[Posted Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.] The Right to Keep and Bear Arms refers to more than firearms. As of May 18, when the governor signed HB1665 into law, it is now legal for people in New Hampshire to carry automatic knives -- "switchblades" -- as well as double-edged knives.
For almost forty years, New Hampshire law prohibited carrying any "stiletto, switch knife, ...dagger, [or] dirk-knife" (RSA 159:16); exceptions were made (per RSA 159:17) for police officers, for EMTs and military when on duty, and for "persons holding hunting or fishing licenses when lawfully engaged in
hunting or fishing." It was illegal, however, to carry such knives when going to or returning from a hunting or fishing trip or EMT or military duty. Not only that, these knives could not be sold anywhere in the state, not even to police officers.
As pointed out in legislative testimony, technology has now made automatic knives -- "switchblades" -- indistinguishable from assisted-opening knives (which are not classified as switchblades) and other commonly carried folding knives. In the old days, switchblades were the only folding knives that could be quickly opened with one hand; now most folding knives can be quickly opened with one hand. As for "daggers" and "dirks," one wonders why people at the annual Highland Games hadn't been arrested for carrying ceremonial -- but formerly illegal -- Scottish skean dhu double-edged knives.
House Bill 1665 was filed last fall by Representative Jennifer Coffey, an EMT and a senior Advisor with Pro-Gun New Hampshire, with the help of attorney and knife collector Evan Nappen, a PGNH Director and our General Counsel. Aided by former state Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bob Clegg, now the president of PGNH, they worked the bill through both House and Senate, and it is now law.