Idaho looks to preempt knife regulation

BOISE — The Idaho Legislature is seeking to preempt many potential knife regulations in the same way the state does with gun regulations.

The Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday passed HB 620, which prohibits local governments from creating regulations around knives with some exemptions.

“It’s important to realize that knives are arms and are protected by the Second Amendment, and if we are protecting firearms, we should do the same by protecting knives that are carried all day by many of our constituents,” bill sponsor Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, said.

Redman presented the bill with Todd Rathner of Knife Rights, an Arizona-based nonprofit that opposes regulating the right to own, use or carry knives and edged tools, according to its website.

Rathner said the group has worked with 14 other states on similar legislation, which is meant to ensure that the laws remain consistent across the state.

Idaho has a law that prohibits gun ordinances from regulating certain activities such as discharging a gun in lawful self-defense, target shooting on public land if it’s not endangering people or property, or shooting at a sport-shooting facility.

There are exemptions for schools, jails and prisons, courts and safety regulations for child care facilities.

The knife legislation prevents cities, counties or other political entities from enacting rules or ordinances regulating the transportation, possession, carrying, sale, transfer, purchase, gift, devise, licensing, registration or use of a knife or knife-making components.

Laws regulating carrying concealed weapons still apply under the bill.

The committee passed the bill with no discussion, and it now heads to the Senate floor. House members previously passed the bill in a 56-13 vote.

Guido covers Idaho politics for the Lewiston Tribune, Moscow-Pullman Daily News and Idaho Press of Nampa. She may be contacted at lguido@idahopress.com and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, @EyeOnBoiseGuido.