When is a knife not a dangerous weapon?

That great news for your state. Waiting to see what Texas will do this year.

 

Ok, that's interesting! Man, there are so many laws and regulations that it's hard to keep them all straight.
Not to get off-topic, but today they are introducing the idea of Constitutional Carry here in Wisconsin, which will give us another set of rules to learn. Although that would ultimately be a good thing: http://fox6now.com/2017/03/28/wisconsin-bill-would-allow-hidden-weapons-without-license/

 

Someone pointed this out to me before. It sounds like knives are now exempt from that definition:

941.23  Carrying concealed weapon.
(1) In this section:
(ag) “Carry" has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (ag).
(ap) Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (10), “dangerous weapon" does not include a knife.
(ar) “Destructive device" has the meaning given in 18 USC 921 (a) (4).
(b) “Firearm silencer" has the meaning given in s. 941.298 (1).

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/941/III/23

 

I used to live in Wisconsin. When cops there (where I lived) couldn't quite get me for something, they would ask very deliberately leading questions. One time they asked me about my pistol crossbow, why I had it, what was it for, where did it come from, how long have I had it; even though it was unstrung or in a case as required by law. Now to the point, just because it's legal doesn't mean the police won't crawl up your hind end...
I now live in Washington where I can just open carry whatever I want which is usually just my bear grylls Gerber or my el cheapo lockback Gerber. No concealed knives over 2.5", no assisted type knives. But I can open carry my .44, and have never been asked about it or the knives in almost 5 years.

 

A knife isn't dangerous when you bring it to a gun fight.

Zeke

 

Curious about this as I've never really looked at the law for knives. So we can own and carry anything....but can only conceal certain types. Seems illogical, expecially for CCW holders. "We trust you to conceal carry a gun BUT A BOWIE KNIFE??? NO WAY!

"Conclusion on Virginia Knife Law. It is legal to own any type of knife in Virginia. It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk, bowie knife, switchblade, machete, ballistic knife, throwing starts or oriental darts, or any knife of a like kind. It is legal to open carry any type of knife."

 

When those types of questions start getting asked, I would point out that since I obviously haven't broken any laws, they don't really need to be asking those types of questions and that I will exercise my right to remain silent. At that point, they'd probably threaten me with charges of "Obstruction of justice" or "Obstructing an officer", although charging someone with something like that for exercising a Constitutional right would no doubt be unconstitutional. I've watched shows like "COPS" and "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol" where they did things like that in order to coerce people into making statements without having an attorney present. Then they'd arrest the person based on their statements. But at least the cop got to go home that night. That's what counts.

 

Oh I get it, I'm just from a small town where unfortunately cops get bored. The crossbow incident was related specifically to my old 84 Pontiac Parisian (probably wrong spelling) and it's loud exhaust, no muffler as it fell off on my way home. Not every cop is a dick, thankfully. It seems most incidents I had where I was being given hell by police, they were young or Wisconsin state patrol

 

Is that a Tendick Kraiken I see?

 

RJ Martin, 5 inch. I have a Kendrick Ackolyte also.

 

A Wasabi? Very cool.

 

Here in Cali (outside of a few major cities) we actually have decent knife laws.
We can legally carry and conceal any folding knife of any length (no switchblades over 2 in blade).
We can open carry a fixed blade of any length.
Monster coldsteel folder concealed?
A-OK.
Katana on your back?
Legal.
14 inch bowie on belt?
No problem.

$2 throwing star?
Nope. Deadly weapon.
Lol.

 

As long as a knife is in your pocket or it's scavenge holster it's not a danger to you or anyone else. My two cents opinion.

 

This... except the wiggle room is just as likely to be applied to the carrier as the knife. If the person is a "known trouble maker" (or confused with one... profiled as one... or the officer is just a human being having a bad day), watch out for the baby SAK on your keychain. Vague wording like this can also be used as justification for hassling "undesirables" in an exclusive community to make it clear they are not welcome.