Suffice to say - I think from now on, lots of people will be removing their classics from their keychain, to save the worry of potential issues.
I'll continue to pocket carry my LM Squirt P4 and won't worry too much about it. The next time a cop asks to see what's in my pockets will be the first time, and I've lived in Oz for more than 70 years. Admittedly I rarely do anything to attract Police attention...
In Queensland the government introduced "Jack's Law", named after a 19yo kid who was stabbed in the city. It allows Police to use a metal detector on anyone they like in a safe night precinct or public transport hub. The police deploy at the transport hubs and wand EVERYONE. Anyone they find with a knife or Multitool they charge - even if they have a valid excuse for carrying one as set out in Queensland's knife laws. It's up to you then, to argue your case in court. In the one case I've read where that has happened, the prosecutor offered a deal of a guilty plea in exchange for a $100 fine and no criminal conviction recorded. I expect most people will take the deal as pleading innocent means spending extra on court fees and no guarantee that the judge will find in your favor. Apparently the father of Jack is going to NSW to try to convince the premier there to implement Jack's law, as it has been so successful in Queensland, based on them seizing 1000's on knives. In Queenslnad, they're also looking at extending the places where they can use Jack's law to shopping centres.I can't help but feel that this is wrong, that the government is targeting innocent people who are lawfully carrying a knife, just to make it look like they're being "tough on knife crime". It feels almost like a dumb version of Minority report - where they try to arrest you for a crime that you might commit in future, by acting that if you're carrying a knife, you're automatically up to no good. https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2024/03/28/morayfield-commuter-safety-crackdown/
In Queenslnad, they're also looking at extending the places where they can use Jack's law to shopping centres.
Torches are considered a breaking and entering tool.
It feels almost like a dumb version of Minority report - where they try to arrest you for a crime that you might commit in future…
torches are considered a breaking and entering tool
Is that any torch, or just the ones big enough to be used as bludgeons?IDK about anyone else, but my torches are mostly “see where I’m going in the dark so I don’t fall on my smurf tools”.
The light function is not the primary feature here?
Dont know.All I know is that some kids were detained at the local train station because they were carrying torches and the police stated that there were suspicious because they had said torches..Now, I know they can arrest you for carrying other "break and enter tools" such as crowbars, screwdrivers and lock pics, but until then I had never heard of torches..
Oh come on, are we serious? I started a flashlight Challenge so it would be ok to carry, instead of doing the Giants of June challenge, and now I see lights are not ok to carry either? What's next?Can I still carry my umbrella? Pen? Lighter?
Looks like I’ll be getting one of these thenhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/07/swiss-army-knife-maker-to-produce-version-without-a-blade
A bladeless SAK or a knife-carrying religion? I think it's time for Grant to declare his vision, and lead us to salvation.
Back in the day some people in Norway made religions to avoid military service. To sort it out the law actually had some formal definitions that had to be passed to quality as a religion. From memory: 1. Belief in something.2. Rituals and events.3. Gatherings and organization.I remember someone who claimed to believe in the ways and policies of the of National Norwegian Broadcaster and worshipping Einar Førde who was their boss at the time. The believers would gather every Friday in front of the TV. The printed TV program for the evening was distributed, and they would sacrifice beer, tacos and chips while watching the program of choice of their leader who controlled the power of the remote. (Who was also the owner of the living room...) That actually met all the criteria...
Tbh I’m seriously thinking those of us in New South Wales need to get a petition or something happening .......It won’t make any difference to a criminal or teenager, they’ll carry on regardless but for the law abiding multi tool carrier it puts us in a really difficult position ......In the UK you can carry a non locking folding knife under 3”, this seems a much better compromise. There’s no way we’re going to get something better than that but it does seem something to aim for
Well I'll sign the petition ET It's the old tools vs weapons argument and surely for just about everybody carrying a SAK or a PB tool - Its a tool! So I'd rather have no restrictive lawsI really think the law makers need to think about who is carrying these weapons and address those issues / approach the laws from that perspective, rather than just blindly homing in on the so called weapon. But if you have to have a law - I do think the UK approach is pretty good - ie must be non-lockable folding and <3"As you say the crims will still carry their weapons - And sadly I believe all these new laws in NSW/Oz will not have stopped the Bondi Junction incident.If someone is mentally unstable they will still do what they are going to do. Just like the criminalSorry probably getting too political here.
In the UK you can carry a non locking folding knife under 3”, this seems a much better compromise.
"Dirks," "daggers," and "stilettos" are also on that list, and I've yet to see any of those terms clearly and unambiguously defined.
As another aside, I've recently watched a few episodes of Forged in Fire on YouTube. The frequent and seemingly emphatic use of the word "weapon" gives me a little pause.
I guess that's true enough. But no locking blades would rule out an Opinel No. 6 (a great cutting tool, but a terrible "weapon"). So I'd suggest any folder with a blade under three inches (75mm) in length should be completely free and clear to carry.Hopefully I don't lean too far into politics here, but I also favor clear and unambiguous terminology. As an example, Michigan law mentions per se "dangerous weapons." Among them are "double-edged, non-folding 'stabbing instruments.'" That's clear enough, I do suppose. "Dirks," "daggers," and "stilettos" are also on that list, and I've yet to see any of those terms clearly and unambiguously defined. While a per se "dangerous weapon" is not in and of itself illegal, carrying one is an enormous hassle. Oddly enough, a balisong is considered an ordinary pocket knife under Michigan law, and some states treat balisongs very differently. Mere ownership of one is criminalized in Hawaii.I avoid anything double-edged, and think twice about carrying a fixed blade. Beyond that, I must abide by local ordinances that prohibit automatics and blades over three inches. It is almost a certainty that I will need to find new housing, and I won't be moving within my present city. That will eliminate the prohibition on carry of automatics (which I wouldn't do anyway, as I'll spend that kind of money on a good fixed blade) and larger blades. Unless I need to go to the VA hospital, that is.As another aside, I've recently watched a few episodes of Forged in Fire on YouTube. The frequent and seemingly emphatic use of the word "weapon" gives me a little pause.Sorry that I rambled a bit, and hope things in Australia take a turn for the better.
I just thought about how different that famous Crocodille Dundee knife scene would look like today...
It might be worth checking out AKTI’s definitions page. They do offer good definitions for “dagger” and “stiletto”, but argue (very reasonably IMO) that the term “dirk” is too vague and not reasonably definable.
Scare mongering media and politicians trying to get votes...