Gilbert, AZ –-(Ammoland.com)- A pair of pro-knife bills have been filed in Wisconsin, Assembly Bill 142 and Senate Bill 102, that would amend state law to allow for the manufacture and sale of switchblade (automatic) knives and the possession and carry of autos by “qualified law enforcement officers, qualified former law enforcement officers, and persons who have a license to carry a concealed weapon, including certain out-of-state licenses.”
In addition it clarifies that assisted-opening folders (which have a bias towards closure) are not switchblades. While we always prefer to eliminate restrictions entirely, this would be a positive development in a state that has not been particularly knife-friendly.
The bills are sponsored by Representatives Kathleen Bernier, Joel Kleefisch, James Edming, Bob Gannon, Cody Horlacher, Chris Kapenga, Jesse Kremer, Scott Krug, Thomas Larson, Jeffrey Mursau, John Murtha, Keith Ripp, Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Paul Tittl in the Assembly and by Senators Terry Moulton, Van Wanggaard and Sheila Harsdorf in the Senate.
The bills have been referred to the respective Committees on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. In the Assembly that committee is Chaired and Co-Chaired by AB 142 sponsors and the Senate committee is Chaired by an SB 102 Sponsor. The primary sponsors of both bills are members of the Wisconsin Sportsmen’s Caucus, as are 12 of 14 sponsors in the Assembly and 2 of 3 in the Senate.
As soon as it is appropriate, we will let you know that it is time to call or write Wisconsin legislators on these bills.
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first repeal of a automatic knife ban in 2010 in New Hampshire and has since passed repeal of automatic knife bans (and repealed other knife restrictions) in Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.
About:
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org
Now it’s time for the Knife Rights folks to help us poor San Antonio TX, residents get rid of the city’s idiotic ban on folding knives with locking blades. The ban came into effect around 1970, with the introduction of the original Buck Hunter, a folding “hunting knife” with a locking mechanism to keep the blade open in use. The ban was ostensibly intended to impact street gangs who were buying the knives (along with everyone else – it was a very popular knife). I was in the Navy at the time and EVERYONE on my ship got one. Today,… Read more »
Why do we need to be a “qualified law enforcement officers, qualified former law enforcement officers, and persons who have a license to carry a concealed weapon. If it were really knife friendly it would not require any special circumstances to carry a knife that is not any faster to open than a assisted open knife.
Still I have never seen a knife labeled gravity knife. Also a switchblade is useful for people with 1 hand , reasonable accommodation under disability acts. Not to mention right to bear arms.