Knife Rights’ Virginia Switchblade Ban Repeal Effective July 1st

Knife Rights’ Virginia Switchblade Ban Repeal Bill, SB 758, is effective tomorrow, July 1st. The possession, carry, sale, purchase, and manufacture of automatic (switchblade) knives will be legal in the state.

NOTE: The concealed carry knife bans in Virginia, including 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…” Holding a Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit doesn’t allow concealed carry of an automatic (switchblade) knife.

Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “we will never stop until all archaic knife restrictions in Virginia are repealed.”

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, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Altogether, Knife Rights’ efforts have resulted in 38 bills repealing knife bans in 25 states and over 150 cities and towns since 2010.