← Missouri knife laws›Local Knife-Law Preemption
Missouri Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)
Conditional: No statewide knife preemption; RSMo 21.750 preempts only firearms, components and ammunition, so localities may still regulate knives.
Official source: revisor.mo.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering Missouri
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- ArkansasPermitted
Yes — Act 161 of 2025 amended 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 so local governments may not regulate the ownership, transport, carrying or possession of knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: arkleg.state.ar.us · Full Arkansas rule →
- IllinoisConditional
Illinois's firearm preemption doesn't cover knives, so home-rule cities regulate them — Chicago bars concealed carry of a knife with a blade over 2.5 inches (Muni. Code 8-24-020).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: codelibrary.amlegal.com · Full Illinois rule →
- IowaPermitted
Yes — Iowa Code 724.28 bars any city, county or township from regulating the carrying or transport of 'other weapons' (knives are dangerous weapons under 702.7) that are lawful under state law.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.iowa.gov · Full Iowa rule →
- KansasPermitted
Yes — K.S.A. 12-16,134 bars any municipality from enacting or enforcing ordinances regulating the possession, carrying, sale or use of knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ksrevisor.gov · Full Kansas rule →
- KentuckyPermitted
KRS 237.104 bars any unit of government from impairing the right to carry or use 'any deadly weapon,' which includes non-ordinary knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
- NebraskaPermitted
LB77 (2023) bars counties, cities and villages from regulating 'firearms or other weapons' (which includes knives); conflicting local ordinances are null and void (Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-330).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: nebraskalegislature.gov · Full Nebraska rule →
- OklahomaPermitted
21 O.S. 1289.24 preempts the entire field touching knives, voiding any municipal knife ordinance (only a school knife-possession policy is excepted).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: oscn.net · Full Oklahoma rule →
- TennesseePermitted
Tennessee preempts local knife regulation: state law occupies the field on the transfer, ownership, possession and transportation of knives, and no city, county or metropolitan government may regulate it (T.C.A. 39-17-1314, added by Public Chapter 418 of 2013, effective July 1, 2013).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Full Tennessee rule →
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