Congress Passes NRA-Backed Legislation Protecting Pocketknife Classification

Back in June, we reported on a proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rule change that would have expanded the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to include spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives, and would have directly targeted the importation of "assisted opening" folding knives. (Read the proposed rule here.) Assisted opening knives are frequently used by hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel and anyone else who may need to open a knife with only one hand.

The proposed regulations would have designated all such knives as "switchblades" -- despite the fact they do not fall under the federal definition of "switchblades" -- and would have made them illegal for import into the United States.

Fortunately, in July, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. This NRA-supported amendment then headed to a House-Senate conference committee.

In mid-October, the U.S. House passed the amendment. We are happy to report that the following week, the U. S. Senate passed the measure as well.

This crucial legislation will protect pocketknives used by tens of millions of Americans. The amendment will keep pocketknives from being classified as illegal switchblades. U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) authored the amendment and were instrumental in its passage through Congress. U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) also played vital roles in the amendment's passage in the House.

"This amendment was necessary to prevent commonly-used pocketknives from being branded as illegal switchblades," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "The National Rifle Association is grateful to Senators Cornyn, Pryor and Hatch and Congressmen Latta and Minnick, whose leadership fixed a provision that would have criminalized tens of millions of law-abiding Americans including millions of hunters and sportsmen."

NRA also applauds the hard work of the American Knife and Tool Institute, Knife Rights, Inc., and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation for their efforts to get this measure passed.

The measure now awaits President Obama's signature.