Changes in knife laws in Congress and 2 states
Jan 27, 2015 0:00:54 GMT
Post by LG Martial Arts on Jan 27, 2015 0:00:54 GMT
Knife Owners' Protection Act Re-Introduced
Knife Owners' Protection Act, H.R.419 (KOPA), has been re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by sponsor Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ). Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explained, "KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners traveling 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.
Additional co-sponsors are: Rep. Trent Franks (AZ) and Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) (more co-sponsors are expected to sign on shortly)
"Those who travel across the country with 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, said Ritter, "what is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, resulting in forfeiture of property and carrying significant penalties including jail time. Enforcement is not uniform even within jurisdictions and is subject to the vagaries of political expediency at times. Sportsmen and workmen who travel are particularly vulnerable."
Texas Preemption Bill Introduced
On Friday last week, Texas state Representative John Frullo introduced Knife Rights' Knife Law Preemption bill, HB 905, that would rid Texas of its patchwork of local knife laws more strict than state law.
Two Texas cities are considered to be part of the "worst 10 cities in the US" to own and use knives. San Antonio prohibits carry of all locking-blade folding knives except on the job. There's no local restriction on fixed blade knives. In Corpus Christi, it is illegal to carry any fixed blade knife or a folder with a blade longer than 3-inches except when actually in use on the job.
In 2013, the Switchblade Ban Repeal bill was enacted, legalizing automatic and gravity knives in Texas.
Preemption 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 in a state. Knife Rights passed the nation's first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Utah.
Maine Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Filed
Also on Friday last week, Maine state Representative Joel Stetkis introduced "an act to restore access to certain knives." This bill would repeal Maine's irrational and antiquated ban on automatic (switchblade) and gravity knives.
Automatic knives are legal in 38 states (some with restrictions) and 26 states have no restrictions whatsoever on these knives. Seven of those 26 states have been added by Knife Rights since 2010. Knife Rights passed the nation's first repeal of a switchblade (automatic) knife ban in 2010 in New Hampshire and has since passed repeal of switchblade bans (and repealed other knife restrictions) in Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. In Washington state knifemakers can now legally manufacture automatic knives.
Knife Owners' Protection Act, H.R.419 (KOPA), has been re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by sponsor Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ). Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter explained, "KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners traveling 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.
Additional co-sponsors are: Rep. Trent Franks (AZ) and Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) (more co-sponsors are expected to sign on shortly)
"Those who travel across the country with 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, said Ritter, "what is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, resulting in forfeiture of property and carrying significant penalties including jail time. Enforcement is not uniform even within jurisdictions and is subject to the vagaries of political expediency at times. Sportsmen and workmen who travel are particularly vulnerable."
Texas Preemption Bill Introduced
On Friday last week, Texas state Representative John Frullo introduced Knife Rights' Knife Law Preemption bill, HB 905, that would rid Texas of its patchwork of local knife laws more strict than state law.
Two Texas cities are considered to be part of the "worst 10 cities in the US" to own and use knives. San Antonio prohibits carry of all locking-blade folding knives except on the job. There's no local restriction on fixed blade knives. In Corpus Christi, it is illegal to carry any fixed blade knife or a folder with a blade longer than 3-inches except when actually in use on the job.
In 2013, the Switchblade Ban Repeal bill was enacted, legalizing automatic and gravity knives in Texas.
Preemption 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 in a state. Knife Rights passed the nation's first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Utah.
Maine Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill Filed
Also on Friday last week, Maine state Representative Joel Stetkis introduced "an act to restore access to certain knives." This bill would repeal Maine's irrational and antiquated ban on automatic (switchblade) and gravity knives.
Automatic knives are legal in 38 states (some with restrictions) and 26 states have no restrictions whatsoever on these knives. Seven of those 26 states have been added by Knife Rights since 2010. Knife Rights passed the nation's first repeal of a switchblade (automatic) knife ban in 2010 in New Hampshire and has since passed repeal of switchblade bans (and repealed other knife restrictions) in Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. In Washington state knifemakers can now legally manufacture automatic knives.