Senate Bill 17-008 Removes Automatic and Gravity Knives from the State’s Definition of Illegal Weapons, Legalizes Possession and Sale
The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) today announced the introduction of Colorado SB 17-008, which repeals the prohibition of automatic and gravity knives within the state. The legislation removes gravity and automatic knives (referred to in the legislation as switchblade) from the definition of illegal weapons under the Colorado Revised Statues. AKTI worked to conceive and draft the language with the bill’s sponsor, Senator Owen Hill, R-10. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, with a hearing anticipated before the end of month. The House version is sponsored by Representative Steve Lebsock, D-34.
“Ensuring that the laws of our state protects the rights of Coloradans using knives and edged tools for daily, professional, and recreational use is one of the most important things our legislature can do,” said Senator Hill. “I am pleased to sponsor SB 17-008, which will allow law abiding Coloradans to possess automatic knives, an important tool for daily life, without restrictions and government overreach.”
AKTI is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization that represents all segments of the knife industry and knife users, promoting reasonable and responsible knife legislation and enforcement. We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to carry their essential and valuable tools without the fear of arbitrary, inconsistent and ineffective government restrictions.
“We are extremely pleased to see SB 17-008 introduced, and listed as Senator Hill’s first priority for the 2017 legislative session,” said AKTI’s Executive Director, Jan Billeb. “AKTI believes that Colorado’s overreaching prohibitions restrict law-abiding Coloradans from possessing critical tools that are used by tradesmen, hunters, veterans, and all citizens as a part of their daily life. The recent incident at Arapahoe Basin serves as a great example of how a knife – particularly an automatic knife that can be opened with one hand – is used as a lifesaving tool, which should be available to all law-abiding Coloradans. AKTI thanks Senator Hill and Representative Lebsock for their leadership on the issue.”