Props to Rep. Echols, the author of current Oklahoma HB 2170, which eliminates the phrase "spring type knife" from 21 O.S. 1272 (defining the weapons that are prohibited to carry), and thereby eliminates a long-standing ambiguity about whether Oklahoma law prohibits carrying such common assisted-opening knives as the Kershaw Blur, Kershaw Leek, the ZT knives, Benchmade Barrage, and countless others. True switchblades (as defined under the federal Switchblade Knife Act) will remain covered by section 1272.
Assisted opening knives are unquestionably in "common use" for legitimate purposes under D.C. v. Heller and thus should be recognized as constitutionally protected arms. Which this bill in effect does, by decriminalizing carrying them.
HB 2170 passed the House of Representatives in February by a resounding 97-1 vote and is now in the Senate. You might wish to call your state Senators and urge them to request that it be brought to the Senate floor and passed.
PS: I know some people already carry assisted openers. There is a whole longstanding discussion in the stickied "knife carry" thread under the Self Defense and Handgun Carry subforum about this issue, so no need to re-hash it here. Suffice to say, a lot of thoughtful people have worried that the vague "spring type knife" clause covers assisted opening knives; some members of this forum have long refused to carry AOs for this reason; and at least one forum member posted a report of being physically detained and suspected by an Oklahoma LEO in part for having an AO knife. This bill, once enacted, will clear up the problems in this area.
Assisted opening knives are unquestionably in "common use" for legitimate purposes under D.C. v. Heller and thus should be recognized as constitutionally protected arms. Which this bill in effect does, by decriminalizing carrying them.
HB 2170 passed the House of Representatives in February by a resounding 97-1 vote and is now in the Senate. You might wish to call your state Senators and urge them to request that it be brought to the Senate floor and passed.
PS: I know some people already carry assisted openers. There is a whole longstanding discussion in the stickied "knife carry" thread under the Self Defense and Handgun Carry subforum about this issue, so no need to re-hash it here. Suffice to say, a lot of thoughtful people have worried that the vague "spring type knife" clause covers assisted opening knives; some members of this forum have long refused to carry AOs for this reason; and at least one forum member posted a report of being physically detained and suspected by an Oklahoma LEO in part for having an AO knife. This bill, once enacted, will clear up the problems in this area.
