Positive Alaska Knife Definitions Law

Alaska State Flag
Alaska State Flag

WASHINGTON, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- Following the lead of Federal Switchblade Act amendment of 2009, and language the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) successfully used first in California in 2001, Rep. Mark Neuman (R), Alaska House District 15, last year introduced clarifying “bias toward closure” language it to the definition of gravity knife and switchblade in Alaska’s criminal law.

Unfortunately, time ran out last year for the legislation to be passed.

But as Rep. Neuman promised, he is reintroducing HB 55 this session.

As Rep. Neuman states in his Sponsor Statement, “According to the American Knife and Tool Institute, there are over 35.6 million Americans who carry and use some type of utilitarian knife which opens with one hand.”

He encourages fellow legislators to recognize the importance of one-handed or assisted-opening knives in Alaska to hunters, anglers and craftsmen, and support the definition changes to protect Alaskans’ knife rights and clarify that these knives are legal to own and use.

Rep. Neuman attended a presentation last fall by members of the AKTI Board of Regents who showed him several examples of knives, answered his questions and explained the advocacy goals of the organization to protect the knife industry and all knife owners from restrictive and confusing laws.

Alaskans, encourage your representatives to support HB 55.

To understand knife mechanisms and bias toward closure, check out www.AKTI.org/resources/additional-definitions. Be sure to review all of AKTI’s Approved Knife Definitions.


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)