Multi-State Coalition of Leftist Attorneys General
Argue for the Power of States to Ban Common Arms

A coalition of leftist Attorneys General for sixteen states and the District of Columbia has filed an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit appeal by the State of Hawaii, claiming state power to ban common arms is essential. On August 7, 2023, a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit reached the unsurprising conclusion that knives, particularly the type of pocket knife called a "butterfly knife" or "balisong" were bearable arms. Therefore, they were protected by the Second Amendment of the Constitution, and the State of Hawaii did not have the legal authority to ban them.

On September 20, 2023, the State of Hawaii filed an appeal to Teter v Lopez, claiming the three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit mistakenly applied the law, asking for a new panel or for a hearing en banc. Historically the Ninth Circuit has been hostile to the Second Amendment and has reversed the decision of three judge panels which uphold Second Amendment rights.

On September 22, the plaintiffs, Teter and Grell were ordered to file a response to the appeal within 21 days.

On October 2, 2023, the coalition of 14 state Attorneys General and the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief in support of the appeal. The arguments of the State of Hawaii, the 14 leftist Attorneys General, and the District of Columbia are remarkably similar. In sum, they are this: .....