTE: Constitutional Carry and repeal of these knife bans does not go into effect until January 1, … Continued... Read More

Knife Rights’ Virginia Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill, SB 758, that passed with broad bipartisan support, has been signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin. We sincerely appreciate Gov. Youngkin signing this bill after nearly 5 years of effort to repeal the ban. NOTE: Repeal does not become effective until July 1st. Until that date, possession of automatic knives remains illegal in Virginia. NOTE: The concealed carry knife bans in Virginia, … Continued... Read More