You may wonder why this is really important. One of the largest knife wholesalers, who is a major supplier for small business such as those of us selling at Gun Shows is located in Virginia. This law will help us have a more dependable source for automatic knives.
From Knife News: https://knifenews.com/virginia-switchblade-commerce-bill-passes-senate/
The Virginia Switchblade Commerce Bill (SB1251) has been passed out of the State Senate and is awaiting a signature from the Governor.
SB1251’s main thrust is to amend Virginia State Law so that manufacturers,distributors, retailers within the state are allowed to possess and sell switchblades, so long as those sales are completed with parties outside of Virginia itself. The legislation aims to generate employment and profit for Virginia citizens and companies by expanding the range of products they are allowed to offer.
As the Bill blazed through Committee, Senate, and House in little over a month, it only underwent a single amendment proposed by the House. According to Knife Rights, the amendment does not impact the proposed intent of the Bill itself. The amended section now reads:
The provisions of subsection A [the portion of the Code of Virginia enumerating legal repercussions of the possession and sale of switchblades, among other items] shall not apply to the possession of a switchblade knife by any manufacturer or distributor in the course of his employment, or any employee thereof in the course of his employment, or to the wholesale or retail sale of a switchblade knife by a manufacturer or distributor through which the switchblade knife is shipped to any person outside the Commonwealth.
ORP Trading Post 