Knife Rights' Ohio Knife Law Reform Bill Introduced

President's Note: Long time friend Senator Joe Uecker (R) has introduced SB 140. This is a concept we have long supported and are excited about this legislation. Knives are commonly carried every day by law-abiding people, including many people with a Concealed Handgun License (CHL). We commend Knife Rights for their diligent work with legislators and interested parties.

The following is a press release from our friends at KnifeRights.org. We encourage anyone who carries a knife or a cutting tool, for work or personally to check out their web site and consider joining this excellent organization.

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After a number of years working with our good friend Ohio State Senator Joe Uecker, legislation has been introduced that would reform Ohio knife law. Senate Bill 140 repeals Sec. 2923.20(A)(6), the state's ban on the manufacture and sale to civilians of switchblade knives, springblade knives and gravity knives, as well as brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack, sandbag or any similar weapon

In addition, SB 140 creates an exception to Sec. 2923.12(1)(A), the state's vague concealed carry of weapons catchall provision banning concealed carry of any "deadly weapon other than a handgun." It adds a new paragraph (H), "for purposes of this section, 'deadly weapon' or 'weapon' does not include any knife, razor, or cutting instrument if the instrument was not used as a weapon."

Senate co-sponsors are Senators Matt Huffman, Larry Obhof and Kristina Roegner. We sincerely appreciate the support we have received from our good friends at Buckeye Firearms Association in our efforts to get this bill introduced.

This bill addresses the often abusive and discriminatory application of the existing vague Ohio weapons law against knife carriers to make it clear that unless the knife/edged tool is actually used as a weapon, it cannot be considered carry of a "deadly weapon" or "weapon" under state law. The intent of the bill is to remove these widely carried and used inanimate tools from law enforcement purview and only the actual use of a knife/edged tool by one person against another would make it a "deadly weapon" under the law. The bill changes the law to be in agreement with commonly accepted practice.

Currently it's legal for an individual to own an automatic (switchblade) knife in Ohio, but irrationally, it's illegal to manufacture or sell that same knife in Ohio. This means potential consumers have to either go online or travel to another state to purchase these popular knives. Likewise, Ohio manufacturers (such as longtime Knife Rights supporter Rick Hinderer Knives) cannot manufacture these automatic knives in Ohio, shutting them out of a significant and growing market. Ohio loses jobs and revenue under current law and this bill is a commonsense solution to that absurdity.

Knife Rights will let you know as soon as it is appropriate to contact your Ohio lawmakers to support these bills.