American Knife & Tool Institute, Partnered with the West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League, Worked to Ease Concealed Carry Restrictions for Law Abiding Citizens
The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) today, in partnership with the West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League (WVCDL), applauded the override of Governor Tomblin’s veto of HB 4145. The legislation allows a law-abiding citizen of West Virginia, who is 21 years of age or older, to lawfully carry a knife, open or concealed, without needing to first obtain a government-issued permit. The West Virginia legislature overrode the veto this past Saturday, March 5th. The law goes into effect 90 days from the override.
AKTI is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization which represents all segments of the knife industry and knife users, promoting reasonable and responsible knife legislation and enforcement. We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to carry their essential and valuable tools without the fear of arbitrary, inconsistent and ineffective governmental restrictions.
“We are extremely pleased to see HB 4145 pass the West Virginia Legislature,” said AKTI’s Executive Director, Jan Billeb. “We believe that HB 4145 will be beneficial to all citizens in the State of West Virginia. It allows for eligible persons to carry the knife of their choice. This positive legislation would ensure that law-abiding West Virginia citizens are not criminalized for possession and carry of a tool.”
AKTI worked closely with WVCDL, who was instrumental in the momentum behind the legislation. WVCDL is a non-partisan, non-profit, all-volunteer, grassroots organization of concerned West Virginians who support our individual right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.