College

[zahc]

Does the parking lot of a college count as 'on campus'?

I've carried a pocketknife for 12 years everywhere. Should I quit, knowing it is probably against the rules, and even if I'm confident I can keep concealed?

 

[natedog]

a pocket knife is not worth getting expelled over

 

[willyjixx]

how bigs the pocket knife?

you mean you cant carry a "pocket knife" on a college campus? your supposed to be a responsible educated adult to attend college but cant be trusted with a pocket knife? i mean were not talking a Bali-song or some off the wall fold up hollywould short sword pocket knife are we? i am imagining a version of ol granpas tried an true buck knife.correct me if im wrong please!!!!!!

 

[Glock_PhD]

First for you question. In every instance I have ever seen yes the parking lots count as on campus. Which would be why so many people can't bring a firearm to campus with them and just leave it in there car. Now for the knife, why can't you keep it. Is there a specific rule about it? Is this rule school specific or maybe something pertaining to a state rule and concealing edged weapons of a certain size. Unless you have seen a specific wording somewhere I see no reason why you can't keep a pocket knife. How many women walk around campus with pepper spray? Which of course they should be as you should be able to keep your knife. So I say keep it in your pocket. If there is a specific rule about this could you please elaborate?

 

[hksw]

IMO, when you are inside the boundaries of a college/university, whether in a classrrom, in a parking lot, in a dorm, etc. you are on their property. IF you know for sure that there is a code restricting the carry of a knife, I would leave it in my dorm/house/car and not carry on campus.

At Ohio State, the main campus is inside Columbus. Non-student civilians from the low income surroundings partially around USO trot through the campus all the time. I'm sure they don't know, care, or follow the rules if there are any (there weren't any that I was aware of when I went there).

 

[4v50 Gary]

If the lot is owned by the college, you betcha. Get a more discrete knife.

 

[zahc]

gerber magnum LST junior, front pocket.

 

[Mike Irwin]

What's the college rule book say about it?

 

[zahc]

'no weapons'

I'm gonna have to check deeper into what a weapon is. That's all. I'm still carrying it though.

 

[Bowlcut]

Most college rule books are very general exepct for firearms. They usualy say no weapons. Which is designed as an easy out for them. Anything is a weapon potentialy, everything but a school book by most school rules. So if you assult someone they will get you for two infractions if you use anything other than your hands or your books.

I carried ATLEAST one pocket knife with me since I was like 10, and im just 25 now so not like Im an old timer. My high school was very anti knife, I just never pulled it out or did it conspictualy. I was brought up that my pocket knife is a tool and something that you shouldnt let leave your body. College...I carried various folders along with a good pocket/jack knife.

Dont be stupid....and dont get caught doing said stupid things

 

[Mannlicher]

zahc,

never depend on an opinion voiced online for an answer an important question like that. Call the college police, or local cops. Rules like that vary from place to place.

 

[Standing Wolf]

never depend on an opinion voiced online for an answer an important question like that. Call the college police, or local cops. Rules like that vary from place to place.

I concur. I'd check with the local police; I'd also have to wonder whether campus policy trumps state and local law.

Personally, I'd have to figure if a pocket knife is in my pocket, it's nobody's business but mine—but then, I've carried one pocket knife or another since the age of about seven.

 

[MrAcheson]

In general if you can see the college campus from where you are standing, it counts as college campus. At least that is the case in Delaware, where state school zone weapons laws are in effect within a few hundred yards of any building.

The one possible except is your car. You are not protected walking through the parking lot, but IIRC your car is an extension of your home (in some states) so you may be able to keep the knife in your car. Talk to your local police for the particulars of state law.

Actually a lot of college rule books include knives, swords, and bladed weapons on campus. U of Delaware did (when I was there we weren't even allowed to have cooking knives on campus). Likewise decorative swords and a ton of other stuff were prohibited. The problem with this is that these are school rules in most cases. UD could expell me (for example), but they couldn't criminally charge me with anything unless I broke criminal law (which mere possession wouldn't be). At Delaware, the campus police didn't criminally charge much for non-violent behavior because it leaves a paper trail that reflects badly on the university.

 

[falconer]

Ohio State has rules against any sort of weapon, knife, sword, firearms etc... However, no one seems to care. I carry a knife all the time (benchmade striker) during class, and while working for the university. I see tons of people walking around with swords and staffs and the like, no one even bats an eye. Heck, the university even went so far as to give me firearms. So much for that rule.

 

[45R]

CSUS has a no weapons policy.

Do they enforce this? No. The rule book is pretty vauge.

IMHO I believe that some of these things are written so that if you do something bad, they can throw the book at you.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Christ.

Weapon is such a damned worthless term.

A sharpened pencil makes one hell of a weapon.

A leather belt with a heavy buckle on it makes a great weapon.

A car is a "weapon of mass destruction" if used against a crowd.

My suggestion?

It's a folding blade pocket knife.

DON'T ask. You're only setting yourself up for the answer you don't want to hear.

If Joe non-varsity Donuteater runs you in, you've got a good and very valid complaint that weapon, being undefined (I'm assuming there's no more substantial definition employed) is too vague to be understood, and therefore is invalid on its face.


I also went to college at a place that had a "no weapons" policy, but didn't spell it out.

So, I kept a 12 gauge and a .38 in my room. Hey, hunting and target guns. Not weapons...

I would have lost that one....

 

[Azrael256]

A folding pocketknife is extremely unlikely to be considered a weapon, so I wouldn't worry (I carry a folder in my pocket at my school, too, and none of the campus police have cared). Carrying a gun in the parking lot is an interesting mix, however. According to my school's weapons prohibition, the parking lot is "on campus," and in Oklahoma it is illegal to carry a concealed (and presumably open) firearm "on campus," however, Oklahoma law creates an specific exemption for the parking lot. So, at my school, I could be expelled for keeping a pistol in the glove box, but if I have a CCW, I could not be prosecuted. As it's a private university, and therefore private property, I don't push it there.

 

[Moparmike]

I concur with previous statements, check your local rules. Personally, anyplace that doesnt trust me with a friggin pocket knife doesnt get trusted with my money and education.

However, in my state anything less than 3.5 inches is legal everywhere. I carried a knife sometimes on highschool grounds, and the Asst. Principal knew it. (It also helps to be one of his student lackies... ) He knew lots of people did it. I had teachers ask me to open stuff.

At college, I carry 3 of them. A folder, an Autozone-special Gerber-like multi tool, and a swiss-army knife. I even varified it with a local UofA cop that it was completely legit as long as I wasnt doing something stupid. (brandishing, attacking, etc)

 

[Destructo6]

A knife is not a weapon. It is a tool, a tool for cutting.

I've gone virtually nowhere without my Spyderco in the last 12 years, to include universities and so forth.

 

[timbo]

Well, I'm in CA, and the law around here is that there are no blades of any type allowed on any public school campus and that it's a felony. All elementary, secondary, and public colleges including CSU's, UC's, and public community colleges count. I had a CSU police officer tell me this for a reason and I was fortunate that he knew me for some time, else things could have been worse. Laws may vary from state to state, but I'd error on the cautious side and just leave it at home or in the car. I wonder if they would be hard on me if they knew I carried a maglite in my backpack sometimes...

Calling your local or school police is an excellent way to find out for sure. Depending on how they are around there, you may just be able to walk up to one and ask directly, although I wouldn't advise having your knife on you when you ask.

 

[Night20]

I carry one with me to class even though its not technically allowed...just habit I guess. I'd sure think twice before ever pulling it out of my pocket though. I made sure never to carry to high school. They'd expell someone in a heartbeat.

And every definition of "campus" I've heard is the land owned/operated by the university. As soon as you turn onto that land, you are on campus, including the roads, dorms, parking lots, buildings, lawn, everthing...

 

[stellarpod]

This excert pertains to Oklahoma's Self Defense Act, specifically to concealed handguns, but applies to this topic regarding what constitutes "campus":

D. No person in possession of any concealed handgun pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act shall be authorized to carry the handgun into or upon any college or university property, except as provided in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the following property shall not be prohibited for persons having a valid concealed handgun license:

1. Any property set aside for the use of any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, provided the handgun is carried or stored as required by law and the handgun is not removed from the vehicle without the prior consent of the college or university president while the vehicle is on any college or university property;

My point is, in Oklahoma anyway, the law provides specific exception to parking lots where conceal-carry on university/college property is concerned.

stellarpod

 

[Glamdring]

Asking LEO about the law isn't a good idea. They are not legal experts.

For legal questions talk to a lawyer or Attorney General's Office in your state.

Take the time to go to a law library and look at case law on the topic in your state and city. I am fairly certain that if you take the time to look up statues and case law you will have a much better idea than 90+ percent of LEO.

 

[Kharn]

MrAcheson:

At Delaware, the campus police didn't criminally charge much for non-violent behavior because it leaves a paper trail that reflects badly on the university.

LMAO, you got that right, I'm going into my senior year this Sept and the UD Kampus Kops sweep so much stuff under the rug its amazing (I know of one guy that got expelled from the dorms for drinking a 40oz underage while smoking a joint and busted by the real cops, mainly because he was doing it outside the dorms and a city cop just happened to see him do it, but other than that its all been handled in-house (he's still at the university, just has to live off campus)). My brother goes to College Park, MD, where its city cops (instead of a private university police department) that patrol the place, they hand out tickets like candy at Halloween.

Kharn

 

[Soap]

Most likely you can't carry it per university rules. Lucky for you the chance of some sheeple turning you in is miniscule. What momma don't know...