What's Next for Texas?

M

Murindo

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I was happy to see the ban on switchblades removed but very disappointed to find out gravity knives (which includes balisongs) are still banned from both possession and carry.
 
We are better, but what we really need is a ban on cities making laws more restrictive than the state.
 
Balisongs and gravity knives are both listed as "switchblades" under section
46.01 (11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath and that opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the handle or 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.

And if HB1862 did remove "switchblade" from section 46.05
ftp://ftp.legis.state.tx.us/bills/83R/billtext/html/house_bills/HB01800_HB01899/HB01862H.htm

Then that would lead me to believe that anything classified in 46.01 as a "switchblade"; gravity knife, balisong, other, would also be wiped from the penal code.

No?

Also where did you hear that gravity knives are still illegal and/or that balisong a are considered gravity knives? Cause I can't find gravity knife/knives anywhere other than 46.01 (11) in the texas penal code. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, and hopefully that's not the case.
 
I wonder, outside of the cinema, just where have these knives been utilized, in any notable number of times, to justify their banning?
 
I would vote it has something to do with amount of total movement the blade experiences during one handed opening, and that it may make overs fell unsafe or uncomfortable to be around someone who is flipping a Balisong around to open it. Like a wrist flick vs a slow controlled deployment of a folding knife.

Or

If someone was flipping it and maybe had it slipped from their hand and it did contact another person, this would also not be good.
 
I live in San Antonio so the knife laws are still awful. As far as I know, all locking blades are still banned. I guess I'll continue to be an outlaw until the ridiculous laws here are finally changed.
 
Wow! Really, locking blades are illegal in San Antonio? The lock is a safety feature and just plain common sense.

I guess even Texas has its idiots too.
 
Ernie1980 said:
We are better, but what we really need is a ban on cities making laws more restrictive than the state.
Click to expand...

here in Florida switchblades are legal but Dade county made them illegal in there county but if you have a weapons permit that will over wright there law. is that what you are talking about??
 
He's talking about preemption, which a bunch of states like Georgia and Arizona passed for knife laws recently. It means that the state sets the knife laws and all counties and cities are prohibited from passing any laws that are more restrictive with regards to knives. This was part of the plan in Texas this past session but didn't happen, and is being planned for next year.
 
I live in San Antonio too, and with a little research, it appears that the ban on locking knives has to do with the famous Buck 110 and their great popularity during the 70s. Apparently instead of patrolling more and arresting people actually committing crimes, they banned locking knives less than 5.5 inches (Texas State law bans knives OVER 5.5 inches) effectively banning all locking knives in the city. The funny part is, they don't mention fixed blades as outlawed, so that's what I carry here. :)
I do have some slippies as well, but all my locking Spyderco, Buck, Kershaw, etc stay in the house for now.

Once we get preemption passed, that won't be an issue any more. I cannot wait!
C
 
cpurcell said:
I live in San Antonio too, and with a little research, it appears that the ban on locking knives has to do with the famous Buck 110 and their great popularity during the 70s. Apparently instead of patrolling more and arresting people actually committing crimes, they banned locking knives less than 5.5 inches (Texas State law bans knives OVER 5.5 inches) effectively banning all locking knives in the city. The funny part is, they don't mention fixed blades as outlawed, so that's what I carry here. :)
I do have some slippies as well, but all my locking Spyderco, Buck, Kershaw, etc stay in the house for now.

Once we get preemption passed, that won't be an issue any more. I cannot wait!
C
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The city council passed the ordinance in Dec of 1995 or 1996 (I mis-remember when) to show that they were "getting tough on gang activity". I never knew about the ordinance until I joined BF earlier this year, which means every time I went to SA, I was illegal. There is supposed to be an exception for "traveling" with no definition of what constitutes "traveling". If written up AND you fight it AND get exonerated, you still have lost the knife, the time and money defending yourself and you now have a record where you have to answer "Yes" if you have ever been arrested, which can prohibit you from being issued some licenses in the state. In fact, just getting arrested CAN (not WILL) result in the suspension of your license.

CC is worse - they outright ban ALL fixed blades - you can't even take a knife to the park to spread mustard the way it is written.

I know 'Knife Rights' struggled mightily to get pre-emption passed this year and actually came close. The bill actually made it to the calendar, but as the LAST item on the calendar. In the history of the Texas legislature they have NEVER made it to the last item. Hopefully, in 2015, we'll get it passed.
 
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Tdhurl1103 said:
Wow! Really, locking blades are illegal in San Antonio? The lock is a safety feature and just plain common sense.

I guess even Texas has its idiots too.
Click to expand...

Dang right they do! They don't remember "The Alamo". If Jim Bowie were alive today:rolleyes:
EDC this Bowie :D
3fe303551cdceaefd708df694d23b8f7
 
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