Knife Rights Gets Jump on 2014: FL & TN Knife Rights Bills Filed

[Critter]

Knife Rights Gets a Jump on 2014 Legislation
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Building on Knife Rights' unprecedented 2013 legislative success with 5 more pro-knife bills passed, we are getting a jump on 2014 by filing two bills already in Florida and Tennessee. And, we've just only gotten started!

Knife Rights is Getting It Done!™and with your support we hope to make 2014 the Year of the Knife. Support Knife Rights today for a Sharper Future™ tomorrow.

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Florida Knife Law Preemption Bill Filed
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Florida State Senator Thad Altman has reintroduced Knife Rights' knife law preemption bill for the 2014 session. SB458 will prevent local municipalities in Florida from passing laws governing knives more restrictive than state law and will repeal any existing local knife laws more restrictive than state law currently on the books. SB458 includes onerous penalties for jurisdictions that try to ignore this knife preemption law, making it much easier for Knife Rights or citizens to take such a jurisdiction to court. If passed, this will bring Florida in line with the seven other states that have already passed and implemented Knife Rights' knife law preemption.


If you live, work or travel in Florida, please contact your state Senator and ask them to please co-sponsor this bill. If Sen. Altman is your Senator, please thank him for sponsoring SB458. You can find your Florida state Senator here: [url]http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/#Senators [/URL]
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Tennessee Bill to Repeal Knife Restrictions Filed
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Tennessee State Senator Mike Bell has introduced a bill to finish the job of updating the state's knife laws. Last year Knife Rights and Senator Bell passed knife law preemption, but the effort to repeal the antiquated ban on switchblade knives and possession of knives over four inches in length failed in the House due to opposition from the Tennessee Sheriff's Association (TSA).


Knife Rights has worked very closely with the TSA Executive Director Terry Ashe to address their concerns and SB1438 is the result. We sincerely appreciate Sheriff Ashe's cooperation in coming up with a solution for the TSA's concerns while removing restrictions on law-abiding citizens.

If you live, work or travel in Tennessee, please contact your state Senator and ask them to please support SB1438. You can find your Tennessee state Senator here: [url]http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/ [/URL]
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[Squashfan]

Critter, it is great that you guys are trying again in both states. I am curious what changed the TN sheriff's association mind, specifically Mr. Ashe. What the concerns addressed by this years bill? I heard a little about what went on last year. "Sounds like the rack of a shotgun" and all of that. It doesn't seem like thenew bill is that much different from last year. Still repeals the ban on switchblades and knives exceeding 4 inches.

 

[Critter]

Critter, it is great that you guys are trying again in both states. I am curious what changed the TN sheriff's association mind, specifically Mr. Ashe. What the concerns addressed by this years bill? I heard a little about what went on last year. "Sounds like the rack of a shotgun" and all of that. It doesn't seem like thenew bill is that much different from last year. Still repeals the ban on switchblades and knives exceeding 4 inches.

Sometimes all that is required is a subtle change that does not alter the end result. A lot is done behind the scenes and not obvious, nor able to be discussed. That's the nature of lobbying and the legislative process.

 

[eddyh]

Hi Critter just emailed the Senator and Rep. Thanks for your hard work. I was just wondering if this does pass when would it go into effect? Thanks again

 

[Critter]

Hi Critter just emailed the Senator and Rep. Thanks for your hard work. I was just wondering if this does pass when would it go into effect? Thanks again

Thanks! Off top of my head, I don't recall what the timing is of enactment in TN once the governor signs a bill (or allows it to go into effect absent his signature). Quite frankly, don't often worry about that until we have a bill signed.

 

[floridaclipper]

Any updates on progress on this for FL or on KOPA?

 

[Critter]

Any updates on progress on this for FL or on KOPA?

Unfortunately the Florida House sponsor we were working with decided to not run the bill as promised. As such it is unfortunately looking increasingly unlikely this session, although we do have at least one other possibility we are pursuing to get it done this year.

KOPA has been filed in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. We are working on gaining additional co-sponsors. Passing KOPA will be a long term effort. Typically, such laws take years to go from initial filing to passage, typically as part of some other larger legislative effort once they have gained sufficient traction.