Louisiana Switchblade Ban Almost Over?

There’s no doubt in most Second Amendment advocates’ minds that the right to keep and bear arms applies to firearms. However, many of us forget that the term “arms” was never limited to just guns. It also included bladed weapons which were still routinely used on the battlefield at the time of the Bill Of Rights was ratified.

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However, many places still impose restrictions on bladed weapons, sometimes making them more restricted than guns.

In Louisiana, however, the knife rights are set for a big win…if the governor signs the bill, at least.

Read more: https://www.ammoland.com/2018/05/repeal-of-louisiana-switchblade-knife-ban-goes-to-governor-edwards/#ixzz5FrX4tcII
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On April 13th, 2018, the Louisiana repeal of the switchblade ban (HB892) unanimously passed the House.  From legiscan.com:

(4)(a)
The manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use intentional concealment on one’s person of any switchblade knife, spring knife, or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch, or similar contrivance located on the handle. Section 2. R.S. 14:95(J) is hereby repealed in its entirety.

CODING:
Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

On May 10th, 2018 the repeal of the switchblade ban (HB892) passed the Senate. The vote was 21-yes, 11-no, and 7- absent.

Now the bill is going to Governor Edwards’ desk.

The bill is part of the ongoing trend to restore the legal ownership and carry of knives in American society. The bans never made much sense. Why would a switchblade be more deadly than a fixed blade knife?  The bans were pushed as yellow journalism as part of the Progressive agenda. There was no serious data or study behind the bans – just prejudice and a push for publicity.  The federal ban on interstate sales of switchblade knives and the importation of them, was passed in 1958.

It was fictional portrayals of youth gang violence that took the switchblade ban over the top, politically. “West Side Story” seems to have had a pivotal role. Consider the implications. It was not fact that drove the politics. It was fiction, promoted by the progressive media. It was a version of the “big lie” technique. The pro-genitive nature of the media coverage in promoting and eventually creating the ban on switchblades cannot be overemphasized.

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In fairness to the lawmakers of those bygone years, fiction drives most restrictions of the right to keep and bear arms. Just look at the nonsense being spread by the anti-gun crusaders on a regular basis. It’s nothing if not fictional. I mean, on one hand they claim our country is just too dangerous because of all these guns, but when you point out to someone that crime is down, they put on an impressive display of mental gymnastics to try and prove themselves right.

Of course, it doesn’t work, but it is kind of funny to watch.

As for repealing a switchblade ban, it needs to happen. These knives are no more dangerous than any other bladed instrument. They’re just easier to open. That’s the only difference, and I’ve opened lock blades as quickly as a switchblade opens, so it’s well past time to repeal dumb laws based on movies and books, rather than reality.

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