Wisconsin Pro-Knife Bills Filed

Critter

Critter

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[Post in General approved by Spark]

A pair of pro-knife bills have been filed in Wisconsin, Assembly Bill 142 and Senate Bill 102, that would amend state law to allow for the manufacture and sale of switchblade (automatic) knives and the possession and carry of autos by "qualified law enforcement officers, qualified former law enforcement officers, and persons who have a license to carry a concealed weapon, including certain out-of-state licenses." In addition it clarifies that assisted-opening folders (which have a bias towards closure) are not switchblades. While we always prefer to eliminate restrictions entirely, this would be a positive development in a state that has not been particularly knife-friendly.

As soon as it is appropriate, we will let you know that it is time to call or write Wisconsin legislators on these bills.

The bills are sponsored by Representatives Kathleen Bernier, Joel Kleefisch, James Edming, Bob Gannon, Cody Horlacher, Chris Kapenga, Jesse Kremer, Scott Krug, Thomas Larson, Jeffrey Mursau, John Murtha, Keith Ripp, Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Paul Tittl in the Assembly and by Senators Terry Moulton, Van Wanggaard and Sheila Harsdorf in the Senate. The primary sponsors of both bills are members of the Wisconsin Sportsmen's Caucus, as are 12 of 14 sponsors in the Assembly and 2 of 3 in the Senate.

The bills have been referred to the respective Committees on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. In the Assembly that committee is Chaired and Co-Chaired by AB 142 sponsors and the Senate committee is Chaired by an SB 102 Sponsor.



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Hopefully (and if it gets introduced quick enough, it most likely will with our current state government) it gets passed. I carry a couple knives on me, but I don't think I would if I didn't have my CCW here.
 
YAY!!!!!!! Thank you knife rights!!!!! I really hope this goes through.....I am a CCW holder and would love the freedom to carry what I choose. It already seems odd that I can carry my G17, but not a small auto. Would really open up a lot of options for us here. Keep up all the great work:-)
 
Awesome! CCW holder here also and considering i already carry one at times, this would be great!
 
Awesome offer :D hope you can win it, good luck guys

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Woo Hoo!! Thanks for all of your hard work on our behalf. Not that I have any sort of inside information, but I expect that with our current state government, passage isn't as much a question of if, but when. Don't want to count our chickens before they're hatched though. I'm not the biggest auto fan, but I would feel it incumbent on me to own a few and carry them from time to time if they were legal.
 
Good to hear. Would this bill also make it legal to at least own Balisongs/Butterfly knives here in WI, even if we can't carry them? By the way: another CCL holder here.
 
bsczar1 said:
Good to hear. Would this bill also make it legal to at least own Balisongs/Butterfly knives here in WI, even if we can't carry them? By the way: another CCL holder here.
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In the filed bill, only for those specifically listed. It doesn't differentiate between possession and carry.
 
If I understand correctly (I am by no means a lawyer), the catch for balisongs/butterflys was the gravity portion of the law, so that would mean once this passes they would now be legal. Is that a correct interpretation of the law, or is there another section that specifically bans balisongs? I did go and read AB142.
 
This is great news, FINALLY! I can't believe military wasn't included in the bill (I'm active Navy stationed in and a lifelong resident of WI). Though getting a CCW permit for military here is as easy as mailing in some training documents, it seems like an unnecessary wast of time (and $45 or whatever it is now) for a service member to have to get the permit just to carry a switchblade. Just my .02 though...

Reading through some knife laws its seems the legal precedent for balis to be considered switchblades here. Check it out...

http://www.knifeup.com/wisconsin-knife-laws/
 
most of us are just collectors we dont even really do anything with the knives other than just appreiciate the way way they were designed and made. for me its relaxing hobby. I actually dont even carry anything outside of the house longer than 3 inches. its a shame there are no websites that will sell you an automatic knife. personally i would like to own a couple just to have, and appreiciate. nothing more. so the controversy of springassist vs. auto is just really silly. I spoke with a lot of knife dealers they feel its also ridiculous. but like me most of them follow the law and the law is the law. I wish they would change it. I live in the worst state by the way when it comes to knife laws washington! :mad:
 
as far as I understand it please correct me if i'm wrong yes miltiary and police can have them but not for personal use??? It has to be on the job??
 
okcalderon said:
as far as I understand it please correct me if i'm wrong yes miltiary and police can have them but not for personal use??? It has to be on the job??
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I've scoured the state laws and it says nothing about military nor are there any exceptions to the law. I've heard second-hand that there were certain rules for if you were issued it/your whole unit was issued it you could, but I have yet to see that anywhere. I don't really think a cop around where I live would hassle me, but you never know. I've encountered a lot of law enforcement that was...well...far less than military friendly. Thats usually only in big military towns, but I've experienced it in small-town WI, too. At least they're taking a step in the right direction.
 
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