908 and knife law reform in 2011

[truecrimson]

Reposted from PAFOA
http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-10/1...ost1231553

I'm sure everyone reading this knows that the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions state that our right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed and shall not be questioned. Have you ever thought that "arms" covers a lot more than firearms? Usually that is where the debate is. But the well regulated colonial militia members owned, carried, and used knives, tomahawks, axes, dirks, daggers, and other weapons as a regular part of ensuring the security of a free state and in defense of themselves and the commonwealth.

Many of you may be aware that New Hampshire recently repealed it's switchblade and knife laws

http://forum.pafoa.org/news-123/1005...ml#post1214999 (Bearing arm more than just guns - Switchblade knives now legal in NH)

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php...id=99&Itemid=1

But did you know that, lost amid the immigration debate, Governor Brewer of Arizona signed the nations first knife preemption law?

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php...d=100&Itemid=1

Did you also know that you almost lost, at the federal level, the right to own and carry a number of ordinary non switchblade knives including spring assited, and one handed openning knives?

http://www.kniferights.org/index.php...id=98&Itemid=1

Lucky for you people stood up and stopped it. Here is the same battle we are facing with federal laws, and with the firearms freedom act in various states. Who will decide what is the best policy for each state? Will the federal government unilaterally impose a one size fits no one standard on all? Or will the several states decide what is good for themselves?

Kim, Michael, Chris, and the others at FOAC have been doing incredible work to protect your right to own and carry a firearm. But they can only do so much. Like all of us, they have lives, and wives, and kids, and jobs. So we need to step up our game and take responsibility for getting stuff done to protect our rights against the constant attempts at intrusion.

Right now they are busy pushing HB 40, HB 1088, and opposing HB 2536 which the anti's snuck in at the last minute.

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...tml#post678015 (Castle Doctrine HB 40 in 09 does anyone REALLY want this passed? If so please read)

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...ml#post1218261 (House Bill 2536 Offered)

So we need to step up and take some of the load. Plans are already underway to address 908 in the 2011 legislative session. Research is being done, information is being compilled, and a sponsor is being courted. http://www.kniferights.org is on board to support our efforts as well. But there is a lot that still needs to be done. We anticipate that with the budget taking up the reps attention we have about 60 days to prepare our material for the initial meeting. That isn't as much time as it sounds like. If you want to help in this effort at this early stage here's what you can do now:

Check on the laws, codes, regulations and ordinaces in your local municiality, city, county, borough, township, etc regarding the owning or carrying of knives or other non firearm weapons.

Post those here and/or email them to me. PM me for my email if you need it. If you post them here please include links if they are online. Please also include the name of the municipality and county in which it is located.

Repeat the process for all municipalities bordering yours. If you want to keep going beyond that, by all means go ahead. I'll try to put up a web page showing the knife laws by municipality, similar to the POC list, NOC list, and Sheriff letters pages.

http://www.thecrimsonpirate.com/rtkba/poclist.html

http://home.comcast.net/~2a.rights/L...CarryList.html

http://www.thecrimsonpirate.com/rtkb...ffletters.html

Obviously I'll have to add the municipalities other than counties as needed, but that gives you an idea of the format.

Is a knife that you could open automatically useful in your profession of any of your hobbies? Would you like to have one consistent knife law that you could know and understand across Pennsylvania? Would you like to take that dagger or dirk or mace you bought at the ren faire over to your moms house to show all of your cousins on Thanksgiving and not have to worry about getting arrested for it? Well I've given you something you can do to help the effort and be part of winning back rights that have been infringed and questioned. Whether you do or not, we will be fighting for your rights.

[gnbrotz]

Is this something where a "leader" (as in a group) is needed - especially for PA, or are there those who focus primarily on knife issues that we can learn from and work with (much like we could do on the many firearms issues that is the "strong suit" for many of us as a knowledge base)?

[truecrimson]

I'm not sure I understand the question.

http://www.kniferights.org is experienced, having delt with similar issues in New Hampshire and Arizona. Arizona is their physical location and place of origin. I have spoken with them on the phone and they are on board to help, but they are not Pennsylvania residents and not familiar with Pennsylvania laws, legislators, etc. But we can definately learn from them, and benefit from their experience. But in many ways we are also entering new territory.

The effort was initiated by FOAC, by the man that most here know as Whitefeather, and I sort of took the ball and am running with it. Whitefeather and the other top guys at FOAC have their hands full and they wanted someone else to push this. So if you mean a local leader to coordinate and focus the 908 effort in Pennsylvania I guess I'm it, although I have not been officially appointed or anything.

I've been researching 908 cases and have contacted a rep to meet with about sponsoring this in the next legislative session. It's too late to try to do it this year. I need to track down local laws, but it's difficult for one person to do everything so I figured I would throw out to potentially interested parties and see if anyone stepped up to help with that.

I don't know if that answered your question, but I hope it helped

[gnbrotz]

So basically, there is no "other" group focusing specifically on PA - though a national organization (kniferights.org) is aware and supportive. FOAC has jumped in even though it isn't a firearm issue, and you personally are making it a primary focus of your current political activism and you are trying to encourage others to take up the cause as well.

That about right?

[truecrimson]

Yep.

FOAC initiated the effort on this. kniferights.org is trying to get knife preemption in every state, but they rely on local activists. They did Arizona, it's their home. But in New Hampshire they supported the eforts of New Hampshire residents who had an interest and desire to change the laws. Kniferights.org is like a small NRA for knives.

In light of New Hampshire repealing their knife laws, and Arizona enacting knife preemption FOAC wanted to move on this. When the news about New Hampshire was posted on PAFOA several people offered to help, and kniferights.org was mentioned. There seemed to be a good deal of crossover interest with "gun rights activists" such as myself. During the capitol visit to encourage the judiciary committee, Whitefeather mentioned needing someone to take this. I asked a bunch of "how to" questions that day, and started on it. Since then I have been in frequent contact with Kim Stolfer about this, getting guidance and advice as I procceed.