Political Crossfire Forums

[TNBiologist]

In the "carrying at work" thread the topic of pocket knives was brought up. A couple of people stated they carried a pcoket knife. I know that the UK has a fairly strick knife ownership/carry policy. What I want to know is how people feel about the carry of a pocket knife - not a hunting knife or sword. Should it be allowed or should it as heavily regulated a carrying a gun?

Here is Tennessee's laws regarding knives:
http://198.187.128.12/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=fs-main.htm&2.0

39-17-1302. Prohibited weapons:
A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:
A switchblade knife or knuckles

39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon:
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.
(2) An offense under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, except it is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.

Basically, you can own what ever type of blade you want to (except swithblades) but you can only carry a knife with a blade less than 4 inches (which almost all pocket are well less than 4 inches).
Should this law be tightend or is it good the way it is?

I like it the way it is. I can carry a pocket knife for personnal use and can own a machete for clearing brush, etc... but the guy next to me does not have a hunting knife on him walking down the street.

[britboy]

TNBiologist wrote: In the "carrying at work" thread the topic of pocket knives was brought up. A couple of people stated they carried a pcoket knife. I know that the UK has a fairly strick knife ownership/carry policy. What I want to know is how people feel about the carry of a pocket knife - not a hunting knife or sword. Should it be allowed or should it as heavily regulated a carrying a gun?

Here is Tennessee's laws regarding knives:

39-17-1302. Prohibited weapons:
A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:
A switchblade knife or knuckles

39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon:
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.
(2) An offense under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, except it is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.

Basically, you can own what ever type of blade you want to (except swithblades) but you can only carry a knife with a blade less than 4 inches (which almost all pocket are well less than 4 inches).
Should this law be tightend or is it good the way it is?

I like it the way it is. I can carry a pocket knife for personnal use and can own a machete for clearing brush, etc... but the guy next to me does not have a hunting knife on him walking down the street.

Well it's a difficult one as we don't want to stop the legitimate carpet fitter / plumber / handy man doing his job. Also I want people to be able to buy a set of steak knives, and transport them legally to their car, then home, then into the kitchen.

So unfortunately, I'd have to go for the admittedly quite lame 'What the officer sees as an 'in context' dangerous weapon', and hope that between the officers AND the judge (the police have to prosecute or leave it -- thats how I'd have it) .. they can just use common sense.

You see 43 year old housewife carrying a new steak knife set home at 10am on Saturday, receipt in her bag, is TOTALLY different from 17 year old carrying exactly the same knives to a party at 2:00am on Sunday morning, where he's known to have some beef with some other kid ...

Do u agree? Kind of case by case basis!?

[ubikk]

I carried a Boy Scout pen knife to grade school when I was a kid in middle school and Junior High. Later in HS I upgraded to a small Swiss Army Knife. Many other kids also carried small pocket knives. I'm not sure how that would fly today.

[Rankor and Pissing]

I've got a letter opener on my desk at work that's probably 10 inches, pointy, made of metal and semi-sharp. I ordered it through my admin assistant who got it from Staples or Office Max or something. Those aren't regulated, though I'm sure plunging it into someone's chest is as easy as anything else.

Similar but not exactly like this one:



Now I carry with me an inexpensive pocket knife:


It's under 4" blade makes it just right. Do I think there should be more laws against carrying one? hells no. I use it to open boxes, clean the finger nails, cut off a piece of string, dig around a little in the dirt of my potted plants in the office, cut the plastic off of little speaker wires, etc... there's no problem. Men in my family have been carrying pocket knives for probably 6 or 7 generations and I'm not about to stop now.

[Wolverine]

TNBiologist wrote: In the "carrying at work" thread the topic of pocket knives was brought up. A couple of people stated they carried a pcoket knife. I know that the UK has a fairly strick knife ownership/carry policy. What I want to know is how people feel about the carry of a pocket knife - not a hunting knife or sword. Should it be allowed or should it as heavily regulated a carrying a gun?

Here is Tennessee's laws regarding knives:

39-17-1302. Prohibited weapons:
A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:
A switchblade knife or knuckles

39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon:
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.
(2) An offense under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, except it is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.

Basically, you can own what ever type of blade you want to (except swithblades) but you can only carry a knife with a blade less than 4 inches (which almost all pocket are well less than 4 inches).
Should this law be tightend or is it good the way it is?

I like it the way it is. I can carry a pocket knife for personnal use and can own a machete for clearing brush, etc... but the guy next to me does not have a hunting knife on him walking down the street.
Any blades should be legal.

Its a shame that Colorado bans switchblades and gravity knives.

[ubikk]

I also read a story a few years ago about a kid who carried a knife to school in a rural county, the knife was confiscated by the school and the parent called in from work. The father grabbed the knife from the principle and handed it to his son right in front of her. He told her never to call him at work again for something like this. Don't know how that turned out.

[perdidochas]

ubikk wrote: I carried a Boy Scout pen knife to grade school when I was a kid in middle school and Junior High. Later in HS I upgraded to a small Swiss Army Knife. Many other kids also carried small pocket knives. I'm not sure how that would fly today.

Well, it could result in a year-long expulsion.

[perdidochas]

ubikk wrote: I also read a story a few years ago about a kid who carried a knife to school in a rural county, the knife was confiscated by the school and the parent called in from work. The father grabbed the knife from the principle and handed it to his son right in front of her. He told her never to call him at work again for something like this. Don't know how that turned out.

Interesting.

I always remember something that happened in my junior high school when I think of this whole issue. A teacher locked herself out of her classroom. She asked the boys in the class if they had a knife. One of them lent it to her and helped her break into her classroom. When she got in the classroom, she wrote him up for having a knife on campus. What a b****! When I taught science, several times I didn't have a lighter to light a gas burner. I would borrow the lighters from students. Give the lighters back and tell them never to bring them to school again.

That said, I usually have at least a penknife with me at all times.

[ubikk]

perdidochas wrote: ubikk wrote: I carried a Boy Scout pen knife to grade school when I was a kid in middle school and Junior High. Later in HS I upgraded to a small Swiss Army Knife. Many other kids also carried small pocket knives. I'm not sure how that would fly today.

Well, it could result in a year-long expulsion.

This was the basically the knife I carried:



In my school, simple posession of this was not a violation. Many boys carried small knives like this.

[TNBiologist]

britboy wrote:
Well it's a difficult one as we don't want to stop the legitimate carpet fitter / plumber / handy man doing his job. Also I want people to be able to buy a set of steak knives, and transport them legally to their car, then home, then into the kitchen.

So unfortunately, I'd have to go for the admittedly quite lame 'What the officer sees as an 'in context' dangerous weapon', and hope that between the officers AND the judge (the police have to prosecute or leave it -- thats how I'd have it) .. they can just use common sense.

You see 43 year old housewife carrying a new steak knife set home at 10am on Saturday, receipt in her bag, is TOTALLY different from 17 year old carrying exactly the same knives to a party at 2:00am on Sunday morning, where he's known to have some beef with some other kid ...

Do u agree? Kind of case by case basis!?

We might actually agree on something Britboy. Yes, the longer than 4 inches need to be interpreted ona case by case basis. The lady walking to her car with her new steak knives is not carrying a dangerous weapon while the average joe is using his pocket knife/box opener/exacto-knife for work as a tool.

My next question to you then is since you see where there is a differance between these situations is could you see a situation where a firearm would be used as a tool? The plumber could in theory come un-glued and kill people with his knife just as a person with a gun could do the same but you have stated that you feel it is fine for him to use his tool without any kind of requirements/restriction. If you can see the difference in this could you see the difference in a person with a CCW carry gun (a tool) and the punk going to rob the store?

[armstrong001]

TNBiologist wrote: In the "carrying at work" thread the topic of pocket knives was brought up. A couple of people stated they carried a pcoket knife. I know that the UK has a fairly strick knife ownership/carry policy. What I want to know is how people feel about the carry of a pocket knife - not a hunting knife or sword. Should it be allowed or should it as heavily regulated a carrying a gun?

Here is Tennessee's laws regarding knives:

39-17-1302. Prohibited weapons:
A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:
A switchblade knife or knuckles

39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon:
(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.
(2) An offense under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, except it is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.

Basically, you can own what ever type of blade you want to (except swithblades) but you can only carry a knife with a blade less than 4 inches (which almost all pocket are well less than 4 inches).
Should this law be tightend or is it good the way it is?

I like it the way it is. I can carry a pocket knife for personnal use and can own a machete for clearing brush, etc... but the guy next to me does not have a hunting knife on him walking down the street.

Wait, so what does "intent to go armed" mean? If I was hunting using a pistol, then of course I would "intend to go armed" out into the woods, and would be carrying a pistol. If I read correctly, this would be a class C misdemeanor, or a class A if I had a friend along. Kind of bogus if you ask me.

Now, if it is carrying with the intent to injure someone, then it's kind of strange that you can carry with the intent to injure someone as long as the blade is under 4".

Cop: Are you carrying that knife hoping to stab someone?
Citizen: Yes officer, but you see the blade is only 3.5" long.
Cop: Oh, well ok then. On your way.

[ubikk]

perdidochas wrote: I always remember something that happened in my junior high school when I think of this whole issue. A teacher locked herself out of her classroom. She asked the boys in the class if they had a knife. One of them lent it to her and helped her break into her classroom. When she got in the classroom, she wrote him up for having a knife on campus. What a b****

That's what you call a sting operation. The kid was totally set up and duped into producing the knife. Clever teacher.

[Hank Rearden]

perdidochas wrote: ubikk wrote: I also read a story a few years ago about a kid who carried a knife to school in a rural county, the knife was confiscated by the school and the parent called in from work. The father grabbed the knife from the principle and handed it to his son right in front of her. He told her never to call him at work again for something like this. Don't know how that turned out.

Interesting.

I always remember something that happened in my junior high school when I think of this whole issue. A teacher locked herself out of her classroom. She asked the boys in the class if they had a knife. One of them lent it to her and helped her break into her classroom. When she got in the classroom, she wrote him up for having a knife on campus. What a b****! When I taught science, several times I didn't have a lighter to light a gas burner. I would borrow the lighters from students. Give the lighters back and tell them never to bring them to school again.

That said, I usually have at least a penknife with me at all times.

OK, I gotta sound old here, but what the heck is going on in society these days? When I went to HS, most guys carried a knife, I've had the first part of the scenario happen, where a teacher asks to borrow a knife, usually returned it with a "thanks" or "nice knife". Are the teachers and administrators really that brain-dead today? BTW, what dumba** gives a teacher a good knife to jimmy a lock with, thats a good way to screw up a nice edge. Of course we also had a rifle range in the basement at the school, the school owned (through the CMP, DCM in those days) a number of target rifles for use. And that was in NY!

OK, back to the original post, I think carrying of all knives with metal blades should be banned, only rubber or plastic allowed...for Great Britton. They seem to have such a fear of hurting themselves across the pond, I guess they can't be trusted with sharp objects either. Better get rid of the pens and pencils and replace them with crayons while we're at it.

[ubikk]

Hank Rearden wrote: OK, back to the original post, I think carrying of all knives with metal blades should be banned, only rubber or plastic allowed...for Great Britton. They seem to have such a fear of hurting themselves across the pond, I guess they can't be trusted with sharp objects either. Better get rid of the pens and pencils and replace them with crayons while we're at it.

What about my Leatherman? I'd be lost without it. :cry: It's always in my bag. Maybe I could take the blade out...

[bigstick61]

When I was in high school, most of the guys carried knives. I did. The teachers knew and could care less. I often used mine to cut open boxes and stuff for teachers. There was never a stabbing at my school, whether intentional or accidental. However, that would not have flown at the public school down the street. I would have probably been arrested and expelled for carrying even a Swiss Army knife. People can be really stupid and irrational these days.

[TNBiologist]

[quote="armstrong001]
Wait, so what does "intent to go armed" mean? If I was hunting using a pistol, then of course I would "intend to go armed" out into the woods, and would be carrying a pistol. If I read correctly, this would be a class C misdemeanor, or a class A if I had a friend along. Kind of bogus if you ask me.

Now, if it is carrying with the intent to injure someone, then it's kind of strange that you can carry with the intent to injure someone as long as the blade is under 4".

Cop: Are you carrying that knife hoping to stab someone?
Citizen: Yes officer, but you see the blade is only 3.5" long.
Cop: Oh, well ok then. On your way.[/quote]

There are clauses in the state laws regarding hunting and the carrying of fireamrs/knives that I did not post. Basically if hunting you fall under the TWRA regulations, you can have what ever weapon is legal for the type of hunting you are doing. You can also have weapons on public lands (WMAs) during non-hunting seasons in many cases for target shooting etc...

[perdidochas]

ubikk wrote: perdidochas wrote: I always remember something that happened in my junior high school when I think of this whole issue. A teacher locked herself out of her classroom. She asked the boys in the class if they had a knife. One of them lent it to her and helped her break into her classroom. When she got in the classroom, she wrote him up for having a knife on campus. What a b****

That's what you call a sting operation. The kid was totally set up and duped into producing the knife. Clever teacher.

Well, it was wrong, I wouldn't call it a sting, as it wasn't planned. That, and it wasn't aimed at one boy in particular.

[perdidochas]

Hank Rearden wrote: perdidochas wrote: ubikk wrote: I also read a story a few years ago about a kid who carried a knife to school in a rural county, the knife was confiscated by the school and the parent called in from work. The father grabbed the knife from the principle and handed it to his son right in front of her. He told her never to call him at work again for something like this. Don't know how that turned out.

Interesting.

I always remember something that happened in my junior high school when I think of this whole issue. A teacher locked herself out of her classroom. She asked the boys in the class if they had a knife. One of them lent it to her and helped her break into her classroom. When she got in the classroom, she wrote him up for having a knife on campus. What a b****! When I taught science, several times I didn't have a lighter to light a gas burner. I would borrow the lighters from students. Give the lighters back and tell them never to bring them to school again.

That said, I usually have at least a penknife with me at all times.

OK, I gotta sound old here, but what the heck is going on in society these days? When I went to HS, most guys carried a knife, I've had the first part of the scenario happen, where a teacher asks to borrow a knife, usually returned it with a "thanks" or "nice knife". Are the teachers and administrators really that brain-dead today? BTW, what dumba** gives a teacher a good knife to jimmy a lock with, thats a good way to screw up a nice edge. Of course we also had a rifle range in the basement at the school, the school owned (through the CMP, DCM in those days) a number of target rifles for use. And that was in NY!

Nowadays, they are all considered weapons, but then again, this was in the late 1970s, and knives were against the rules then. Heck, when I was a teacher, I had one classroom that I never got the key for. I broke into it with my leatherman daily :-)

[Snake]

Knives, what can I say? I think putting harsh gun controlesque restrictions on them is ri-goddamned-diculous.

[wyldejackyl]

Keep the laws, or relax them. A switchblade is no sharper than a butcher knife is no sharper than a 3" swiss army knife. I carry a SOG Seal Pup when out in the woods (technically illegal I guess, but no one's ever said anything), and when geocaching in wooded areas in the city at night. I carry a SOG Trident folder with me daily. Before that it was a Spyderco Endura II and before that it was an Endura I (the only difference is the I is zytel and the II is stainless-handled). I carried the first Endura all throughout high school, clipped to my pocket with no problems. In my school you could be suspended for owning one, but one time the dean saw me using mine stripping some coax cable to fix a connector (I was in the "multimedia club") and didn't say anything to me. I used it to open and cut things all the time, mostly out of view of administrators. Students that saw it didn't say anything, except "nice knife."

When I have a son I'm going to buy him a knife. If the school creates hell about it, I'm going to create hell back for them. This "safety" lunacy is getting out of hand, and I think it's self-perpetuating. I don't know anyone that grew up with a knife, tools, guns, etc that made some idiot mistake with them. We learned young that these things are powerful, meant to be respected, but very useful.

I see nothing wrong with knives. I can be just as dangerous with pretty much anything else, but nothing cuts boxes, pries out splinters, spreads peanut butter, strips wire, etc..better than a good pocketknife. I don't see why they don't allow them on airplanes..except for the fact that people are Kitty Cats.

How does it go that if you are raped on the street, and one person sees it, he's more likely to do something than if 10 people see it? People are always so goddam afraid of getting hurt they don't stop and think about helping others. Yeah, I'm that guy you say, "look at this idiot" changing a tire for a woman in the middle of a snowstorm, or telling a raucous bum to get away from a tourist.

What is happening to this country?