The law repealing the ban on switchblades in Texas has been passed by both the Texas House and Senate and been sent to the governor for signature. By state law, he has 3 options -
1) He signs it and it becomes law effective 01 September 2013.
2) He doesn't sign it and it becomes law effective 01 September 2013 (some technical name for letting it become law w/o his signature - it is a political game they play so the governor can claim he didn't sign it).
3) He vetoes it. It therefore does not become law and we have to wait 2 years for the next session. (Texas' legislature only meets for 5 months every 2 years unless the governor calls it back for a "Special Session". During a SS, which can only be 30 days long, the legislature can ONLY work on items specifically designated by the governor for the special session. He just called for an SS to start 28 May, the day after the regular session ended - for redistricting only)
There has been no indication that he intends to veto it. We are just waiting to see if he signs it or lets it become law w/o his signature. The drop dead date to veto any bill is 20 days after the end of the session - this year the session ended on 27 May, so the last day for him to veto any bill is 16 June.
Even when the ban on switchblades is repealed, the other limitations (5.5" max length, no dirks, daggers, pongiards or bowies) will remain in effect as will any "male bovine defecatory material" (aka MBDM or BS) local laws restricting state law (see my above post on exceptions).
There was an effort to get a pre-emption law passed this session so that cities would not be able to pass regulations more stringent that state law, spearheaded by Doug Ritter and Knife Rights, but the legislative session ended before the Senate put the bill on their calendar for a vote - so it is dead until 2015.
I personally have not been back to either San Antonio or Corpus Christi since I learned of their knife laws and have written their CoCs and city councils advising them that I disagree with their laws and have chosen not to spend any of my money in their cities until the laws are rescinded and that I encourage others to "boycott" their cities as well. Not that my relatively paltry expenditures will make or break anyone, but I let them know that I was voting with my wallet.
ZZZ
