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Senate Judiciary hears proposal to lift ban on automatic-opening knives; members flag need for clear statutory definition
Summary
Senator Pat Brennan presented a bill to remove automatic-opening knives from a list of prohibited weapons, arguing the tools have legitimate uses and enforcement is hampered by a lack of statutory definition. Committee members asked for clearer definitions and additional testimony; no vote was taken.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13 heard testimony from Senator Pat Brennan on a bill that would narrow the list of prohibited items in the state’s weapons statute to exclude certain automatic-opening knives and related items while keeping zip guns illegal.
Brennan, representing Grand Isle County and Colchester, said the change would modernize an older statutory prohibition that he and supporters described as originating in the 1950s. Brennan said the current law treats a tool commonly used by electricians, fishermen and…
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