Michigan Governor Vetoes Bipartisan Knife Rights Act
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed our bipartisan Michigan Knife Rights Act, HB 4066, that would have enacted Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption in the state.
Strongly supported by both parties, enactment of the Michigan Knife Rights Act would have protected millions of Michiganders from harassment by police for carrying simple tools they use every day for work. Whitmer’s veto is evidence that she does not care about needless interactions between Michigan residents and law enforcement.
HB 4066 would have assured that cities and towns could not criminalize the simple possession of the tools millions of Michigan residents use every day. Factory workers, farmers, food service workers, hunters, fishermen and others will remain in danger of arrest simply for crossing a line on a map to enter a city or town whose law may differ from the law in their own town or the state’s knife laws.
Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “we are disappointed by Governor Whitmer’s veto of this important criminal justice reform bill. The headlines we read daily just scream for exactly this type of rational, commonsense criminal justice reform, yet she is apparently tone-deaf to the pleas.”
Eight-year-old Michigan resident Remington Wilson, who testified in favor HB 4066, said, “I’m disappointed in Governor Whitmer for not understanding that responsible knife owners only want to follow the law. I wish she had helped make knife laws more simple and clear for everyone to understand. I will continue to work with Knife Rights to help our legislators understand the problems with the current laws.”
We sincerely appreciate the efforts of HB 4006 sponsor Representative Andrew Fink in getting this bill through the legislature. Rep Fink said, “I am disappointed that the governor has left law abiding citizens vulnerable to unnecessary interference from local ordinances, but I’ll keep advocating for freedom for all Michiganians as long as I’m in office.” Read more