CO: Knife Law Reforn is on Governor Hickenlooper's Desk

Colorado is working hard to reform its antiquated knife bans.  In the late 1950's and early 1960's, a wave of bans on knives swept the nation. The were propelled by emotional tirades of a New York Congressman, and fueled by allegations of widespread use by gangs, in spite of a lack of data. There was no wave of knife violence. But the fake media of the day was able to sweep bans on "gravity" and "switchblade" knives through legislatures across the country.  A federal ban in the interstate shipping of automatic knives was enacted into law in 1958, and is still in effect. Colorado passed its ban on "gravity" and "switchblade" knives in 1963.  During the last 50 plus years, unknown numbers of people have had their property taken, their lives disrupted, and their reputations ruined through unknowing violation of these obscure and technical knife ban. As knives tend to be less expensive than firearms, knife bans tens to be enforced more strongly against less prosperous members of society.

According to Colorado law, an automatic knife with a three inch blade is a prohibited weapon; a bowie knife with a 12 inch blade is not. Either one may be  carried concealed. The three inch automatic knife would be illegal, the bowie would not, so long as it was carried without the intent to use it as a weapon.

Legislatures all across the country have been reforming these ill conceived laws and restoring the law to a more reasonable condition. It is practical for automatic knives to be treated the same as other knives, whether fixed blades or folding pocket knives. Reforms that eliminate the needless and antique bans on automatic knives and gravity knives have been passed in New Hampshire, Maine, Missouri, Kansas, Alaska, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Knives are arms protected by the Second Amendment of the Constitution. Knives have been carried in conflicts as long as humanity has existed.

The reform bill passed the House on March 9th with a vote of 56-6.  It passed the Senate on 1 February with a vote of 32-2.  SB 17-008 was sent to the governor on 15 March.

The reform is a bipartisan measure supported by both parties. The Democrats have a majority in the House and the Republicans have a majority in the Senate. The Governor, John Hickenlooper (D) is in his second term, and may not run for a third consecutive term. 

Once the bill has been sent to Governor Hickenlooper, he has three choices.  He can sign it, and it becomes law; he can ignore it, and it becomes law; or he can veto it. If he vetoes the bill, the legislature can override with two thirds votes in both the House and the Senate.  In the case of SB 17-008, the bill was sent to the Governor while the House is in session. Governor Hickenlooper has 10 days to veto it or it will become law.  By my count, that would be the 26th of March, 2017.

If you wish to ask the governor to sign or veto the law, Knife Rights explains the process at this link. 

 ©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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