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Posts Tagged ‘AKTI’

AKTI Works with Senators Mike Enzi and Ron Wyden to Support Senate Commerce Committee Passage of Interstate Transport Act

Wednesday, July 4th, 2018

Knife Owners Will Have a New Federal Protection While Traveling Under Legislation Advocated For By the American Knife & Tool Institute
Cody, WY, June 27, 2018 – The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI), a nonprofit trade association representing the entire knife community, announced that the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed S. 1092, the Interstate Transport Act (ITA), a bill to further protect law-abiding knife owners.

Throughout the 2017-2018 legislative session, AKTI has had numerous successes in easing burdensome restrictions on knife owners throughout the nation, including a repeal of the automatic knife prohibition in Colorado and Michigan. In addition, AKTI has continued its work to protect lawful knife owners traveling through the current patchwork of state and local knife laws with the introduction of the Interstate Transport Act.

The organization has worked closely with legislators and staff in the United States Congress to advance its signature federal legislation, which is led by Senators Mike Enzi, R-WY, and Ron Wyden, D-OR, and currently has eight additional bipartisan co-sponsors. These co-sponsors include: Senators Steve Daines, R-MT, Martin Heinrich, D-NM, James Risch, R-ID, Joe Manchin, D-WV, Jeff Merkley, D-OR, Mike Crapo, R-ID, Tom Udall, D-NM, and Tammy Baldwin, D-WI.

Under current United States code, lawful gun owners are allowed to transport firearms that are legal in both a traveler’s state of origin and state of destination, even if they will pass through jurisdictions that would not permit the firearms, provided they are properly stored and in accordance with all federal restrictions. This protection was created in 1986, when Congress passed the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA). Prior to this legislation, gun owners had no way to legally travel with their firearms through states and localities that had more stringent laws. This law empowers firearm owners to travel more freely, while not restricting states’ ability to regulate the firearms that are carried within their borders.

Senator Mike Enzi
However, no such federal protection exists for knife owners wishing to transport knives to and from states in which they are legal, but through jurisdictions with varying requirements. The Interstate Transport Act would create a federal protection for knife owners, allowing legal interstate travel with knives, provided the knives are transported to and from states where the law allows possession of said knives, and they are transported in locked containers.

“In Wyoming, we understand that knives are an essential tool for folks, whether they are for hunting, ranching or for everyday use,” Enzi said. “I am glad the committee passed this legislation, which would allow law-abiding knife owners to finally be able to travel across the country without fear of breaking the law. I am hopeful that the Senate will act quickly to pass this common-sense legislation.”

Senator Ron Wyden
“Our bipartisan bill recognizes that law-abiding knife owners shouldn’t risk going to jail for traveling between two places where it’s legal to have knives,” Wyden said. “I’m glad the Commerce Committee has taken this important step toward respecting state laws and restoring some common sense to our nation’s laws regarding knife ownership.”

The Interstate Transport Act is a continuation of AKTI’s efforts in the US Congress since 2013. Over that time, AKTI has heard repeatedly from knife owners who have questions about the confusing and varying laws in locations they are visiting or through which they are planning to travel. Since AKTI’s goal is to ensure that law-abiding citizens have knowledge and confidence in their ability to carry the tools they use in their daily lives, we got to work.

“Since we were formed in 1998, AKTI has worked to systematically address what we saw as outdated, confusing, and unfair laws both in the states, and at the federal level,” said CJ Buck, AKTI President and CEO of Buck Knives, Inc. “Our goal is common sense knife reform, and in recent years we have had success fighting for changes in multiple states, to the benefit of the consumer. We’re extremely encouraged to see the Senate Commerce Committee pass the Interstate Transport Act, and we are highly optimistic that the Senate will soon pass the legislation and send it to the House for their approval. We are proud to be working with a bipartisan group of legislators who share our commitment to common sense solutions, and we look forward to passing this important reform into law. We thank Senators Enzi and Wyden for their hard work on the Interstate Transport Act, and look forward to working with them to get it across the finish line.”

For more information, visit www.AKTI.org.

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Boker USA Joins Leadership Team of the American Knife & Tool Institute

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017

Renowned knife manufacturer Boker steps up support of knife advocacy organization representing the entire knife community

Cody, WY (July 31, 2017) – The Board of Regents of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is pleased to welcome Boker USA as the newest member of the non-profit association's leadership team representing the interests of knife users and the knife industry. Boker recently stepped up its support of the efforts of the organization by accepting an invitation to be a member of the Board of Regents.

Kurt Ronacher, President of Boker USA, will participate at board meetings and serve on the Membership Committee of the organization.

"Boker unequivocally believes in the reasonable, common sense approach that AKTI has taken to addressing knife law changes, dealing with legislators and solving problems for knife owners and the knife industry," said Ronacher. "AKTI's recent success in removing all restrictions to automatic knives in Colorado will benefit our brand, the industry and citizens of Colorado who need to be able to choose the correct tool to use."

The American Knife & Tool Institute is governed by a nine member Board of Regents that include a broad cross section of the knife industry. Member companies include Benchmade Knife Company, BTI Tools, Boker, Buck Knives, CRKT, Gerber, Ontario Knife Company, and SOG Knives & Tools. Regular input to the Board from Advisory members also adds to the knowledge, credibility and professionalism of the organization to represent a broad spectrum of issues for the knife community.

"We are pleased that Boker has joined our board and to have Kurt's input on the strategies and projects that AKTI is working on for the benefit of the entire knife community," said CJ Buck, President of AKTI. "Recent legislative successes in Colorado and Michigan are the result of several years of AKTI laying a common sense foundation with many different legislators and groups to make this a reality. We are very encouraged that Boker, with their contributions and involvement, has demonstrated such trust in our efforts and the approach AKTI has taken to make effective knife law changes."

Boker is a renowned manufacturer and supplier of high-quality and innovative knives. Sporting, hunting, collector and tactical knives are made in the Solingen, Germany factory which is the largest manufacturer in Europe.

For more information visit www.AKTI.org.

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CJ Buck and John Sullivan Re-Elected as Leaders of AKTI

Saturday, July 22nd, 2017

Knife Advocacy Organization Chooses CJ Buck and John Sullivan to Continue as the Organization’s President and Vice President

Cody, WY (July 20, 2017) – The Board of Regents of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) recently re-elected CJ Buck, the fourth generation of his family to head Idaho-based Buck Knives, to serve an additional two-year term as president, and John Sullivan, Director of Marketing at W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, to continue as vice president of the association.

CJ Buck

Buck was a founding member of the non-profit advocacy organization committed to ensuring that Americans will always be able to make, sell, carry and use knives and served two terms as vice president and was president from 2001-2003 and from 2015-2017.

In addition to providing leadership as a Board member, Buck has focused on AKTI’s legislative work, chairing the AKTI Legislative Committee until 2015. He was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2016 for his efforts on behalf of the knife industry.

“I’m very excited about AKTI’s legislative successes and the solutions we are working on to solve the issues that face knife users and the entire knife industry.” Buck said. “It is an honor to have the Board’s confidence and to continue leading two separate major federal initiatives. We are working on legislation to protect knife owners traveling from state to state and to remove the commerce restrictions on automatic knives.”


John Sullivan

Sullivan has volunteered on the Board of Regents of AKTI since 2012 and has been involved in the knife industry for over twenty years. As AKTI vice president the past two years, he has been involved in the organization’s fundraising event at the Blade Show, and on the membership, legislative and finance committees.”AKTI best represents the interests of the knife industry and the concerns of individual knife users. I’m pleased to continue to work with a united board that is committed to the growth of the industry and that our customers can freely use the knife of their choice.” Sullivan said. “W.R. Case is eager to give back to the organization that has made a difference, protecting and ensuring our ability to make and use knives.”

The American Knife & Tool Institute is governed by a nine member Board of Regents that include a broad cross section of the knife industry. Regular input to the Board from Advisory members also adds to the knowledge, credibility and professionalism of the organization to represent a broad spectrum of issues for the knife community.
For more information visit www.AKTI.org.

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