Is Possession of a Switchblade the Same as a Firearm in Relation to Second Amendment Protection?

By Ray Hill 
Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College 

Legal Issues and Citation 

• California’s prohibition on possession of a switchblade doesn’t violate the Second Amendment (21510 P.C). 
• Knife Rights Inc. v. Bonta (9th Circ.) Jan 30, 2026, #24-5536, 2026 U.S. App. LEXIS 3139). 

Facts: Several knife and business owners challenged California’s switchblade statute as a violation of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms. A switchblade is defined as having a blade two inches or more with a blade that can be released by the flick of a button, pressure on the handle or a flip of the wrist. Possession in a public place, whether on the person or in a vehicle, is a misdemeanor (21510(b) P.C.) There is no “open carry” exception. 

Ruling: The 9USCA ruled that California’s statute was valid and consistent with a group of laws prohibiting weapons that have been regulated due to their “dangerous and unusual nature” and potential for violence or crime. Given that the Second Amendment must be ....