HB 4262 Passes House – Call Your Senators
UPDATE (April 9, 2013) – The Michigan House passed HB 4262 today by a vote of 107-2 and is headed to the Senate of 38 members. Contact Your Michigan Senator Today and politely and respectfully ask them to vote YES for HB 4262. Explain you believe removing archaic knife terms will help all Michigan knife owners, hunters, fishermen and visitors to the state.
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First Committee Hurdle Crossed
UPDATE (March 7, 2013) – HB 4262 passed the first hurdle by a vote of 8-0. It moved from the House Committee on Tourism and is being read in the House for the third time.
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Michigan Knife Law Will Ease Fixed Blade Restrictions
Lansing, MI (February 15, 2013) – Rep. Frank Foster continues his efforts to provide Michigan residents and those traveling to the Wolverine State relief from knife restrictions. Yesterday Rep. Foster introduced HB 4262 which will revise Michigan law regarding knives, remove archaic terms, and only prohibit concealed carry of double-edged nonfolding knives. While HB 4262 is not identical to HB 5544 introduced last year (that bill would also have removed all switchblade prohibitions), it will be a win for knife owners.
Michigan HB 4262 will change Section 750.227 regarding illegal fixed blade knives. The terms “dagger,” “dirk” and “stiletto” will be removed. Double-edged, non-folding instruments will be illegal if carried concealed except if a person is in their own home, place of business or on property they own or in transit between any of those locations if the items are “securely encased” and “not readily accessible for immediate use.” All other fixed blade prohibitions are removed.
“It was disappointing there was no movement on last year’s bill, but AKTI is thankful that Rep. Frank Foster continues to champion knife legislation,” commented CJ Buck, Buck Knives, AKTI Legislative Chair. “We also appreciate the tremendous efforts of AKTI’s Legal Contributing Counsel, Dan Lawson, working with Michigan Attorney Peter O’Rourke, along with Rep. Foster and his aide Michael Krombeen.
- “Readily accessible for immediate use” would mean an object that is carried on the person or within close proximity to the person and in a manner so that it can be retrieved and used as easily and quickly as if carried on the person.
- Securely encased” would mean the object is fully enclosed in a sheath, pouch, or case or the object is stored in a locked or unlocked glove compartment.
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