HOUSE BILL NO. 451, introduced by Rep. Zuber, might bring some needed sanity to Mississippi’s knife laws. Currently a person may carry a concealed firearm without a license but no one, including enhanced licensees who have gone through a background check and training course, can carry “any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife” in a concealed fashion.
No one really knows what any of these terms describe so the law is ripe for inconsistent enforcement.
This law is wise for the following reasons:
- The carry of knives, like firearms, are protected under the Mississippi and federal constitution (Second Amendment) as both are “arms.”
- Knives are, relatively, less lethal than firearms so there is no legitimate reason that knives are more highly regulated as to carry.
- The existing laws are widely ignored and rarely enforced which means that there is the potential for abuse against disfavored individuals (selective enforcement).
- Many others states have repealed their knife laws entirely without any adverse effects.
Let’s all hope this bill quicklys passes the Legislature.
Read the whole bill here:
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2020/pdf/HB/0400-0499/HB0451IN.pdf
