Gilbert, AZ –-(Ammoland.com)- Texas HB 1935, that was passed overwhelmingly by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, takes effect today, September 1 2017.
The new law eliminates from Texas statute the prohibition against carrying “illegal knives,” including daggers, dirks, stilettos, poniards, swords, spears and most notably, Bowie knives. This allows them to be carried throughout the state with the exception that knives with blades over 5.5 inches are now restricted from carry in a limited number of locations.
In order to get the bill passed after the tragic University of Texas Austin fatal stabbing just days before the House vote, an amendment was added to stipulate that knives with blades over 5.5 inches are now defined as “location restricted” knives. These knives may be carried throughout the state except in a narrow list of places such as schools, colleges, courts, correctional facilities, houses of worship, bars that derive more than 51% of their income from alcohol sales, etc. Minors are also restricted as to when they can carry these knives.
For full details on the new Texas law and a complete list of the limited places where you cannot carry “location restricted” knives with blades over 5.5 inches, please see: www.KnifeRights.org/hb-1935-bottom-line or Download Knife Rights’ LegalBlade App which has been updated with the new Texas law.
In 2013 Knife Rights’ repeal of Texas’ switchblade ban was enacted. In 2015 we got Knife Law Preemption enacted, removing all local knife ordinances more restrictive than Texas state law. Now in 2017 we have removed all of the “illegal knives” in Texas law, finally allowing Texans the right to carry a Bowie knife, dagger and virtually any other knife.
Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said: “we are not yet finished. We will be back in two years to see about striking those last remaining minor knife restrictions in Texas. We won’t stop until Texas is a free as everyone thinks Texas is.”
About Knife Rights
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s grassroots knife owners organization, forging a Sharper Future™ for all Americans. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice to influence public policy. In the past eight years, Knife Rights has helped pass legislation repealing knife bans in 20 states. In Texas this has included repeal of the state’s Switchblade Ban in 2013, passage of Knife Law Preemption in 2015 and Repeal of the “Illegal Knives” statute in 2017. Knife Rights also leads a federal civil rights lawsuit against New York City and the New York District Attorney over the unconstitutional arrest and prosecution of over 70,000 knife owners for carrying common folding knives.
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
I, too, was surprised to learn that Texas had some strict knife laws. I would have thought with the ranches and farms knives would be a common tool. I’ve never lived in an area where there were heavy knife restrictions.
Outstanding! I never understood how Texas would have made carrying a Bowie Knife illegal. Bowie was one of the state’s heroes who gave his life at the Alamo. But then, for years they had some of the worst gun laws (or at least most confusing) in the nation too. Thank God clearer heads have prevailed. God Bless Texas!
An improvement in the law? Certainly the legislators have assured the Texas people that being stabbed or slashed with a 4.9 inch blade won’t hurt and certainly won’t kill, does that mean being attacked by a street gang armed with knives is not a lethal assault that justifies drawing my gun to defend myself? It is a stupid restriction that ignores the fact that 9/11 was done with 1/2 inch utility knives. But it makes fools feel better. Maybe next year the law will be simplified… any knife, anywhere. Using any knife in an aggressive, threatening manner to commit a… Read more »