BLADE Staff

From Knife Rights:

Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert has signed the Knife Rights backed Knife Law Preemption Bill, HB 271, making Utah the nation’s second state to enact Knife Law Preemption. Knife Rights would like to thank the bill’s chief sponsor, Representative Ryan D. Wilcox and the Senate sponsor, Senator Allen M. Christensen, for their support.  Knife Rights appreciates Governor Herbert’s signing the bill promptly. We’d also like to thank the Utah Shooting Sport Council for all their support during our lobbying effort.

Knife Rights Chairman, Doug Ritter, said, “we are very pleased to have Utah become the second state in the nation to pass Knife Law Preemption, helping to lead the way to a sharper future. Knife Rights’ National Knife Law Preemption Campaign is now gaining momentum and this law is further proof that Knife Rights is leading the charge in legislative initiatives to decriminalize knife possession and improve or eliminate restrictive knife laws.” 

The bill becomes law 60 days after adjournment of the Legislature. You can read the text of the bill here: http://www.kniferights.org/hb0271.pdf

New Hampshire Rep. Jenn Coffey has a history of promoting some of the most progressive knife legislation in the country – maybe even the world. And now you can interact with her on Knife Showcase.

Last year, legislation introduced by Coffey decriminalizing the possession of switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos became New Hampshire law. As BLADE magazine and other knife advocates have argued for decades, it is the intent of the person that determines whether possessing these items is illegal – not their mere possession. Coffey‘s legislation spelled that out almost word-for-word, and now New Hampshire is one of the most sensible places on the planet for knife enthusiasts.

Now she’s back at it again, this time sponsoring a knife preemption bill for New Hampshire. If passed, the bill would allow for uniform knife regulations across the state. If knife possession is legal in one area, it will be legal in all areas. Right now, different jurisdictions have different rules.

Those are only a couple reasons in Coffey‘s long resume that she is one of BLADE‘s favorite legislators. Coffey is a friend of all who appreciate knives, or anyone who understands that government should focus crime laws on actual criminals and not peaceful people.

Say “hi” on her Knife Showcase profile page here. Coffey‘s mission is to spread sensible knife laws across the country, so get in touch about what you can do in your area.

New Hampshire Representative Jenn Coffey sent this message to the BLADE offices yesterday:

I am happy to report that HB544 passed unanimously in the NH House today and bring us one step closer to knife preemption in New Hampshire!

HB330 also passed the New Hampshire house today on a roll call vote of 244 to 109 to create Constitution Carry!

Both bills, for which I am the prime sponsor, will now move over to the Senate!

Regards,

Representative Jenn Coffey
Merrimack District 6, NH
Vice-Chair Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee
Chairman Banking and Business Regulations Division
www.jenncoffey.com

BLADE asked Coffey to give us some background on the bills. This is what she wrote:

The NH House unanimously agreed that it makes little sense for towns to be allowed to make conflicting laws regulating knives. If one were to pass from jurisdiction to a jurisdiction with conflicting law you could easily find yourself in conflict with a town ordinance that is different than your destination or place of origin. Therefore HB544 should become law in New Hampshire, creating the same state preemption we now enjoy with firearms for knives.

Moran School of Bladesmithing
Texarkana College
Washington, Arkansas

Directions: Google Maps

For more Information Contact:
B.R. Hughes at (903) 838-0134 or Email BR

Registration:
$55 Registration fee can be paid in “Event Registration” in the ABS Store or contact Cindy Sheely, ABS Store Manager at (419) 832-0400 or Email Cindy

 Offered by the American Bladesmith Society, Inc.

Two knife shows about as far apart as you can get and still be in the good ol’ USA will grace this weekend’s cutlery calendar.

Dan Delavan’s first Hawaii Knife Show will be March 12 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, while the NKCA-sanctioned Dalton Knife Show will be March 11-13 at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia.

Coordinated by Dan and Pam Delavan of Plaza Cutlery, the Hawaii show will include a number of leading custom knifemakers, including Ernest Emerson, Les George, Steve Johnson, Tom Mayo and Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Ken Onion, among others. There will also be a meet and greet of the Usual Suspect Network. Admission is FREE to all show patrons! For more info visit www.plazacutlery.com.

Meanwhile, the Dalton show, sanctioned by the National Knife Collectors Association, will feature 160-plus tables of antique, custom, factory and other knives. All NKCA members are admitted FREE of charge! There will be free appraisals by J. Bruce Voyles Auctioneers, who will also be on hand taking consignments for its next online/catalog auction and Legends of Handmade Knives auction to be held later this year. For more information about the show, auctions and more visit www.spiritofsteel.com.