AKTI and its members have been successful in educating legislators on knife issues and supporting positive changes on behalf of all knife users. We promote reasonable, responsible legislation and measured non-partisan efforts to resolve issues. Being successful in changing laws is always a team effort. We thank the many elected officials, other organizations and individuals who have been a part of the successes in removing and improving knife laws in the U.S.
Highlights
For more information on AKTI’s accomplishments also view the News section and the History section.
- 2019 – Successfully Enacted statewide knife preemption and removed the prohibition on an automatic knife in Montana. Reintroduced Interstate Transport Act and the Freedom of Commerce Act (federal switchblade repeal) in the Senate. Introduced Vermont bill to repeal automatic prohibitions. Work with New York Legal Aid Society and others to change New York State gravity knife law.
- 2018 – AKTI’s Interstate Commerce Act passed the U.S. Senate by Unanimous Consent. We’ve made huge progress on this legislation which will give traveling knife owners a federal protection they have never had before from varying knife laws. Supported Louisiana bill to remove restrictions on automatic knives. Supported Sportsman-Legislator Summit of state legislators and industry leaders. Senator Joe Manchin presented with AKTI’s “Common Sense Award.”
- 2017 – AKTI introduced Freedom of Commerce Act sponsored by Senator Crapo to repeal the restrictions imposed by the Federal Switchblade Act of 1958. Awarded Senator Crapo with AKTI’s “Common Sense Award.” On behalf of AKTI, Senators Enzi and Wyden re-introduced legislation to protect traveling knife owners with a new bill title of the Interstate Transport Act. Successful in Colorado removing automatic and gravity knife restrictions. Worked with Michigan State Police Association to successfully to make automatics legal in Michigan. “Free to Carry” fundraiser at the Blade Show held as second very successful giving back event.
- 2016 – AKTI’s First “Giving Back Event” resounding success! Supported successful California case with legal brief that a lock back knives are not illegal daggers. Worked with West Virginia Citizens Defense League allowing knife users to lawfully carry a knife, open or concealed, without a permit.
- 2015 – AKTI supported Maine legislation to make automatic knives legal, Nevada pro-knife legislation, Texas knife preemption, and Montana pro-knife legislation Awarded Senators Mike Enzi and Ron Wyden with AKTI’s “Common Sense Award” for their efforts on the Knife Owners’ Protection Act.
- 2014 – Interstate Transport Act introduced for AKTI by Senator Mike Enzi and Senator Ron Wyden (originally called Knife Owner’s Protection Act). State law information available on AKTI’s website. Automatic knives legal in Tennessee.
- 2013 – Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, Texas and Vermont added as states considering removing restrictions or adding pro-knife laws. Began work in New York to clarify one-hand opening knives are not illegal gravity knives. Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi agreed to sponsor legislation for AKTI to protect traveling knife owners. Supported Alaska legislation to legalize automatic knives and enact knife preemption and Indiana to allow automatics.
- 2012 – Pro-knife legislation incorporating bias toward closure, clarifying one-hand opening knives are not gravity or switchblade knives, allowing switchblade manufacture or enacting knife preemption introduced in Louisiana, Washington, South Carolina and Alaska. Worked with TSA on possibility of knives back inside airplanes. Received the Blade Show’s Industry Achievement Award
- 2011 – AKTI Successfully Opposed Washington State Carrying Bill – A bill making carrying a concealed knife with blades 3.5 inches and longer a misdemeanor withdrawn.
- 2010 – AKTI Supports Rep. Jenn Coffey’s New Hampshire HB 544 – New Hampshire is now the freest knife law state in the U.S. Kansas Adopts AKTI’s Bias Toward Closure Language – Ordinary pocket knives cannot be mistaken for illegal automatics.
- 2009 AKTI Saves Folding Knives from U.S. Customs’ Action – AKTI successfully fought a proposed U.S. Customs re-definition of switchblades that would have included all folding knives, impacted interstate commerce and made de facto criminals of millions of knife owners. AKTI TX Bill Signed – assisted-opening and one-hand opening knives are not switchblades
- 2008 AKTI SC Bill Accepted – keeps law-abiding citizens from being criminals for carrying knives with blades over 2 inches.
- 2007 AKTI wins CA Appellate Decision – confirmed one-hand opening knives are not switchblades. AKTI saves 1 million Arkansas knife owners and visitors – you’re no longer a criminal in Arkansas if you carry a knife with a blade longer than 3-1/2 inches.
- 2004 AKTI opposes New York City knife busts – provided information for law enforcement and gave materials and attorney information to retailer defendants.
- 2001 AKTI saves 2 million Boston knife owners and visitors – opposed 2-1/2″ blade-length standard. AKTI bill saves 12 million Californians – 653k exempts one-hand openers in switchblade statute.