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An Act To Authorize Certain Officials To Carry Automatic Knives While in the Performance of Their Duties
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1055, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is amended to read:
 
1.   AExcept as provided in subsection 3, a person is guilty of trafficking in dangerous knives, if providing he has no right to do so, hethe person knowingly manufactures or causes to be manufactured, or knowingly possesses, displays, offers, sells, lends, gives away or purchases any knife whichthat has a blade whichthat opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade whichthat opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement.
Sec. 2.  17-A MRSA §1055, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.      A law enforcement officer, corrections officer or corrections supervisor pursuant to Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph D may possess a dangerous knife as described in subsection 1.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows law enforcement officers, corrections officers or corrections supervisors to possess a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or a knife having a blade that opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement.