Gilbert, AZ -(AmmoLand.com)– Several Texas cities, including San Antonio and Corpus Christi, will see their restrictive knife laws voided as of September 1st when Texas House Bill 905 — Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption bill — takes effect.
The new law invalidates all municipal and county knife ordinances more restrictive than state law, creating uniform knife laws across Texas. The new law also ensues that Knife Rights’ repeal of the state’s ban on switchblade (automatic) knives that was passed in 2013 will now have effect throughout the state.
The two Texas cities that made Knife Rights’ “10 Worst Anti-Knife Cities in America” list for 2014, San Antonio at number four and Corpus Christi at number nine, will be taken off that list on September 1.
Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “Removing two of the nation’s worst anti-knife cities from our list in a single act is an example of what can be done when we all work together towards greater freedom in America.”
Knife Rights has sent letters notifying elected officials, prosecutors and law enforcement in ten cities, towns and counties of the change to the Texas Local Government Code. In addition to San Antonio and Corpus Christi, letters were sent to Dallas County, Houston, Magnolia, Melissa, Odessa, Richland Hills, Shenandoah and Texarkana, all of which have now-voided knife restrictions on the books. Knife Rights volunteers continue to comb through municipal and county codes, searching for any other jurisdictions that should be notified of their now-voided ordinances.
Ritter said, “We bring this new law to these jurisdictions’ attention in hopes of avoiding the illegal arrest and prosecution of knife owners who are in compliance with the new state law but in conflict with now-voided local restrictions. We have also requested that these jurisdictions repeal their invalidated knife restrictions in order to ensure that citizens are not misled by having an unenforceable ordinance on the books.”
“The new state law prohibits a city or county from passing or enforcing knife ordinances more restrictive than state law, thereby eliminating the old patchwork of knife laws that acted as a legal minefield for anyone carrying a knife in the Lone Star State. Residents and travelers in Texas can now be assured that a single, easily understood knife law applies statewide.”
Knife Law Preemption is Knife Rights’ most important legislative effort and the foundation for ensuring all citizens enjoy any gains Knife Rights makes repealing knife bans. Restrictive local knife laws serve only to confuse and entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within a state. Preemption ensures citizens can expect consistent enforcement of knife laws throughout the state.
Knife Rights passed the nation’s first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Texas House Bill 905: http://www.capitol.state.tx.
2014 10 Worst Anti-Knife Cities in America: http://www.kniferights.org/
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