Washington Governor Jay Inslee yesterday signed blatantly unconstitutional anti-knife (and anti-gun) SB 5444. The new law goes into effect on June 6th, 2024. From that date it will be illegal to possess ANY knife at a “transit station” including bus, train and trolley stops! As such, unless you manage to board and get off public transport somewhere other than a “transit station,” it will be impossible to legally carry a knife on public transit.
The legislators who voted for this and the Governor cannot say they weren’t warned that this would adversely affect their constituents who use public transit, especially the economically disadvantaged who have no alternative and must carry a knife for their jobs. They are now potentially subject to criminal charges for just trying to make an honest living. It is a law begging to be abused. Sadly, there’s nothing “unintended” in this new law, they all knew the consequences and did it anyway.
This a very frustrating loss for us, having already stopped nine bad knife ban bills from passing over the past decade and a half, all never getting out of committee!
Second Amendment lawsuits that will ultimately impact this unconstitutional new law are in various stages of litigation in the Ninth Circuit (that includes Washington) and around the country, including Knife Rights’ cases. Some of these cases will likely end up at the U.S. Supreme Court before long. One way or another, with luck this bad law won’t be on the books for long.
About Knife Rights
Knife Rights is America’s grassroots knife owners’ organization; leading the fight to Rewrite Knife Law in America™ and forging a Sharper Future for all Americans™. Knife Rights efforts have now resulted in 45 bills repealing knife bans in 28 states and over 175 cities and towns since 2010.
Nothing is better than keeping citizens disarmed and totally helpless in the event of criminal attack, eh Inslee?
Some form of pocketknife has been part of my EDC since I was about 8 years old. I don’t think anyone has noticed except maybe when I pulled it out to open a box or something similar. Some very stupid laws require disobedience. It’s a matter of good citizenship.
But eventually, some people get caught, and it does not go well for them. The best thing to do is to confront the bad law, en-mass, and make them back down.
HLB
What a commie state. It is ashamed that the beauty of the NW is waisted on leftists
So now only criminals can carry guns and knives on the public transportation systems.
A “knife” is not defined. Is a Leatherman a “knife”? Or a butter knife or a putty knife?? How about a box cutter? Senate Bill 5444 is both confusing and unclear. Unmentioned are tasers, pepper spray, canes, pencils, and ballpoint pens.
Should have used the rat graphic for this article.
Washington State will have a 1-800 ‘rat line’ to rat out anyone to call and report a possible ‘hate crime.’
Lets see…
I think I might have an old autodialer around here somewhere…
Can Washington state get anymore wacko?
One way or another, with luck this bad law won’t be on the books for long. This is what they said about 1639 but here we are still waiting.
The solution is simple: just don’t ride the damn bus.