American Knife & Tool Institute’s Legislative Efforts
Federal and State Legislative Initiatives Include:
- Repeal of Restrictions on Auto-Open Knives and Other Useful Tools
- Clarification of confusing knife laws and ambiguous terms
- Statewide Knife Preemption for Consistent Laws
- Protection for Traveling Knife Owners
AKTI has successfully removed, clarified, and corrected poorly conceived and ambiguous legislation and educated legislators on knife issues on behalf of the entire knife community. We support reasonable, responsible legislation and nonpartisan efforts to resolve issues. We promote knives as an essential and valuable tool in everyday life.
In many states, bills must be introduced through both houses, agreed upon, and signed within a short window. Because the legislative process takes substantial time, it can frequently require several legislative sessions to pass bills and make new laws effective. You can review current state knife laws here.
AKTI greatly appreciates the elected officials and staff who have partnered with us to create rational knife legislation supporting consistent enforcement. We also thank other organizations that help with letters, testimony, and contacts. It does take a team effort, and we thank everyone on our team.
Legislators often introduce bills because you, as a constituent, ask them to. Some legislation has been the direct, hard work of our lobbyist or a company member.
Follow the positive developments by bookmarking this page and signing up to receive our emails. Please wait to contact your elected officials until we send an Action Alert. We only want you to contact legislators if and when necessary. Thank you.
Please note that we are monitoring all knife laws introduced, but do not list the ones we do not believe can be passed. We will email an Action Alert for any adverse legislation that requires it, so please sign up for our emails.
Federal legislation to give traveling knife owners federal protection they have never had before from the varying knife laws in different jurisdictions. Read more.
Issue: Varying laws from state to state
Summary: This bill would protect law-abiding knife owners traveling between states from conflicting state knife laws, provided the knife they possess is legal in both the state of origin and destination and is properly stored according to the law.
Status: S. 246 The Interstate Transport Act (ITA) was reintroduced on January 24, 2025, and passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 5, 2025. The next step – the Senate!
We continue to work to advance this protection for the knife community.
Federal legislation to remove the commerce prohibitions in the Federal Switchblade Act of 1958.Issue: Consumers cannot purchase any automatic knife they like, even if it is legal in their state.
Summary: The Freedom of Commerce Act would repeal 15 U.S.C. § 1241 – 1244 and allow domestic manufacturers to ship and sell their products to buyers in other states.
Status: We are working on reintroducing the Freedom of Commerce Act.
We continue working to remove this hindrance to knife owners and the industry.
State Initiatives
Idaho
Issue: Statewide preemption regarding the possession, sale, transfer, and manufacturing of knives across Idaho.
Status: HB 620 was signed by the Governor, creating Session Law Chapter 285, effective on 7/1/2024.
Minnesota 
Issue: It is a crime to manufacture, transfer, or possess an automatic knife, a very useful tool, especially in an emergency when only one hand is available to use the knife.
Summary: Working to allow the use of automatic knives by law-abiding citizens.
New Mexico
Issue: Anyone who possesses, displays, offers, sells, lends, gives away, or purchases an automatic knife is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Summary: Working to remove the definition of a “switchblade” knife and restrict their ownership and sale for legal purposes.
Vermont
Issue: Valuable one-hand tools with more than a three-inch blade are considered a weapon.
Summary: Working to remove criminal penalties on automatic knives.
Status: S.61 was introduced by Senator Patrick Brennan on February 11, 2025. “I’m proud to have filed this bill and appreciate the American Knife and Tool Institute’s advocacy on this issue, said Sen. Brennan.” Read more
Washington
Issue: Knife manufacturers are losing significant business opportunities because Washington citizens and visitors cannot buy or possess their products.
Summary: Automatic knives are currently legal to manufacture but not legal for citizens to possess or sell.
Status: SB 5534, introduced by Senator Phil Fortunato to remove “spring blade” (i.e., automatic) knives from the definition of “dangerous weapon” and allow the sale and possession of these knives, passed the Senate Committee on Law and Justice on February 12, 2025. A companion bill, HB 1962, was introduced by Representative Jim Walsh. Read more
Keep checking back for updates.
Here’s what you can do now:
- Know the current knife laws in the state(s) in which you live, work, or travel. www.stateknifelaws.com
- Ask your customers, friends, and social media contacts to sign up as free AKTI Grassroots Supporters. We need people willing to contact their legislators when necessary. Call-to-action email alerts will be sent if action is needed in your state.
- Join AKTI – and do it Today! Our strength is in the support concerned knife owners and the entire knife industry show.
- Please contribute to our Legislative Fund. Changing laws takes time, resources, and MONEY.