THE HOME of Delegates voted 57-39 Mon to approve HB 1432 and send it to the Senate for account. The bill was sponsored by Republican Dels. Lee Ware of Powhatan and Scott Lingamfelter of Woodbridge.
Concealed Carry Handbags
The bill claims, "Anybody may carry a switchblade blade concealed when such blade is carried for the intended purpose of participating in a lawful vocation or recreational activity the performance which is along with the use of the switchblade blade."
Ware said he suggested the bill with respect to knife collectors including the Greater Richmond Blade Golf club. He also said roofers and other staff use switchblade kitchen knives in their careers.
"Look at night glowing but disorienting name - switchblade - and appearance at the genuine goal and the genuine words of the legislation, and become a member of me in assisting ordinary folks, hobbyists and tradesmen by voting upon this invoice," Ware advised his colleagues.
Furthermore to tool and blade teams, the monthly bill in addition has been backed by Second Amendment privileges teams.
Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, spoke up against the bill, stating its dialect is too wide-ranging and allows people who have bad motives to lawfully conceal carry a switchblade.
He said the monthly bill is well-intentioned but could have bad implications.
"Switchblades were at first placed into the code many times to keep these lethal weapons from the hands of gangs," Lopez said. "Dangerous and lethal weaponry like these in the hands of an bad actor aren't best for our communities to acquire around."
Under current regulation, it is legal to possess and open-carry switchblades in Virginia, but it is against the law to conceal-carry certain cutlery including switchblades, bowie dirks and knives. Dirks are small daggers.
Similar blade legislation has been approved in the Senate:
Like HB 1432, Senate Monthly bill 1347 allows switchblades to be taken concealed. The Senate was handed because of it previous week over a vote of 23-16 with one abstention.
SB 865 allows the copy of dirks, switchblade and bowie cutlery from family to a. The Senate approved the bill the other day, 21-19.
By Mary Lee Clark with Capital Media Service
Capital Reports Service is a flagship program of VCU's Robertson Institution of Mass media and Culture. Students taking part in this program provide state coverage for Virginia's community newspaper publishers and other advertising shops, under the guidance of Associate Teacher Jeff South.
