Yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago incorporating the Second Amendment to the states is an important victory in the fight to protect the individual right to keep and bear arms. Congratulations are in order to the Second Amendment Foundation, who was the prime sponsor of the effort on behalf of the litigants, to attorney Alan Gura who developed the case and the strategy and then along with the NRA argued the case before the court, and to all who submitted supporting briefs.

From the perspective of knife owners, this decision, like Heller before it, includes a reference to knives in support of the majority opinion. In this case, it is reference to the abrogation by states of the civil rights of African Americans after the Civil War, prohibiting their possession of a number of named arms, including "dirk or bowie knife."

There is no question that this decision gives those of us fighting for our knife rights another arrow in our quiver, one with a nice sharp point. It sets the stage for further advancements via both legislation and the courts. With the Second Amendment confirmed now as both an individual right and the law of the land, it becomes easier to make the argument in legislatures and elsewhere to remove unreasonable restrictions on knives. The key issue is the term "reasonable."

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed into law the the nation's first Knife Preemption Law, advanced by Knife Rights. It's a very successful start to Knife Rights' National Knife Law Preemption Campaign and this model law is already encouraging a number of legislators in other states to follow suit. Freedom isn't free and fighting for our rights costs a good deal of money. Now we need to pay for this effort and prime the pump for efforts in other states.

We have assembled an incredible array of prizes for this raffle including four rifles, three with Leupold scopes, headed up by a McMillan/Rem 700 .308 Rifle, D'Holder Mitchell's Clip II fixed blade knife, Smith & Wesson M&P 15CO rifle and 9mm pistol, Gold Class Benchmade Griptilian, SureFire Light and Pen sets and Delta folder, Ted Nugent Autographed TOPS knife, PSE Compound Bow, Lone Wolf Double-Action Automatic knife and a slew of other knives and prizes totaling over $23,000 in value (with more coming in). Every prize has been generously donated to the raffle, so 100% of the proceeds supports Knife Rights.

Only 500 tickets will be sold. Each ticket has better than 1 in 14 chance of winning if all tickets are sold. The top six winners will be able to select their choice of the available prizes.

Purchasers of the first 200 raffle tickets will receive a CRKT Drifter frame-lock folder inscribed with the Knife Rights logo, a $30 value, generously donated by Columbia River Knife and Tool.

April 28: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed the the nation's first Knife Preemption Law, advanced by Knife Rights. The bill, SB1153, was passed by bipartisan votes of 36-19 in the Arizona House and 19-9 in the Arizona Senate. It will take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, expected this week, and not only prevents political subdivisions from enacting new ordinances and rules, but voids all existing restrictive knife ordinances. In combination with Arizona's recently enacted constitutional concealed carry law, knife owners in Arizona will enjoy the most accommodating knife laws in the country.

Click here to read the final bill with Governor Brewer's requested amendments incorporated (which improved the final bill).

The passage of Arizona's Knife Preemption Law is precedent setting for knife owner rights. Arizona is the first state to establish specific preemption for knife laws and this represents the successful kick-off of Knife Rights' National Knife Law Preemption Campaign, a key component of Knife Rights’ national legislative agenda to protect and enhance knife owners’ rights. Knife Rights anticipates that the Arizona preemption law will serve as a model for preemption efforts in other states whose citizens are subject to a similar patchwork of restrictive local knife laws with attendant civil rights issues. We have already been approached by a number of legislators and citizens who want to initiate knife law preemption for their states. Knife Rights will aggressively pursue these opportunities.

Knife Rights' national strategy is to work to enact knife preemption laws throughout the United States. This would afford the same protection to knife owners that firearms owners in forty six states already enjoy (New Jersey is unique in that it provides for preemption for all criminal statues, which also includes knives, but it does not have a specific knife preemption law). Arizona is just the start.

Preemption prevents the creation of, or eliminates, a patchwork of ordinances and rules which serve to confuse or entrap those traveling within or through the state. A person traveling in a state without preemption laws could be charged with a violation of local law when they have no intention of violating the law. Further, local ordinances often violate the right to bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment and, in many cases, by the state’s own constitution.

Knife Rights sincerely appreciates the strong legislative leadership provided by the bill's primary sponsor, Arizona Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray, as well as the support of co-sponsors: Senators Ron Gould, Russell Pearce, Frank Antenori, Jack Harper, Al Melvin, Jonathan Paton and Thayer Verschoor and Representatives David Gowan, Carl Seel, David Stevens, Cecil Ash, Ray Barnes, Andy Biggs, Judy Burges, Steve Court, Debbie Lesko, Steve Montenegro, Rick Murphy and Warde Nichols. Thanks also to all the legislators, from both sides of the aisle, who voted for the preemption bill. At a time when partisan politics seems the norm, the bipartisan support was very welcome and testament to the common-sense appeal of knife law preemption.

Knife Rights would like to express our appreciation for the support provided by Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, National Rifle Association (NRA), Arizona’s NRA affiliate, the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, Arizona Citizens Defense League, Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, Copper State Cutlery Association and Arizona Knife Collectors Association.

WE STOPPED CUSTOMS Pocket Knife Grab! The President signed into law the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill on October 28, 2009, protecting our pocket knives. The bill included our amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act that clearly exempts assisted and one-hand opening knives.

This is the culmination of an incredible effort on the part of Knife Rights, American Knife and Tool Institute, NRA, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and many other organizations who contributed. Each organization made key contributions to the effort, without which the end result might not have turned out so well. Not many folks gave us much hope of succeeding when Customs first proposed revoking their rulings and redefining what is a switchblade back in May. At a time when bipartisanship is rare as hen's teeth in Washington, we garnered support from both sides of the aisle.

We succeeded because the coalition of groups that came together to fight Customs represented a broad swath of American industry and grassroots. We succeeded in large part because of YOUR contributions, letters and calls in support of our efforts. You can give yourself a pat on the back for your effort and a job well done against all odds. It is time to pop the cork on that bottle of champagne and celebrate a victory for your knife rights and for all America.

Below is the amendment:

Sec. 562 . Section 4 of the Act entitled `An Act to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes' (commonly known as the Federal Switchblade Act) (15 U.S.C. 1244) is amended--

(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (3);
 
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting `; or' and
 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
 
`(5) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.'.

May 18: New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has signed Rep. Jenn Coffey’s Knife Rights Bill into law, removing restrictions on switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos in Hew Hampshire and essentially removing all restrictions on knives in New Hampshire state law. New Hampshire now has no knife laws which stop law abiding citizens from buying, selling, owning, carrying, possessing, transporting, collecting, or lawfully using any type of knife. This is the first complete repeal of a state's knife restrictions ever.

NH Union Leader Front Page Headline: "Switchblade knives now legal in NH..." Read entire article.

It is worth noting the bipartisan appeal of this legislation; a bill introduced by a minority member of the legislature passed with unanimous consent in both Democratic controlled houses and signed by a Democratic Governor. Proof of what can be accomplished when you have a well-conceived plan and combine a passionate and effective legislator; a professional lobbying effort supported by Knife Rights and organized, hard-working and involved citizen support.

Rep. Coffey will be honored with Knife Rights' Freedom's Edge award at Knife Rights' Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast at BLADE Show in Atlanta on June 5th (see below). Special thanks to New Hampshire Knife Rights member Evan Nappen for his local leadership and hard work toward getting this legislation passed.

New Hampshire State Representative Jennifer Coffey has introduced a bill to legalize "stilettos, switch knives, daggers, and dirk-knives" for all law-abiding citizens in New Hampshire. Heretofore, these knives, which are not well-defined in the state law, have been restricted in the state, even though New Hampshire has some of the most liberal gun carry laws in the nation. The bill has received broad bipartisan support according to our sources and stands a good chance of passage. Knife Rights member and Second Amendment legal adviser, Evan Nappen, has been actively involved in developing and promoting this bill.

Rep. Coffey's bill removes the prohibition on these knives and focuses the law on CRIMINAL USE of the knives. Knife Rights supports efforts that remove restrictions on ownership, carry and legitimate use of knives as tools and arms and recognizes that it is the criminal use of knives that should garner the law's attention. You can read more about this bill at: www. KnifeLawsOnline.com

June 5, 2010: Knife Rights chairman Doug Ritter today announced the appointment of Todd Rathner as Director of Legislative Affairs at Knife Rights’ Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast at the BLADE Show in Atlanta.

Ritter said, "It is indicative of our priorities to protect and expand knife owners' rights that our first paid position is one to coordinate our aggressive legislative agenda. Todd proved his effectiveness this year in the successful passage of the Arizona Knife Preemption Law in Arizona, which launched our National Knife Law Preemption Campaign."

June 20: New York District Attorney Vance's dramatic press conference on Thursday was quite a show with a very impressive array of so-called gravity knives and switchblades displayed, but political grandstanding doesn't change the fact that the claims made by Vance had little basis in truth.

Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, "the outrageous claims made by Vance to rationalize his shakedown of honest knife retailers during his press conference were all deliberate misrepresentations or half-truths, if not outright lies. If the general media in attendance wasn't so unfortunately uninformed of the issues and the law, as well as the technical aspects of folding knives, he might have had a more difficult time getting them to swallow the unmitigated fabrications he was dishing out."

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Said Ritter, "It's hard to imagine how Vance could be further out of touch with both the law and mainstream America." Ritter goes on into detail on the misleading information from the DA.

New Yorkers Being Deprived of Popular Pocket Knives

June 17: The New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney's office appears to be engaged in a shakedown of local businesses, forcing them to pay six-figure so-called "contributions" or risk unwarranted criminal penalties, in a move more like that of organized crime than the agency charged with protecting citizens, said a national group representing the rights of Americans who own and use pocket knives. Knife Rights Chairman, Doug Ritter, said, "the New York County District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. appears to have targeted legitimate, honest knife dealers, accused them of selling illegal 'gravity knives,' and threatening criminal prosecution if they don't pay up. The so-called "gravity knives" in question appear to be conventional one-handed and assisted-opening knives, which represent 80 percent of the pocket knives sold in the U.S. today." Some of the major retailers have reported agreed to six-figure settlements and have netted the DA millions of dollars.

Knife Rights was instrumental in passing legislation last summer, in response to a misinterpretation of law by U.S Customs and Border Protection, that specifically excepted these common pocket knives used daily by millions of Americans from the definition of a switchblade under the Federal Switchblade Act. The legislation was supported by Customs and was passed by U.S. Congress, with strong bipartisan support, and signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009.

Ritter said, "Given the passage of this legislation, the DA is attacking people who sell knives that were clearly defined by Congress as simple pocket knives, legislation that was supported by leading Democratic lawmakers such as Henry Waxman (D-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), David Obey (D-WI) and others. This action is not only unethical; it places Mr. Vance at odds with even liberal urban lawmakers and outside the mainstream on this issue."

Among the dozen or so businesses that have reported to have been targeted in New York City are Eastern Mountain Sports, Orvis, Paragon Sports, Lowe's and Home Depot. At least one out-of-state Internet retailer has been targeted.

You can view one of a number of news articles and images of the DA's Thursday afternoon news conference (held after this initial Knife Rights new release was sent out) here: http://bit.ly/ar7FLT

The six-figure so-called "contributions" are being made to a "public education fund" controlled by the DA in order to secure "deferred prosecution" agreements to avoid threatened criminal charges. Additional outrageous and over-reaching demands have also apparently been made to avoid prosecution.

Said Ritter, "This appears to be little more than extortion on the part of a District Attorney who appears determined to shake down honest businesses and remove from the New York market common tools used daily by New Yorkers in their homes, in business and while recreating. These are simple pocket knives, legitimate tools used every day by millions of law-abiding Americans."

June 5, 2010: Knife Rights chairman Doug Ritter today announced a million-dollar "SECOND FRONT”™ fundraising campaign at Knife Rights’ Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast at the BLADE Show in Atlanta.

As Knife Rights pursued its successful legislative agenda this past year, key allies have been leading grassroots Second Amendment organizations and supporters who recognize that it's our Second Amendment too! From their point of view, Knife Rights opened a "second front" in the defense of our Second Amendment. Those who have for so long fought for our Second Amendment rights are encouraged to see a new ally.

While all of us view our knives as tools, ultimately our right to own and carry these tools is enshrined in the Second Amendment, for which we should all be eternally grateful. Look at the Knife Rights logo and you will see the two pillars upon which we stand, "Essential Tools - Essential Rights." We cannot retain the former without the latter. One need only look over the ocean to England to see the bleak alternative of a society that doesn't trust its own citizens with the most common of tools. We retain freedoms only if we continue to fight for them. For too long we just stood by, but no more! However, fighting for our rights takes money, plain and simple.

Financial support from these Second Amendment allies has been critical to our success this year and will be in the near future as we have much work to do before we are large enough to fund our efforts entirely ourselves. So, I am very excited to announce the launch of a major Knife Rights fundraising effort to support our legislative initiatives. Appropriately, we've chosen to call it our "SECOND FRONT" Fundraising Campaign and our initial goal is raise one million dollars to support Knife Rights legislative initiatives.

Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights, presented Sharper Future™ Awards to three recipients at the inaugural Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast at BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

New Hampshire State Representative Jenn Coffey was the recipient of the inaugural Freedom's Edge™ award given to honor a local, state or national elected representative who has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights.

Evan Nappen was the recipient of the inaugural Freedom's Point™ award to honor an individual citizen who has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights.

Sarah Buduson, a reporter for KPHO (CBS affiliate) in Phoenix, Arizona, was the recipient of the inaugural Freedom's Voice™ award given to honor a journalist or journalistic team in general media that has demonstrated a commitment to fair, accurate and insightful coverage on an issue involving knife ownership.

Every penny we receive will be used to support this fight for YOUR Knife Rights. Knife Rights directors receive no pay, we are all volunteers.

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