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AR15.COM
10/25/2009 12:50:04 PM EDT


If this gets signed would this clear up the vague TX laws regarding pocketknives?



Congress Passes NRA-Backed Legislation Protecting Pocketknife Classification


 


Friday, October 23, 2009


 




Back in June, we reported on a proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rule change that would have expanded the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to include spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives, and would have directly targeted the importation of  "assisted opening" folding knives.  (Read the proposed rule here.)  Assisted opening knives are frequently used by hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel and anyone else who may need to open a knife with only one hand.



The proposed regulations would have designated all such knives as "switchblades" –– despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of "switchblades" –– and would have made them illegal for import into the United States.



Fortunately, in July, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010.  This NRA-supported amendment then headed to a House-Senate conference committee.



Last week, the U.S. House passed the amendment.  We are happy to report that this week, the U. S. Senate passed the measure as well.



This crucial legislation will protect pocketknives used by tens of millions of Americans. The amendment will keep pocketknives from being classified as illegal switchblades. U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) authored the amendment and were instrumental in its passage through Congress. U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) also played vital roles in the amendment's passage in the House.



"This amendment was necessary to prevent commonly-used pocketknives from being branded as illegal switchblades," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox.  "The National Rifle Association is grateful to Senators Cornyn, Pryor and Hatch and Congressmen Latta and Minnick, whose leadership fixed a provision that would have criminalized tens of millions of law-abiding Americans¾including millions of hunters and sportsmen."



NRA also applauds the hard work of the American Knife and Tool Institute, Knife Rights, Inc., and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation for their efforts to get this measure passed.

The measure now awaits President Obama's signature.





http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=5187

10/25/2009 3:42:02 PM EDT
[#1]
That would have no effect on Texas law.

However, Texas did pass a bill effective in Sept that better defines switchblades.  I'll have to find the bill, as the state has not updated the statutes on the legislative website yet.  

10/25/2009 4:19:30 PM EDT
[#2]




Quoted:

That would have no effect on Texas law.



However, Texas did pass a bill effective in Sept that better defines switchblades. I'll have to find the bill, as the state has not updated the statutes on the legislative website yet.





Thanks.  If you find the bill a link would be greatly appreciated.



FB

10/25/2009 5:26:21 PM EDT
[#3]

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB4456

HB 4456  

H.B.ANo.A4456

AN ACT
relating to the definition of a switchblade knife for purposes of
the offense of prohibited weapons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASection 46.01(11), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(11)"Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a
blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath[,]
and that[:

[(A)]opens automatically by pressure applied to
a button or other device located on the handle[;] or

[(B)]opens or releases a blade from the handle
or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of
centrifugal force. The term does not include a knife that has a
spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward
closure and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand,
wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure and open the
knife.



SECTIONA2.The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of

this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that
date.
SECTIONA3.AAThis Act takes effect September 1, 2009.



E  Effective on 9/1/09      06/19/2009    
E  Signed by the Governor      06/19/2009     6980
10/26/2009 10:47:12 AM EDT
[#4]
There it is ^^^^^^^
10/27/2009 6:50:45 AM EDT
[#5]
So what does that mean? Are kershaws OK?
10/27/2009 4:27:34 PM EDT
[#6]
Kershaws are, but the Axis lock is now highly questionable...
10/27/2009 4:50:53 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Kershaws are, but the Axis lock is now highly questionable...


How so?

[(B)]opens or releases a blade from the handle
or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of
centrifugal force. The term does not include a knife that has a
spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward
closure and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand,
wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure and open the
knife.


That seems to describe my BM Barrage.
10/27/2009 5:19:44 PM EDT
[#8]
I may be wrong, but here is my interpretation....

If it releases mechanically, it is a switchblade.
If it is Spyderco, or any folding knife with a hole, knob, indention or anything else to aid in one handed opening, you are fine....Unless you oil it enough that you can flick your wrist and open it, then it is by definition a switchblade.

TxInvestigator, please correct my interpretation if it is incorrect.

10/27/2009 6:20:53 PM EDT
[#9]
My axis lock works to overcome opening the blade.
If you open it as much as 1/4 of the way open the axis spring will close it.

I am more woried about liner locks.
10/27/2009 6:47:23 PM EDT
[#10]


Have we come full circle? I carried knives for years but until lately I quit. As I have a CHL I never really thought about knife laws until I started reading about other surrounding states.



Should there be a CKL Concealed Knife License?



I have a couple Benchmades, Spyderco, a crappy Gerber I bought at Fattyworld ... that I have just thrown in a box or just leave in the truck since the last thing we need is a beatdown over a little folder knife.





<sigh>




10/27/2009 6:47:58 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
I may be wrong, but here is my interpretation....

If it releases mechanically, it is a switchblade.
If it is Spyderco, or any folding knife with a hole, knob, indention or anything else to aid in one handed opening, you are fine....Unless you oil it enough that you can flick your wrist and open it, then it is by definition a switchblade.

TxInvestigator, please correct my interpretation if it is incorrect.



I am not a "knife guy" and don't really know how these other knives operate.  But what you wrote LOOKS correct to me.  Take that with a grain of salt though.  

10/28/2009 8:12:51 PM EDT
[#12]
A BUTTON on the handle is the key point.  Other than a butterfly knife of course.


No button on handle, not a butterfly knife...You are good, In my opinion anyways.

Spring assist knives were OK before the law changed anyways in my view.