CIVIL RIGHTS UPDATE: Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signs knife rights bill. “Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed SB1771, Knife Rights’ bill repealing the state’s antiquated ban on switchblade (automatic) knives and possession of knives over four inches in length ‘with intent to go armed,’ a vague law subject to abusive interpretation. As of July 1, 2014, there are no longer any per se illegal knives in Tennessee. Last year Knife Rights passed Knife Law Preemption in Tennessee ensuring that no local jurisdiction can have regulations more restrictive than state law. This means that existing restrictions that banned automatic knives or limited blade length in some cities are now rendered null and void and they cannot pass any new laws banning certain knives.” Note that the law doesn’t take effect until July 1.