Self defense for disarmed college students

[Zoogster]

BTW...is a katana legal in a dorm room? Seems better than alot of other choices, and would be tough to take away.

No they are legal in CA though in a residence not on property owned by a college or university.
Any fixed blade knife is a serious crime on a college campus in the state of CA, a sword is by definition a fixed blade. On top of that it's purpose is soley as a weapon.
any person
except specified peace officers to bring or possess any dirk,
dagger, ice pick, or knife with a fixed blade longer than 2.5
inches on the grounds of, or within,
any private university, UC, CSU, or CCC, punishable by up to one
year in a county jail, or imprisonment in the state prison by 16
months, two or three years.

Doing so would be a felony.

The only knives legal on a college campus are folders that are within all of CA laws.

(b) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or knife having a fixed blade longer than 2 1/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university, the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.
In fact under CA state law even knives for use in preparing food if you have an apartment with a kitchen on college property would technicaly be a felony.

 

[carpediem]

BTW...is a katana legal in a dorm room? Seems better than alot of other choices, and would be tough to take away.

Major Disclaimer: IANAL

Per CA law, I believe fixed blades of any length are legal to carry openly where not prohibited by law (gov buildings, airports, etc.). Note that you can still be harassed for "brandishing" or "disturbing the peace." Concealed carry of a fixed blade is illegal.

Is it illegal to carry/possess at colleges? There is - to my knowledge - no differentiation between knives and swords in CA state law, so PC 626.10b & h:

who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or
knife having a fixed blade longer than 21/2 inches upon the grounds
of, or within, any private university, the University of California,
the California State University, or the California Community Colleges

As used in this section, "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife or
other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready
use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or
death.

I think "other instrument" ... "stabbing weapon" is enough to warrant saying that swords at college are at best injudicious and quite probably illegal.

A couple of closing thoughts. (1) A katana is on the large side for indoor use anyway, especially in a dorm room. I consider blades less than 24" better suited for indoor maneuvers. (2) Swords are messy, and violent criminals have all kinds of nasty bugs. (3) Many institutions have explicit policies against dangerous objects and/or weapons.

Edit - I see Zoogster beat me to it. Gotta brush up on the typing skills

 

[vynx]

OK you are in college so you don't want it to look like a weapon.

How about a small flashlight with a cord for your wrist attached to it - its just a flashlight but if you swing it its a mini nun-chuk - don't use the small mini mag they don't have enough weight get something a little bigger - say something that holds 4 double A batteries. You could even attach a fist sized carabiner (see home depot or walmart) to the other end of the cord so you can hang it off your bag when in library class etc. but hold in hand when walking.

Also, a padlock attached to a short cable - not specially rigged bought that way - even better if you can buy it from a store on campus - it could be for locking your briefcase or backpak or laptop to something when you make a bathroom trip? And a padlock upside the head ???

These are things you can carry in your hand and they won't draw attention.

 

[sm]

Arm yourself with knowledge first

I am an older returning College Student myself.

Please think about the following:

-Regulations do not allow me to carry concealed weapons on campus.
-What is posted in a public forum such as THR or any forum can be read by anyone.
-THR and Sister sites do not promote illegal activities.

That said-

Re: Concealed Weapons.

What does YOUR State, and any other applicable regulation, define as a Concealed Weapon ?
Some issued Concealed Carry Permits/ License do not include Knives or any other type of defensive means.
These Permits/ Licenses are only for handguns!

Knife Laws. Again these vary from State to State and are also "defined" according to Business Settings, School Board , and College Campuses.

State Law may say one can carry a pocket knife with a blade no longer than 3.5", the business, school board, college campus may have additional regulations were no blades any longer than 2", 2.5", 3" , they cannot be assist opening, no pocket clips, no locking opening device - and in most schools from day care to HS - NO knives, not even a SAK classic.

Utility knife is another definition - say a 3 blade stockman style, or even a simple pen knife with one or two blades.
IF...IF that these knives are used "in a defensive manner" the legalese may re-define Utility to Defensive knife and now one has crossed the legal line of definition.
Some LEO have discretion, some do not as defined by state regs, or, while on duty on a Campus setting with these Campus rules and definitions.

Even using your hands, feet, biting, using a notebook, backpack, umbrella, soda in a plastic bottle from the Campus vending machine - if used to defend, can be defined as "defensive weapon" IF whomever, whatever chooses to push the matter.
Now the burden of proof is on you, complete with attorney fees, time, and suspension of CCW Permit/ License for a handgun - that was home, locked in a safe and you being a law abiding citizen while on a Campus.

I have classmates , some older like myself, some even older, that have a legitimate need for a cane. Anything from a $10 drug store cane to nicer with a brass head.
Some younger ones as well are using canes, they too are legit in needing a cane. One young lady is on crutches at the moment - legit reasons for her.
Any of these folks use a cane or crutch to defend - it will be reviewed and accessed according to situation.

My point being - be very careful taking advice off Internet , Giving advice using Internet, what one posts on Internet.

Each individual must investigate for themselves their jurisdiction, regulations, definitions, legal law, moral law and make informed choices armed with knowledge.

IIRC Mas Ayoob wrote something along these lines , maybe he will chime in and share.

Just food for thought...



Steve

 

[HankB]

A few thoughts . . .

1. Concealed means concealed.

2. Distinguish between laws and rules. I've not one to advocate breaking laws, but I've never been a sticker for rules.

3. If there are no cops around to see a bad guy mug you, there are no cops around to see you defend yourself in an . . . uh . . . socially unacceptable manner. YOUR chances of getting away are at least as good as the bad guy's, once the altercation is over.

4. A roll of pennies, gripped in your fist, is a decent improvised weapon. The light from a very bright flashlight (i.e., Surefire) is a respectable defense tool in it's own right, particularly at night.

5. Keep your mouth shut - tell NOBODY about what you're doing. Not your best friend, not your girlfriend, NOBODY.

6. See (1) above.

 

[hso]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003550609_lighterfluid01m.html

 

[Baba Louie]

Good advice from all.
Situational awareness giving you some reaction time is paramount.
Don't travel alone or look like a victim.
Good running shoes or boots.
Backpack w/ a heavy book or two inside & sturdy straps.
I like the idea of a carabiner key ring.
A padlock on a parachute cord lanyard inside backpack, lanyard easily grabbed. Or on a steel bike cable (a spare you carry around?)
Mini-mag flashlight.
http://www.nefitco.com/handweights1lb.html (just staying in shape)
Walking Cane if you can justify it.
Umbrella for rain or sun protection?
Cowboy Belt buckle on a good leather belt?
I always carried a pocketknife, but not as a weapon.
Some training. At UNLV I've seen students carry their bokken & jo to and fro Aikido class... but not all day every day.
You mind is the weapon. Tools are all around you.
The best self defense is not being there when bad things happen so be alert. (We need more lerts )

 

[hjaeger]

Personally, I'd go with a Surefire E2D if finances allow.

 

[Young gun]

Be careful with stun guns and tasers. There are some very good ones that will bring a man to his knees. Others just hurt. I know first hand. (It was a bet )

When I was in college a friend carried a good folding knife and an excellent pepper spray (ie shoots a large cone about several feet not a stream). He developed a self defense system.

1) Spray 'em. Is he immobolized? If No contiue to step two
2) Stick 'em. Repeat until desired result

What I like about it is you have range. If I am within arms reach of a thug while using a hand held weapon I could be in serious danger of the weapon being turned against me or him having one too.