Leading voice of the knife industry keeps pushing for legislative changes

CODY, WY, USA, April 12, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The American Knife & Tool Institute applauds the collaborative efforts in Virginia that recently culminated when Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed SB 758 into law, removing "switchblade knives" from the list of prohibited weapons. The law takes effect July 1, 2022.

“I am very pleased to say that another state has eliminated its laws prohibiting automatic knives," said CJ Buck, Legislative Chair of the American Knife and Tool Institute. "There was some great on-the-ground work by AKTI member Blue Ridge Knives to ensure this thoughtful piece of legislation went through. They deserve a lot of credit for championing the initiative.”

More than a dozen states never made automatic knives illegal back in 1958, after the federal government banned interstate commerce of automatics. Since 2020, there have been 19 states, including Virginia, that have removed the archaic limitations. AKTI has long advocated that how a knife deploys, from a legal standpoint, is a distinction without a material difference. An automatic knife is just another one-handed opening knife, and that utility can be essential in certain circumstances.

Buck reached out to Alex Martin, son of Phil Martin of Blue Ridge Knives in Marion, Virginia, to congratulate him on his efforts and success in this victory for the knife community.

Buck: What prompted you to take this on, and what was the basic timeline?
Martin: Blue Ridge wanted to buy and sell automatics and we started work on this bill in 2019, knowing several previous efforts had failed. We felt Virginians were ready to take a step to exercise common sense and protect personal liberty.

Buck: What were highlights or lowlights during the process?
Martin: I think what resonated with me was getting unanimous approval in the Senate, passing the bill with 40 “yes” votes and not a single “no,” while the House passed the bill easily 96-3. It was heartening to see the overwhelming bipartisan support.

Buck: Are there any kudos you want to hand out?
Martin: We want to thank Sen. Todd E. Pillion and Marianne Radcliff of Kemper Consulting. Legislation can be a really tedious process, and this would not have happened without their tireless support.

Buck: What sense do you have of the political landscape in Virginia pertaining to knives and our industry?
Martin: The success of this legislation shows knives are viewed favorably in Virginia. Virginia is open for business and anxious to provide economic opportunities for our communities.

About AKTI
The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is the effective non-profit advocacy organization for the knife industry and all knife owners. Its mission is to ensure that Americans will always be able to make, buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools. Formed in 1998, AKTI is dedicated to educating, promoting and providing relevant and accurate information about knives and edged tools as important tools in daily American life. AKTI is recognized worldwide as the most respected, credible and accurate source of knife law information and legislative input, encouraging reasonable and responsible knife laws and regulations and consistent enforcement. For more information, visit www.AKTI.org

Matt Crawford
American Knife & Tool Institute
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