Alaska Knife Rights Bill Advances

Alaska State Flag
Alaska State Flag

WASHINGTON, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- On Wednesday, Knife Rights Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, testified at a hearing of the Alaska House Judiciary Committee on HB55 “Definitions of Gravity Knives and Switchblades” referred to by sponsor Rep. Mark Neuman as the “Knife Rights Bill.”

This bill, first introduced last year, would clarify state law on the subject of assisted-opening and one-hand opening knives to ensure they are not considered gravity knives or switchblades, currently banned under Alaska statute.

At Knife Rights’ request, Rep. Neuman introduced an amendment that was adopted into the bill to include Knife Law Preemption. Preemption means the state laws are applied throughout the state, regardless of where you are. With preemption, other political jurisdictions such as cities, towns and the like, cannot pass laws regarding knives that are more restrictive than the state law. Preemption is the keystone to eliminating the patchwork of local knife laws that can trap the unwary citizen who cannot possibly know the particulars of the laws for each and every municipality. Preemption is the basis for further efforts to ease irrational knife restrictions altogether and is the cornerstone of Knife Rights’ efforts to work towards a Sharper Future for all Americans.

HB55 advanced out of committee with a unanimous vote. Knife Rights would like to express our thanks to Rep. Neuman for his efforts in sponsoring this bill.

If you live, work or travel in Alaska, please contact your Representative and ask him or her to vote in support of HB55. Click here to locate your legislator, or the legislator who represents where you work or travel.


About American Knife & Tool Institute

The American Knife & Tool Institute (www.AKTI.org) has been the advocacy voice of the entire knife community since 1998, ensuring that Americans will always be able to make, buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools. AKTI is recognized worldwide as a respected, credible and accurate source of knife legislation information, legislative input, and industry information with a successful, proven record of accomplishments in making effective changes to restrictive knife laws and promoting reasonable and responsible laws and enforcement.

American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI)