Colorado Switchblade Repeal Effort

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Current knife law in Colorado -

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/27/colorado-switchblade-knife-ban/

Knives that are Banned in Colorado
18-12-102. Possessing a dangerous or illegal weapon – affirmative defense

(1) As used in this section, the term “dangerous weapon” means a firearm silencer, machine gun, short shotgun, short rifle, or ballistic knife.

(2) As used in this section, the term “illegal weapon” means a blackjack, gas gun, metallic knuckles, gravity knife, or switchblade knife.

(3) A person who knowingly possesses a dangerous weapon commits a class 5 felony. Each subsequent violation of this subsection (3) by the same person shall be a class 4 felony.

(4) A person who knowingly possesses an illegal weapon commits a class 1 misdemeanor.

(e) “Gravity knife” means any knife that has a blade released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force.

(j) “Switchblade knife” means any knife, the blade of which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in its handle.

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/27/colorado-switchblade-knife-ban/

DENVER — The switchblade knives wielded six decades ago by the fictional Jets and Sharks street gangs in the legendary Broadway musical “West Side Story” and in Hollywood films spooked lawmakers across the U.S. and helped usher in state bans.

But 54 years after Colorado enacted its prohibition of the folding knives with blades that pop from their handles with the push of a button, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers is trying to repeal it.

They are citing arguments from knife rights activists and others who say switchblades have become everyday work tools that also can save lives because they can be opened with one hand instead of two.

March 9, 2017: The bipartisan bill to repeal Colorado's Switchblade and Gravity Knife ban SB 17-008, overwhelmingly passed the House 59-6.The bill legalizes the possession, carry and sale of a gravity knife or switchblade by removing such knives from the definition of "illegal weapon." It will now be sent to Governor Hickenlooper for action.

If you live, work or travel in Colorado, please call or email the Governor and politely ask him to please sign SB 17-008. That's all you need to do, just keep it very simple, "please sign SB 17-008" and thank him.

Click on Read More>>>> for contacts for the Governor.

Phone: 303-866-2471

Email Form: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/share-your-comments
Click on "Yes"
Enter the Bill number: SB 17-008
Select "for"
Subject "Please sign SB-17-008
Message: Please sign SB 17-008. Thank you.

We congratulate sponsors Sen. Owen Hill and Rep. Steve Lebsock for their effective leadership in moving this bipartisan bill thorough the legislature. We'd like to thank the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Colorado and County Sheriffs Of Colorado for supporting this important criminal justice reform bill.