AKTI will continue to work to reform Virginia knife law.
AKTI will continue to work to reform Virginia knife law.Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed House Bill 1432 to legalize the the carry and sell of automatic knives. The legislation, conceived by AKTI and sponsored by Delegate Lee Ware, R-65, and Senator Bryce Reeves, R-17, would reform current state laws to authorize any person to carry an automatic knife concealed when such knife is carried for the purpose of engaging in a lawful profession or recreational activity the performance of which is aided by the use of an automatic knife. The bill also removed automatic knives from the list of weapons for which selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
“Delegate Ware and Senator Reeves are true champions of responsible knife owners in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said AKTI President CJ Buck. “We are also grateful to Chairman Rob Bell, R-58, Chairman Obenshain, R-26, for his support in passing the bill. We will continue to work in Virginia to ensure knife owners have reasonable and responsible knife laws and enforcement.”
We will continue to work in Virginia to allow citizens to carry and use valuable tools.
The Governor’s full veto statement is below. Note that his information about what the Federal Switchblade Act prohibits is incorrect – there is no federal prohibition on the manufacture of automatic knives.
February 20, 2017
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1432, which legalizes the carrying of a concealed switchblade knife when it is carried for the purpose of engaging in a lawful profession or lawful recreational activity the performance of which is aided by the knife. This bill also legalizes the sale, bartering, giving or furnishing of switchblade knives.
Virginia Code does not define “lawful profession” or “recreational activity.” This modification will create a burden on law enforcement to determine whether a person is engaged in a lawful profession or recreational activity. The enforcement of this law would be challenging at best.
There is no compelling need to add to the list of weapons that can be lawfully concealed from public view and easily traded. Legalizing the concealed carry of switchblade knives would needlessly endanger the lives of Virginians. Furthermore, the laws of the United States prohibit the manufacture, transportation or distribution of switchblade knives.
Accordingly, I veto this bill. Governor Terry McAuliffe
Virginia House and Senate Committee Passes Knife Bill
Virginia HB 1432 Passes Subcommittee