House supports amended knife bill

Knives longer than 5½ inches would stay illegal at sites.

The Texas House gave initial approval Monday to an amended knife-legalization bill that had been delayed by last week’s fatal stabbing at the University of Texas.

As originally written, House Bill 1935 would have removed from state law the category of “illegal knife,” defined as a dagger, stiletto, Bowie knife, sword, spear, a knife designed to be thrown or a knife with a blade that is longer than 5½ inches.

Under an amendment by Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston, knives with a blade longer than 5½ inches would remain illegal if carried in certain areas, while the specific categories of ille- gal knife would be removed.

The change was intended to remove undefined terms, including dagger and Bowie knife, that had caused confu- sion among law officers and knife owners, said the bill’s author, Rep. John Frullo, R-Lubbock.

The a men d ment also replaced the term “illegal knife” with “location-restricted knife” in the Penal Code, reflecting language added to the bill that would ban knives from bars, hospitals, nursing homes, “mental hospitals,” amusement parks, places of religious worship and high school, college or professional sporting events.

Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, whose district includes UT, sought to clarify that under HB 1935, “location-restricted” knives also would be illegal to carry on college campuses. Frullo replied that knives with blades longer than 5½ inches would not be legal to carry on campuses.

As amended, HB 1935 also would make it illegal for anyone under age 18 to carry a knife except at home, in a vehicle or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian.

HB 1935 passed on a voice vote. A final vote, set for Tuesday, would send the bill to the Senate.

The bill was originally scheduled for action on Friday, but Frullo postponed consideration, saying the timing wasn’t appropriate after the House voted earlier that day to honor Harri- son Brown, the student who had been stabbed to death on May 1 at UT.

Three others were injured by a student with a weapon described as a Bowie knife with a blade longer than 5½ inches.