Massachusetts Court Overturns Switchblade Ban

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that carrying switchblade knives is protected under the Second Amendment, reversing a nearly 70-year-old ban. This decision arose from the case of David Canjura, arrested in 2020 for carrying a switchblade during a domestic dispute, who argued that the ban violated his right to bear arms. The court determined that switchblades qualify as 'arms' because they are commonly possessed for lawful purposes, aligning with the U.S. Supreme Court's precedents in Heller and Bruen. The ruling emphasized that the state failed to provide historical regulations justifying the ban, noting that only a few states have similar prohibitions. Justice Serge Georges Jr. remarked that folding pocketknives, including switchblades, are accepted as legitimate self-defense tools in society. The decision is significant as it reflects evolving interpretations of the Second Amendment regarding non-firearm weapons.