Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Knife Rights’ Virginia Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill, SB 758, which passed with broad bipartisan support, has been signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “we sincerely appreciate Gov. Youngkin signing this bill after nearly 5 years of effort to repeal this ban”.
NOTE: Repeal does not become effective until July 1st. Until that date, possession of automatic knives remains illegal in Virginia.
NOTE: The concealed carry knife bans in Virginia, including of switchblade (automatic) knives, will still remain in effect: “If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, … or (v) any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection…”
Ritter said, “Knife Rights will never stop until all archaic knife restrictions in Virginia are repealed.”
Knife Rights expresses our sincere thanks and congratulations to sponsor Senator Todd Pillion for his efforts that have resulted in the repeal of Virginia’s longstanding irrational switchblade ban.
With the repeal in Virginia, only five states remain with a complete ban on civilian possession of switchblade (automatic) knives. Knife Rights has led the effort to repeal switchblade bans or restrictions in 19 states, starting with New Hampshire in 2010. Repeals have since been enacted in Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and now in Virginia.
Altogether, Knife Rights’ efforts have resulted in 36 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 25 states and over 150 cities and towns since 2010.