Controversy Over Vermont’s Switchblade Law Amidst State-Sponsored Surplus Sale
State Tries to Sell Law-Breaking Switch Blade
No arrests were made when a blade over the permitted length limit appeared in a state-sponsored surplus sale in Vermont, highlighting the contentious issue surrounding Vermont’s switchblade regulation. The state has long been criticized for its 3-inch length limit on switchblades or automatic knives.
The state’s unique legislation restricts the length of switchblades to under 3-inches, while leaving no limitation on other types of knives. The anomaly has drawn attention and criticism from knife owners and advocates alike, including Vermont’s Rep. Pat Brennan.
Rep. Brennan, who has been instrumental in pushing for an updated switchblade law, commented on the issue.
“For the past few years, I have proposed legislation to abolish Vermont’s outdated switchblade law. This bipartisan bill has aimed to enable hunters, fishers, and tradespeople to utilize these knives, identical to any other blade. Now, with Vermont’s surplus sale featuring a working person’s knife, it seems an opportune moment to push for this practical legislation once again,” he stated.
Earlier in the week, a member of Knife Rights, a grassroots knife owners’ organization, noticed a listing for a Benchmade 2550 Mini-Reflex automatic knife on the Vermont Surplus Program’s Recoup website. The knife was listed in the unrestricted section of the site and offered for sale at their store in Waterbury, Vermont. The knife, with a blade length of 3.16-inches, is deemed illegal in Vermont as per Title 13, Chapter 085, Subchapter 001, §4013. The statute states that possession, sale, or offering of a switchblade with a blade over three inches in length can lead to a fine of $100 or imprisonment of up to 90 days.
Despite the hiccup, the HB-13 bill, which aims to repeal the length limit on switchblades, will carry over to the following year. Knife Rights and Rep. Brennan are committed to continuing their efforts to repeal the law. The recent controversy over the surplus sale may serve to highlight the need for reevaluating this legislation.
Knife Rights passed the nation’s first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.