Court Opinion

ID: 6932099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 00:08:19.319672+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:07:14.404051
License: Public Domain

PER CURIAM
Defendant appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of a stabbing weapon, specifically a switch-blade knife. ORS 166.510(1).1 He contends that the statute, as applied to his otherwise noncriminal possession of the weapon, unconstitutionally infringes on his right to bear arms under Or Const. Art I, § 21.2 We agree, because we are compelled to do so by Oregon Supreme Court opinions. See State v. Blocker, 291 Or 255, 630 P2d 824 (1981); State v. Kessler, 289 Or 359, 614 P2d 94 (1980).
Reversed.

 ORS 166.510(1) provides:
“Except as provided in ORS 166.515 to 166.520, any person who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, sells, keeps for sale, offers, gives, loans, carries or possesses an instrument or weapon having a blade which projects or swings into position by force of a spring or other device and commonly known as a switchblade knife or an instrument or weapon commonly known as a blackjack, slung shot, sandclub, sandbag, sap glove or metal knuckles, or who carries a dirk, dagger or stiletto commits a Class A misdemeanor.”

 Or Const. Art I, § 27, provides:
“The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defence [sic] of themselves, and the State, but the Militia shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power[.]”