An act relating to automatic opening knives
S.61 would amend Vermont’s criminal weapons statute to remove the criminal penalty for possessing, selling, or offering for sale automatic opening knives, including switchblade knives. Under current law, a person who possesses, sells, or offers for sale a switchblade knife with a blade three inches or more in length may be imprisoned for up to 90 days, fined up to $100, or both. The bill would strike that prohibition from 13 V.S.A. § 4013, leaving the rest of the section’s treatment of zip guns unchanged.
The bill is narrowly focused on one category of knife and does not create a new regulatory scheme; instead, it decriminalizes conduct that is currently punishable under Vermont law. If enacted, it would remove state-level criminal liability for automatic opening knives and affect individuals who own, sell, or retail those knives, as well as law enforcement and prosecutors who currently enforce the ban. The bill takes effect upon passage.
The bill would amend 13 V.S.A. § 4013 by deleting the switchblade knife language from the statute, thereby eliminating the misdemeanor-level penalty tied to possession, sale, or offering for sale of automatic opening knives with blades three inches or longer. It would not alter the statute’s separate prohibition on zip guns. The practical effect is to decriminalize switchblade knives under Vermont law and remove the associated fine and jail exposure for covered conduct.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the available sentiment appears neutral and procedural rather than contentious. The bill’s stated purpose is straightforward: to remove criminal penalties for automatic opening knives. No opposing arguments, amendments, or recorded vote history are provided here, so there is no evidence in the record supplied of strong support or opposition.
The main point of contention, if any, would likely center on public safety and weapons regulation versus personal ownership and commercial freedom. Supporters would be expected to argue that switchblades should not be singled out for criminal penalties, while opponents might view automatic opening knives as dangerous weapons that should remain restricted. However, the provided materials do not include committee debate, testimony, or votes identifying specific lawmakers, stakeholders, or advocacy groups on either side.